News & Events

Grazing snippets 2007

British Whites
This grazing season we have added 11 more British White Cattle to the Goss Moor herd including a fabulous looking bull called Dadley Tornado. There are now 37 British Whites and 20 continental crosses free-ranging over 450 hectares of Goss and Tregoss Moor commons. One reason why British Whites were chosen is that they are easy to spot on the Moor, making checking the cattle easier. You can often see the Whites from the new section of the A30, proof of how easy they are to spot amongst the gorse and willow scrub.

Welsh Blacks
It has been another busy summer for the Welsh Black Graziers (Christine Parker and David Lawry) cattle; they delivered the appropriate grazing management on four of Goss Moors compartments north of the old A30. Two of these compartments have been brought back into grazing management for the first time this year after no management for 40-60 years.

For the past three years Welsh Blacks have also be seen delivering grazing management on Quoit Heath, Lowertown Moor and Breney Common which are all sites in the Mid-Cornwall Moors LIFE Project. Beef from these animals was available for the first time this year, and the Project team and employees from our project partners were all keen to try it. Not only was the meat delicious but it was very satisfying to know we were supporting local farmers and that the animals had been grazing nature reserves.

Belted Galloways
Our own herd of Belties has continued to grow, enabling us to graze five of the LIFE sites this summer. Using the same animals each year means that they know their way around these difficult sites and do not hesitate to start munching on the purple-moor grass.

Exmoor Ponies
Over the last couple of years we have contracted in the services of six Exmoor ponies from the Higher Trevilmick herd, near Helman Tor, owned by Mr & Mrs Girdler. These ponies are very hardy and are fantastic at restoration grazing. We have used them on Goss and Carbis Moor where they have opened up the sites, facilitating follow up grazing from local grazier’s cattle.

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Marsh fritillary survey summary, 2007

Mark Tunmore/Cornwall Environmental Consultants
The first adults were seen on 22 May at Breney Common and the first adults were seen on Goss Moor on 5 June. In mid June unsettled wet and cold weather conditions set in which continued throughout the second half of the month and into early July. The first round of adult surveys produced records from several sites, but by the time the second round of visits started it seemed that the butterfly had disappeared. Only one survey site on Breney Common produced records of adults on the second visit.

It is still not completely clear whether the absence of records at some sites reflects a genuinely poor year for adults, or whether the main flight period was simply very short. The full list of recorded adults appears below. The Goss Moor sites in particular fared poorly compared with previous years. However, the possibility exists that the butterfly was flying on Goss Moor at sites other than those being monitored for the first emergents.

Larval surveys commenced on 2 September. Numbers were generally down and the lack of webs in transects where they would normally be expected suggest that the poor picture that emerged from the spring survey may have reflected a genuine crash in numbers. However, it is possible that webs were present at large sites such as Redmoor where ground conditions make it difficult to search thoroughly. Some comparative surveys also took place, comparing the results of area searching with transect searching. This resulted in additional records of larvae from one transect on Breney Common and two transects on Goss Moor.

1. Carbis Moor
   No adults/webs found.
2. Tregonetha
   No adults or larvae were noted in any of the six survey areas.
3. Breney Common/Lowertown Moor
   Adults were noted in six transects and larval webs on three transects.
4. Goss Moor sites
   Adults/larvae were noted in two transects.
5. Retire Common
   No adults are larvae were found in any of the five survey areas.
6. Criggan Moor
   Adults were seen at one transect site. No larval webs were found.
7. Quoit
   One area surveyed but no adults/webs found.
8. Chark
   One area surveyed but no adults/webs found.
9. Red Moor
   Adults were noted on two transects. No larval webs were found.

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University of Exeter – field visit 11 October 2007

A field visit was hosted by Butterfly Conservation and the LIFE Project on Goss Moor National Nature Reserve. The field trip was organised for MSc Conservation and Biodiversity students and led by Dr Caroline Bulman and Tom Bereton from Butterfly Conservation. The objective of the visit was to introduce students to field data collection for butterflies and habitat assessment.

Students were given instruction on using the standard transect and vegetation assessment methodology for recording E. aurinia and asked to have a go at using the methodology at a known E. aurinia breeding patch. The students then collated the data and used it to make an assessment made on the quality of the breeding habitat.

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Marsh fritillary trails at Goss Moor and Carbis Moor.

The Mid Cornwall Moors LIFE Project has completed the construction of 2 new nature trails which will allow people to access sensitive areas of marsh fritillary habitat without damaging the breeding habitat. Both trails are circular routes waymarked with a butterfly logo.

The trails follow existing paths, lengths of boardwalk and in the case of Goss Moor, minor roads. Stout footwear is recommended. The Goss Moor trails starts at the River Fal bridge at Goss Moor (NGR SW 966602) and is approximately 1.5km in length. The Carbis Moor trails starts at the main entrance to the reserve (NGR SW999 603) and is approximately 0.5km in length. Roadside car parking is available close to the start of both trails.

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Report from marsh fritillary workshop October 2006

A marsh fritillary workshop was organised by Butterfly Conservation in October 2006, with the help of the LIFE Project Team. The event was held in Holsworthy, north Devon, and brought together staff from numerous marsh fritillary projects in the UK. The main outputs from the workshop are written up in the attached document: Summary of the workshop (pdf)

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Natural England welcomes return of Goss Moor to the wild

Press release dated 11 July 2007.
To view this article click here.
To read the report on the A30 road improvement scheme, click on the links below.
Report: A30 Bodmin to Indian Queens road improvement scheme; part 1 (pdf 3.57MB), part 2 (pdf 4.51MB)

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Brittany Information Exchange visit 17-19 September 2007.

Members of the LIFE Project Technical Steering Group were invited to Brittany, France, to share experience of managing E. aurinia habitat with colleagues from Bretagne Vivante, a nature conservation NGO, and the Parc Naturel Regional d’Armorique.

The visit was hosted by Emanuel Holder from Bretagne Vivante and Louis-Marie Guillon from the Parc Naturel Regional d’Armorique. The group visited nature reserves at Le Cragou, Venec, Cap Sizun as well as other sites in the Monts d'Arrée. The Steering Group were able to look at a range of wet and coastal grassland sites that support breeding colonies of E.aurinia and discuss differing approaches to habitat management.

Many of the sites in Brittany are managed by mowing rather than by grazing or burning which tend to be the traditional techniques used for managing wet grassland sites in mid Cornwall. The visit helped develop a greater understanding of the ecological outcomes differing types of management techniques can deliver when managing E.aurinia breeding patches. There were also many similarities in the landscape scale approach adopted in both countries and it is hoped that the visit will encourage further collaboration in the future.

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GAP workshop 19 July 2007

Around 45 graziers – public and private – met for a day to consider the economic costs and benefits of grazing sites for nature conservation. They visited a number of sites around the Goss Moor landscape and discussed the benefits of different breeds and grazing regimes. A full paper on this and the issues raised will be available shortly.

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Marsh fritillary survey summary, 2006

(Mark Tunmore/Cornwall Environmental Consultants)
The first adults were seen on 2 May and fieldwork commenced on 4th, continuing until 29 June, adults still flying at some sites on this latter date. Larval visits were carried out between 28 August and 17 September. Initial impressions are that it was a good year for adults but larvae did not fare quite so well. A short summary of the fieldwork appears below:

1. Carbis Moor
   Numbers of adults and larvae have declined in recent years with only one adult seen and no larval webs found.
2. Tregonetha
   No adults or larvae were noted in any of the six survey areas.
3. Breney Common/Lowertown Moor
   Adults/larvae were noted in 7 transects
4. Goss Moor sites Adults/larvae were noted in 11 transects. Three new survey areas were added to the programme in 2006, one of which produced records of marsh fritillary. The picture was a varied one across the Goss sites with both losses and gains.
5. Retire Common
   No adults are larvae were found in any of the five survey areas. One new site was added in 2006, where more foodplant was present. The extreme paucity of foodplant over much of the site remains a problem and the sward height is very short in places.
6. Criggan Moor
   Adults/larve were seen at 2 transect sites. The populations at both sites seemed to be stable. Three new survey areas were added to the monitoring programme in 2006, containing potentially suitable habitat though the species was not recorded at any of the new sites.
7. Quoit
   One area surveyed but no adults/webs found.
8. Chark
   One area surveyed but no webs found. Habitat condition improved as a result of recent management.
9. Red Moor
   The surprise of the season was the observation of eleven adults including a new area in 2006, followed by the discovery of one larval web in the autumn. A further two survey areas were added to the monitoring programme in 2006. The new grazing regime appears to be improving the habitat condition of the breeding patches.

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Grazing animals

The heart of this Project is targeting extensive grazing on sites and areas, and so we've been busy moving animals around. The Belted Galloway cattle have been calving, and have been moved to the western end of Goss Moor. We've put Exmoor ponies on Chark Moor, and at Carbis Moor too. The herd of British Whites - twenty-two and three calves, have been released onto the main Goss Moor compartment - look out for them when you cross the Moor on the A30!

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Marsh fritillary workshop, 4th & 5th October 2006

The LIFE Project Team is going to help Butterfly Conservation organise a workshop on the marsh fritillary this October. The event will be held in north Devon, and will bring together staff from numerous marsh fritillary projects in the UK, and hopefully from Ireland and the continent too. If you want to be kept in touch as things progress, contact Dan on 01726 828184.

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Also in September - Grazier's Day, Friday September 15th 2006

We would like to invite all those who currently graze land within the Project sites, or are interested in doing so, to an informal event at the Project office at St Dennis and afterwards on Goss Moor. The aim will be to give everyone a chance to discuss what possibilities exist for the future in terms of working together and branding beef produced in the mid-Cornwall moors, and also to discuss how best to achieve the ideal sward height for marsh fritillary conservation.
If you are interested, please contact our stockman Nick Marriott, on 01726 828184.

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We are holding an Open Day at one of our best reserves, Carbis Moor, on Saturday 16th September 2006

Carbis Moor is very near Roche, and is also on local cycle routes. English Nature staff, together with Butterfly Conservation, are planning the long-term management of the reserve for rare wildlife, including the marsh fritillary. This management includes grazing (using Exmoor ponies), and the construction of a new public access route.
We plan to do some moth trapping the night before so that visitors can see these easily missed and often very beautiful insects. After a walk around the site, you can have a pasty for lunch on us.
Parking is tricky at Carbis, so please let us know if you are coming and we'll explain the arrangements (and we'll be able to buy the right number of pasties, too). Call Dan on 01726 828184.

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July 2006 - our first calves are born, and a new public access route is planned

The Project has gone from strength to strength. As the A30 roadworks continue apace, the Project Team has been hard at work. One of the most significant events was the birth of our own new calves - there are six additions, three Belted Galloway calves and three British Whites. The very first calf made a dramatic entrance, as Nick, our Project stockman, explains:
"Buying British White cattle has been fraught with difficulties - price, TB restrictions and disease resistance to name but a few. One thing I hadn't expected was to be told during a misty March afternoon that my newly purchased 15 month old heifer, Papaya, was 6 to 8 months pregnant, and that her young pelvis was too small for her to safely pass a calf to full term. So the heifer was induced and the calf aborted. Camp was established in the office and an around the clock vigil maintained. The second night was eerily misty on the moor, but I could hear an animal in pain and I found Papaya lying on her side, which is not a good sign, with a calf's nose sticking out from under her tail. I had never delivered a calf myself but rolled my sleeves up non the less and went into action. I removed the membrane from around the calves head, located the front hooves to which I grabbed and pulled…and pulled…and pulled - it moved a centimetre. I gave it another go - another centimetre. I attached ropes, the calf came out half way, but then would budge no further, and I thought it was well and truly stuck. I stepped back, gathered my strength and went for one last pull, and this time out popped the calf - dead, I assumed. It was a melancholy moment, but then I noticed bubbles coming from its nose - gases were escaping from its lungs. Hold on, I thought - it's alive! It took a few days to get both mother and calf on their legs, both are doing well now. We weren't very imaginative with naming the calf, she's called Misti".
The British Whites have now been let loose on Goss Moor - an important event, and the culmination of many years work.
Elsewhere, a lot of work has been carried out at Carbis Moor, near Roche. This is a small but beautiful site, and the Team thought it would make a particularly accessible and interesting reserve for public and naturalists alike. We've been making footpaths and boardwalks, and getting interpretation signs made up. This September will see a grand opening of Carbis Moor. If you would like to come along and visit, please let the Team know on 01726 828184.
Access has also been improved at Breney Common, one of the Project sites managed by Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
Perhaps most encouragingly, the summer flight period in June saw some record numbers of marsh fritillary butterflies, so it looks like our work is bearing results. The butterfly has re-established breeding colonies at one site, Red Moor, where it was last previously recorded in 1991. Another colony in a particular area on Goss Moor was recorded for the first time in twenty years. In general, we found record numbers of fritillaries at a number of our Project sites.

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July 2005 - Work begins on A30

Everyone at the Mid Cornwall Moors LIFE Project is very glad that work on the Highways Agency's long-awaited 93 million pound improvement for the A30 between Indian Queens and Bodmin has begun. The existing trunk road runs through the middle to Goss Moor National Nature Reserve. By moving the road away from the reserve, the marsh fritillary will benefit enormously. Andy Brown, English Nature's Chief Executive said "we are proud to have worked with the Highways Agency to broker a unique solution which is truly win-win-win: delivering economic, social and environmental benefits. The area will become a peaceful oasis for walkers, cyclists and horse riders".

Some of the initial work has involved the capture and removal of endangered animals, including adders.

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July 2005 - Project stockman starts work

We are very happy to report that Project has a new member of staff - Nick Marriott. Nick came to us from Cornwall Wildlife Trust where he worked on a project concentrating on forging links with landowners and managers. Before that he worked for the Wildlife Trust in Berkshire Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire as a Reserves Officer, where he gained experience of using grazing animals as a management tool for nature conservation. Nick's job will be to ensure that the cattle are grazed safely and with nature conservation in mind. In particular, he wil be moving stock onto some of the other sites around Goss Moor, which we have been busy fencing in order to receive them. Many of these commons have not been extensively grazed for decades. Nick is also looking at other grazing possibilities such as ponies.

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Future events

As one of the activities at Goss Moor NNR, we plan to hold a guided walk across the reserve later this summer. If you are interested, please get in touch with Dan Bloomfield (see 'Contact us').

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Cattle arriving

LIFE Project is taking a major step forwards in mid-August, with the arrival of the first of the new cattle that will graze the moors. Traditional British breeds, Belted Galloways and British Whites, will be on Goss Moor to begin with. The cattle have been selected for their ability to cope with tough terrain. The British Whites will form part of a permanent herd on Goss Moor, whilst the 'Belties' will be a roving herd, taken to other sites within the Project

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