Ecological Surveys (Bodmin Moor Hill Farming Project)

One of the project activities last year was to carry out ecological surveys of two moors, East Moor and Blisland, to assess their ecological condition and provide some possible funded management options. 

The surveys and assessments considered opportunities for ecological enhancement via different means, including scrub and gorse clearance, trials of funded virtual fencing collars, archaeological site conservation among options. These could provide multiple benefits to both grazing livestock and priority species; creating more nutritious grazing and a mosaic of healthy habitats.

We recognise that not everyone has the time to fully read and digest reports of this size and therefore we believe it is important to have face to face conversations about what’s in them, and what they mean.

We want to hear what’s happening already, what the farming constraints are related to possible management options, where the ecological opportunities could best be delivered, and what it would take to incentivise doing them.

To help open a conversation about them, communicate their findings and hear from you we are inviting farmers, commoners and landowners to a meeting on Thursday the 24th of April – to find out more, please email BodminMoorHFP@cornwall.gov.uk. There will be pasties tea and coffee provided.

We hosted a similar, great event back in October at the Jamaica Inn that was well attended, and we were able to hear concerns and feedback as we discussed the planned approach for surveys. We took all that on board for the work that has been done to date.

We want to share the findings in a similarly informal and conversational way and work with you to highlight areas where you can lead on actioning impactful and suitable management options that could be directly funded by the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme.

If you’re unable to join us at the event, or have any feedback or concerns after the event has taken place, please don’t hesitate to email BodminMoorHFP@cornwall.gov.uk. Likewise if you want to talk to anyone about the reports and what they mean just drop us an email.