Peatland restoration in the South West has been scaled up hugely over the past 5 years. Working in partnership has enabled holistic monitoring, palaeoecological research, planning and implementing larger and more complex...
James Richards
Bring together the people of Bodmin, Liskeard, Launceston and surrounding areas with the farmers of Bodmin Moor to explore and celebrate the rich nature, history and traditions that connect them.
Bring together the people of Bodmin, Liskeard, Launceston and surrounding areas with the farmers of Bodmin Moor to explore and celebrate the rich nature, history and traditions that connect them.
By working together we can protect this special landscape for wildlife, for the climate and for future generations to enjoy.
“Bodmin Moor is a landscape that has shaped both our history and our communities. This project is about bringing people together to celebrate our shared heritage, support sustainable farming and create meaningful access to the landscape” Emma Browning, Cornwall National Landscape Partnership Manager
“Landscapes and nature form the bedrock of our culture and heritage, improving wellbeing, sparking curiosity, and protecting and providing for the community’s surrounding and inhabiting them. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we’re proud to support Cornwall National Landscape with this important project, which will reconnect the local communities with rural traditions and celebrate the amazing natural heritage on their doorstep.” Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London – & The South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Last updated 13/01/26
Farm Action maps created
Number of people engaged with the project – including from outreach
Cultural heritage assets have been better interpreted, understood or more accessible
Natural heritage sites/species have been better interpreted, understood or more accessible
Number of community groups engaged
Number of farmer engagement activities or events
Events hosted or supported by the project
Our Primary Purpose is to conserve and enhance Natural Beauty.
Our priority is to lead and support projects which deliver under these four key categories.
Empower local people to take a central role in shaping and sustaining Cornwall’s protected landscapes, creating a lasting framework for community engagement, sustainable land management and heritage preservation.
Fostering a sense of place by helping people connect to our unique natural heritage, we will facilitate visits to the Moor as well as promoting engagement through intangible cultural heritage practises; songs, poetry, art and spoken word.
Faced with a declining biodiversity, we will work with communities and farmers to improve habitats and support key species by conducting wildlife surveys, habitat restoration and raising awareness through events.
Working with farmers to support better land management for climate, including mapping opportunities for targeting carbon sequestration and exploring green finance initiatives.
Through our Natural Beauty & The beast project we are launching a new Community Grant Scheme which will be available to support projects that promote community engagement with the natural or cultural heritage of Bodmin Moor.
Check out the amazing projects we have awarded funding below!
A hands-on archaeology project for children and young people (ages 8–16) on Bodmin Moor. Activities include a scrub-clearing day followed by a test-pitting excavation, teaching practical archaeological skills such as excavation, recording, and finds identification.
A community project inviting local residents to experience Bodmin Moor’s heritage and Dark Sky Landscape through guided evening walks, stargazing sessions, and a creative community gathering. Activities combine storytelling, mythology, wildlife observation, and dark sky awareness, culminating in a handmade booklet of shared reflections, later digitised and shared online.
Learn the heritage skill of Cornish hedging, its historical significance, and gain hands-on experience restoring a 16-meter section of traditional wall. The day includes practical training by CREST, communal lunch, and opportunities for social interaction, aiming to connect farmers and the public while preserving cultural heritage.
The project aims to engage young people in exploring Bodmin Moor’s mining heritage and interpreting it through Minecraft-based digital reconstruction. In partnership with the Young Archaeologists’ Club and Liskeard Library, participants will gather data on the Caradon Mining District (Area 9 of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site) and transform it into an interactive virtual environment.
The project will create three multi-sensory stories that bring the natural heritage of Bodmin Moor to people who face barriers to accessing outdoor spaces. Each story combines simple text with tactile, visual, auditory, and scent elements and is housed in a portable vessel. The stories will be available to borrow from libraries in Bodmin, Launceston, and Liskeard, alongside community sessions and training to support their use.
FLOCK! is a creative engagement project exploring migratory birds, climate change, and cultural connections to Bodmin Moor. It will deliver workshops and guided field experiences for internationally educated NHS staff, Bodmin College students and local families. Activities include ecological learning, bird listening, sound recording, creative writing, and visual arts. The project culminates in a public sharing event and exhibition in Bodmin.
The project will enhance visitor engagement and promote responsible recreation at Golitha Falls National Nature Reserve through the installation of new artistic interpretation features and species monitoring tools, a series of guided walks and greater volunteer involvement.
The project celebrates 40 years of Sterts Arts & Environmental Centre and its transformation from a former pig farm into a creative and environmental hub on the edge of Bodmin Moor. It will invite local communities to explore and share their stories through community heritage workshops covering oral history, archival skills, and heritage mapping; founders’ sessions sharing early Sterts stories; a guided heritage walk; and pop-up memory booths in Liskeard, Launceston, and Sterts.
The project combines biodiversity enhancement and creative arts on the edge of Bodmin Moor, involving the planting of a new woodland and the creation of a symphonic musical composition inspired by the site’s natural heritage. The first movement, “The World of Invertebrates,” will be developed through fieldwork and sound walks at Westmoor, creative workshops at Altarnun Primary School, and the composition, notation, recording, and performance of music by children. The final outputs will include a film, recorded music, and a live performance, celebrating Bodmin Moor’s ecology and cultural identity
The project will offer walks and surveys with ecologists and soil scientists to teach monitoring and surveying techniques, alongside explorations of Peatlands and the China Clay heritage through hands-on clay workshops. Creative workshops for St Breward Primary School will combine outdoor learning with drawing and painting, while a Bioblitz Open Day will invite the whole community to showcase findings and engage in ecology and heritage activities.
The project aims to collect biodiversity data across key tributaries of the Fowey catchment, including Warleggan, Cardinham Water, and St Neot, to establish a baseline for monitoring the environmental benefits of beaver activity. This will involve eDNA water sampling to identify species present, Riverfly surveys to monitor water quality and health, and wildlife monitoring using trail cameras. Volunteers will receive training in these techniques as well as in beaver ecology, helping to build local skills and foster community involvement in nature recovery efforts.
The project reconnects communities with Bodmin Moor’s cultural and natural heritage through creative pottery workshops, archaeological walks, and exhibitions. Inspired by the Rillaton Barrow and Bronze Age traditions, participants will explore ancient sites such as The Hurlers and Rillaton Barrow on a guided archaeological walk, create pottery beads and a collaborative ceramic cauldron using locally foraged materials and traditional wood-firing techniques, and engage with mythology, ecology, and animist practices, linking art to archaeology and environmental stewardship. The project will culminate in exhibitions showcasing both collaborative artwork and individual creations.
Workshops, wildlife and heritage surveys, guided walks, and volunteering opportunities on farms will provide hands-on experiences for people of all ages to connect with the land and its stories whilst providing health and wellbeing benefits, whilst creative sessions will use storytelling, art, songs, poetry and cultural traditions inspired by the landscape.
Check out our events page to find out what’s coming up soon!
We have launched a Bodmin Moor Communities Facebook group. This is a place for Community Groups operating on Bodmin Moor or the surrounding area to network, share experience and knowledge and celebrate the amazing work you’re all doing!
We are always looking for new volunteers and partners to help support the project. If you would like to find out more or get involved in the project, please send us an email at NaturalBeauty@cornwall.gov.uk. or check out our volunteer hub to stay up to date with upcoming opportunities to get involved.
For any other queries contact NaturalBeauty@cornwall.gov.uk.
Seven local farmers will act as partner farms, developing bespoke Farm Action Plans to guide land management decisions on their farms. These plans will target carbon storage, heritage conservation, biodiversity improvements and sustainable finance opportunities, while also helping foster stronger urban-rural connections through shared learning and engagement.
