This week saw the start of some major habitat management at Walmsley. Following Natural England (NE) SSSI consent to undertake the works, within a 1st Sept – 31st October window, several trustees have been working with warden Adrian Langdon to ensure the work can go ahead.
David Collins has written a new management plan and follow-up site meetings identified the most important areas that required management.
These included
* In front of the new hide to enlarge the pool and reduce encroachment of reed
* The channel running back towards the Tower hide and the area in front of the tower hide.
* the channel running from the corner pool in the northerly direction towards the far side
* excavating the pool along from the tower hide.
Using a 14-tonne long arm swing shovel, tractor and tipper, Matthew Wills, a local based contractor, has already made significant progress and although the site looks devastated it will soon green up again. Last Wednesday’s work party cleared the way for the corner hide to be removed.
The hide will be refurbished and re-located elsewhere.
Adrian Lea has submitted the planning application for the replacement hide and Lloyd Turner Ltd has been awarded the contract to design and build. It will be similar to the Middle Amble hide and give us much improved viewing (but maybe fewer spiders)!
We please ask you to show your support for the hide by commenting on Cornwall Council’s online Planning Portal here quoting planning application number PA26/04515.
The work is being funded through a generous legacy left to the Society in 2025 and payments received from our Countryside Stewardship agreement with the tenant farmer
Although the reserve remains open for visitors to the Tower Hide, there will be considerable disruption for between four and eight weeks.
