Biodiversity

We are experiencing a large and urgent crisis in species decline with over 75% of wildflower meadows having disappeared from the UK. It is both a national and Cornwall priority to halt and reverse species decline. Species decline is a problem for all sorts of reasons, not least because we need tiny insects to pollinate plants so that people continue to have food to eat and we need a wide variety of biodiversity  in all things to help nature to adapt to changes ahead. Cornwall Wildlife Trust are leading on the Penwith Landscape Recovery project on the nearby moorland SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and in March 2025 Cornwall Council published its Local Nature Recovery Strategy which is all about joining up habitats everywhere like a patchwork of nature corridors. Its a great vision but they need everyone to help deliver it! We are working in partnership with a number of local ecologists and citizen science groups like the Penwith Recording Group as well as more strategic conservation organisations to help locally. 

Anyone can help to record, protect and enhance biodiversity, you can join a local group to propagate important species, plant trees or work independently to record species, dates and locations wherever you observe wildlife in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, via the Environmental Records Centre website or download the ORKS app. There are also specific citizen science recording projects for birds, butterflies and pollinators via the UK CEntre for Ecology and Hydrology such as the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

In Summer 2025 we launched our Nature Trail which includes imaginative activities of things to spot and do along the way and we’ve provided some interpretations signage so that you can self-tour and learn more about weather, climate, soil, water, weather, trees, and biodiversity along the way. Plan your visit here: Nature Trail.  Please use our #wildbosavern tag in your social media posts to let us know what interesting wildlife you’ve spotted on our farm. Over the years people have reported seeing a heron, barn owl, kestrel, red kite, buzzard, fox, weasel, pole cat, grey squirrel, hedgehog, roe deer, jack snipe, adder, rabbits and slow worm (and two goldfish living in an old cattle trough). See a few more photos of Bosavern plants and animals here.

In episode 3 of our Twist & Sprout podcast, Wildflower Project team lead Nick Hall and National Trust’s Ash Pearson talk all things wildflowers and in Episode 6 Forest For Cornwall officer Annie Surtees joins Ecologist Nick Taylor and Bosavern Tree Lead Terry Sutcliffe to talk about the Bosavern Tree Group and tree planting more generally across Cornwall.

                 Interview with Nick Hall                                                                  Interview with Ash Pearson                                     The Tree Episode #6

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Which species and habitats do we need more of?

This is discussed in our podcast but for those interested in the fine detail of what to plant and grow for maximum benefit, there are important ‘Focus Species’ and ‘Focus Habitat’ lists within the Cornwall Nature Recovery Strategy which you can begin to explore via this webpage: Cornwall Nature Recovery Strategy 

There are also ‘priority species’ and ‘priority habitats’ as listed by DEFRA, specifically for West Penwith accessible here: DEFRA Species & Habitat lists for West Penwith.

See also the potential for joining up areas of habitat by visiting the ARCIS habitat map

Our volunteer Team Leads take expert advice regularly and are also happy to share the knowledge they have gained. If you are interested in helping our local nature recovery efforts,  we are always keen to welcome new volunteers so do get in touch!