The Gaia Trust has recently received approval for a new, five year, Higher Level Countryside Stewardship Agreement for Chark Moor. Chark Moor covers approximately 12ha of low-lying ground between two spurs. Most of it is wet woodland but there is also about 2.5ha of wet, unimproved grassland. It is part of the Mid Cornwall Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest and is being managed to encourage the re-colonisation of the rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly (Euphydryas aurinia). The vision underlying the Agreement is to extend the existing area of open grassland at the expense of invading scrub/woodland, manage the open grassland to increase floral diversity and to increase public access/engagement. Management measures therefore focus on improving the existing species rich grassland by winter grazing (using rare breeds like the Belted Galloway Cattle on site shown above), scrub control/eradication & educational access.
The agreement includes significant capital investment (fencing/gates) to eventually allow the removal of some of the woodland from areas at the west of the site that were previously grassland in the 1990s, and the recommencement of grazing. However, those activities aren’t included in this Agreement. The other big news is that the Agreement includes a sum to build a raised boardwalk and viewing platform at the site with associated interpretation. This will allow for educational access to the site and the Gaia Trust is very keen to hear from schools, colleges or any other group that is interested in visiting the site.
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Work to demolish the old barns at Bodwannick Manor Farm is progressing well. They are over forty years old and are no longer adequate for stock housing and their demolition clears the way for a new stock barn to be erected. The removal of these old barns is also part of the site plan to create a health and wellbeing hub on the site. Without them we will be able to put the old stone barn that is now being revealed on the market and put the funds raised towards to the restoration and re-purposing of other buildings on the site. Utmost care is being taken during the demolition to separate recyclable materials; primarily wood and metal, from non recyclable and haxardous waste like the asbestos roof panels. They will be sent to specialised landfill.
Over the last six weeks, Richard at Treraven Farm has been clearing a large patch of brambles ready for new native trees to be planted this Autumn. It has been hard work as the brambles were extremely thik but luckily we were able to use new equipment brought for the purpose thanks to a grant from the Cornwall TEVI project. We have also been able to use Tafi, the small tractor owned by the Camel Community Supported Agriculture group who have set up beside the car park. You can see a short video of Richard's hardwork here https://youtu.be/mpFG_gwcVmE The new trees that will be planted this Autumn have been supplied by the Woodland Trust and will create new woodland habitat an, over time, will absorb the carbon footprint of 20 people at current average per person rate of carbon emmissions in Cornwall.
The Gaia Trust's application for a new Countryside Stewardship Agreement at Treraven has been approved and begins on January 1st 2020. Matt Edworthy, the Gaia Trust's Director says "we are delighted with this news and can begin to implement our plans which will allow us to improve our soils, create more valuable wildlife habitat and continue delivering access and education for the public, whilst still productively farming". Key elements of he Agreement are grass and herb rich leys that improve soil condition and pasture habitat for wildlife, field corners taken out of management, low input grasslands and leaving rye grass to seed as over wintering food for birds. We will continue our hedge management, but also lay some stretches and repair some of the traditional stone faced hedge banks.
In March, Sam, William and Peter Hodge, the tenant farmers for the Gaia Trust at Treraven, joined Richard and Matt from Gaia to visit Martin Howard's farm near Launceston. The visit was organised through the UK Farmer Group Discussion Network (thanks to Kate and Alex from the University of Exeter for making the arrangements) so that we could see how Martin has used grass and herb rich leys on his farm. It was an excellent day and we learned how Martin's herb-rich pastures support cattle health, improve soil structure and water penetration, carbon and humic content and soil micro-organisms. In the summer, when they are left to grow long, their flowers provide valuable habitat and food for a variety of insects that are uncommon and declining on rye grass dominated, artificially fertlised 'intesive' pasture.
The Gaia Trust is thinking about including herb and legume rich leys in our management of our Treraven farm Nature Reserve near Wadebridge from 2020. In December 2018 a drone flew over Chark Moor so that we can monitor the effects of our scrub management work on the site. The drone flies a pre-determined grid pattern at a set altitude and takes over one hundred downward photographs. These are then 'stitched together' using special software to create a detailed composite image with a resolution of about 1 metre.
Matched to drone pictures that we took in 2016, we can monitor how all of Chark Moor is changing with time and as a result of Gaia's careful Stewardship Here are some excellent pictures from a volunteer task to clear bramble, willow and tamarisk from the reedbed at Home Farm Marsh in late December 2018. A great way to shift post-Christmas calories.
Our volunteers were ably assisted by Pete from Falcon Tree Services with his chainsaw, who gave his time for free. Together Pete and the volunteers cut, removed and burned many tons of wood, but there are still 5 or 6 tons remaining to be moved. Our new partner is Camel Community Supported Agriculture (Camel CSA). For almost ten years, Camel CSA has been growing and sharing fresh seasonal local food, supporting local vegetable growers and reducing food miles from their home at St Kew Highway. The Camel CSA is a social enterprise, so any profits are ploughed back into the project. Camel CSA want to move to Wadebridge to make things easier for their volunteers and to make the delivery of their vegetable boxes simpler. Their sustainable approach fits well with those of Gaia and we are pleased to be able to host them at Treraven Farm in the field immediately adjacent to the car park and opposite the Gaia Trust’s field shelter, which overlooks the town and the estuary.
The field is larger than their present one and will provide scope for Camel CSA to expand their growing area, create a wildflower meadow and plant an orchard. Together with the Camel CSA we will be able to expand joint social and educational at Treraven - truly "farming for people and nature". Camel CSA's move will not happen in one go, and over the next two years they will gradually move their polytunnels, equipment store, solar panels and packing shed, whilst continuing to grow crops on the two sites simultaneously. Camel CSA have already raised more than half of the relocation costs from local and national sources and will shortly be submitting a planning application to Cornwall Council. This is for two freight containers that will be converted into secure equipment and packing sheds. They will be landscaped with sustainable green roofs and wildlife habitat so that they blend in with their Treraven surroundings. You will be able to view and comment on the planning application through Cornwall Council. Details of how to do this will be posted on the on-site planning notice, on the Cornwall Council planning website and through their other normal channels. So what can you do? There'll be numerous opportunities on special volunteer work days over the coming months to help Camel CSA dismantle, move and reinstate the polytunnels, construct sheds, plant Cornish hedging, install rabbit-proof fencing, prepare new no-dig vegetable beds and spread compost. If you feel you have a particular skill you could contribute just for a few hours we and they would love to hear from you. Email Camel-CSA at info@camel-csa.org.uk or contact the Gaia Trust through Richard our site ranger at RichardA@gaiatrust.org.uk. Public access is a key element of the Gaia Trust's mission to farm for people and wildlife. Therefore, we are happy that we have been able to enlarge and re-surface the car park at our Treraven Farm Nature Reserve near Wadebridge. The new surfacing is made of local granite sand and stone and will hopefully last many many years.
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