Wildlife

Cornwall Council is developing a Local Nature Recovery strategy in which everyone can have a role. The output will be a road map towards an ambition for 30% of land, inland water and seas being well-managed for nature by 2030.

Falmouth has the opportunity to contribute to this objective.  

The Town Council manages these open spaces;  Kimberley Park, The Bowly, Trescobeas Park, Falmouth new and old cemeteries, Ponsharden Congregational Cemetery, Dracaena Playing Fields, Gyllyngdune Gardens and Pendennis Point.  Please visit Our Services page for more information on these individual spaces.

Within our formal parks, a balance has been struck between the needs of recreational use and wildlife-friendly areas.  Both Falmouth Old Cemetery and Pendennis Point include habitats that are managed to maximise their biodiversity.   

The majority of our open spaces are managed by Cornwall Council whose ambitions align with a bigger focus on nature recovery.   Several spaces have benefitted from additional tree planting as part of the Forest for Cornwall project and wildlife-friendly planting through Making Space for Nature 

Nature Reserves

Falmouth is home to two nature reserves both of which sit within the Falmouth Green Corridor.

 Falmouth Green Corridor is a community initiative run by volunteers which is committed to  the conservation and enhancement of the green corridor, which is comprised of woodland, nature reserves and other green spaces and follows the course of the Bickland Stream from its source, to its outlet at Swanpool Beach.

 Swanpool Nature Reserve is one of the eleven most important brackish lagoons in Britain and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The brackish conditions (a mixture of fresh and salt water) enable a wide variety of wildlife to thrive. One species – The Trembling Sea Mat – is found nowhere else in the UK. Swanpool Nature Reserve is managed by the Swanpool Forum.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust also has a small Nature Reserve to the northeast of the Swanvale Nature Reserve. This tiny reserve comprises mostly willow carr, which provides shelter for many small birds and mammals. Mosses and ferns also thrive in the humid atmosphere of this wet woodland.

Forest for Cornwall

Forest for Cornwall aims to support and empower the people of Cornwall to tackle the climate and ecological emergency by helping our residents, businesses and communities to plant the right trees, in the right place for the right purpose. This includes everything from planting woodlands to individual trees in gardens across Cornwall.  

The team can provide advice and in some cases free trees.  Information about how to contact them can be found here: Forest for Cornwall | Let’s Talk Cornwall

If you are considering getting involved in Climate Action, you may find this toolkit developed by an independent organisation that gives useful tips and templates to help you on your journey: CCAT Toolkit (schumacherinstitute.org.uk)