Wildlife Guardians

We are delighted to welcome Miller Countrywide as full members of Wildlife Guardians and co-sponsors of our Photographic Competition. We look forward to promoting membership and wildlife-friendly gardening in partnership. We would also like to thank Cornwall Today for its generous sponsorship of our anniversary issues of Wild Cornwall, our events programme and our celebratory wildlife garden.

Heligan wildlife projects

The Lost Gardens of Heligan's latest wildlife project is a state-of-the-art bird hide and interpretation centre where live images from many of the forty bird boxes installed in Lost Wood can be relayed to digital screens in the hide. From Horsemoor Hide, visitors can view the birds in their habitats and also see what is happening inside their nest boxes. Films will be made from these images and these will be shown in the hide at other times of the year when there is less to see outside.

An experimental plot has been set up to test grassland management systems. Visitors will be able to see for themselves the grassland communities that can result from different regimes.

On the opposite side of the valley to Heligan there are some beautiful old barns in which a barn owl roosts. Planning approval has been given to the owners (not Heligan!) to develop these barns into a pub

and brewery. Staff at Heligan are working with the local Owl Trust to provide a nest box and to create a suitable habitat so that it can survive and hopefully breed in the locality. However, as several acres of rough grassland pasture would need to be set aside to achieve this, it highlights the real conflicts of interest between habitat conservation, economics and farming and begs the question:

where should the balance lie?

Alison Vaughan

Corporate Members

Carlton Broadcasting . County Environmental Services Ltd . Imerys . Miller Countrywide . National Grid Co. Ltd . Paradise Park Wildlife Centre . Penmere Manor Hotel Ltd . Robinson Reed;Lavton . Rosemullion Homes . Stephens & Scown . The Lost Gardens of Heligan . Tregothnan Estate . Vickery Holman . Watson Marlow :

Corporate Supporters

Adventureline . Camborne Insurance Services Ltd . Carley's of Cornwall Ltd . Clowance Holdings Ltd . Cornwall College . Cornwall Paper Company . Dairy Land Farm World . Duchy College . Environment Agency . Hawkins Motors Ltd . Land's End and John O'Groats Co Ltd . Marcus Hodges Environment Ltd . Massie Ludnow & Jenkins North Cornwall District Council . Richard Lander School . Rose-in-Vale Hotel . Seven Wives of St Ives Soap Company . Shortlanesend Garage . The Body Shop . Trevarno Estate and Gardens