Upcoming events……
Constructing Artificial Sand Martin banks and other habitats
Monday, June 16th 2025
7:30 PM
Camel Barn, Rosuick Farm, TR126DZ
"It’s work but not as you know it! - Design and construction of artificial Sand Martin banks and other habitats”
Join us for an evening with Lloyd Turner, a qualified Civil Engineer with over 35 years of experience who is now based in Cornwall. In recent years, Lloyd has focused his expertise towards sustainable and environmental projects, including several within some of our national nature reserves.
He will talk about his work creating artificial habitats for a variety of species including sand martin and kingfisher banks, tern rafts, bat lofts and barns, newt ponds, bug hotels. and reptile hibernacula.
Lloyd regularly works with his wife, Helen Shackleton, herself an award-winning artist and designer with a passion for the natural world. Specialising in mural painting, Helen has over 30 years of creation in the environmental sector and established ‘Wild Murals’ in 2005.
Together, they often joke that if Helen can draw it, then Lloyd can build it – allowing their imaginations to run wild…!!
Also, Justin Evens will introduce us to his plans for a new and exciting 2026 Wildlife Groundswell project to construct and install house martin nest boxes around the Lizard.
Free to attend—everyone’s welcome! Bring your curiosity (and a friend or two) for an
engaging talk and discussion.
Hope to see you there!
Meadows Day
Meadows Day at Kestle Barton Tickets, Sat, Jul 5, 2025 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite
🌼 MEADOWS DAY at Kestle Barton 🌼
Saturday 5 July 2025 | 11am – 4pm
Free | Family-friendly | All welcome
Celebrate the beauty of our wildflower meadows with Wildlife Groundswell at Kestle Barton.
A day full of nature, creativity, and community. Activities for all ages to enjoy!
🌿 Plant ID walk
🕊️ Talk on swifts, swallows & meadow birdlife
🎨 Swift kite-making & butterfly mask crafting
🌍 Earth Windows activity – explore nature creatively
🧘♀️ Meditation in the meadow
🎶 Live music
🥟 Free Gear Farm pasties for lunch
🌸 Explore Kestle Barton & neighbouring Scrimshaw meadows
Our meadows are being cared for with grazing cattle, helping restore biodiversity and reduce scrub.
Supported by Wildflower Collective CIC
📸 @wildflower_collective_cic
📍 Location: Kestle Barton, Manaccan, TR12 6HU
🧺 Bring a picnic blanket & stay for the day!
Dragonfly and Damselfly ID Workshop
Dragonfly and Damselfly ID Workshop
Hosted by Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
Friday 11 July 2025 10:00-15:00
Windmill Farm Nature Reserve
Ruan Minor TR12 7AU
Find out how to tell your emperors from your hawkers and your skimmers from your darters. In this workshop, you will spend a day at Windmill Farm Nature Reserve learning the tricks and techniques of identifying the species of dragonfly and damselfly found in Cornwall.
Windmill Farm NR supports a network of many ponds and standing waterbodies, with almost every pond supporting a rare or important plant or invertebrate species. Windmill Farm NR is also recognised as a great site for dragon and damselflies, with 17 species being regularly recorded here. In 2023 it also produced a new record for the UK, a Vagrant Emperor, Anax ephippiger - the first record of an immature vagrant in the UK. During the search for the exuviae to confirm the Vagrant Emperor record, the exuviae of the Red-veined darter – Sympetrum fonscolombei (a rare breeder in the UK and a first exuviae for the reserve ) was also found, cementing this site as an excellent habitat for dragonflies which we believe requires regular monitoring
As well as developing your identification skills, you will be coached in effective, repeatable survey methods for producing good quality biological records that can be used to inform conservation efforts.
Leader: Steve Jones (County Recorder for Dragonflies and Damselflies)
Wildlife Groundswell Bat Nights
Wildlife Groundswell Bat Nights
Thursday 5 June 2025 Trelowarren Estate
Meet at 21:00
Trelowarren Car park what3words artist.mainframe.paint. grid reference SW718238 , postcode TR12 6DE. Please note this is not the restaurant carpark.
🦇 Join the Wildlife Groundswell Bat Nights!
Wildlife Groundswell invites you to experience the magic of bats in our local landscapes with our evening visits:
Expect an enchanting evening of bat-spotting—please wear warm clothes and sturdy footwear. Bring a torch (ideally a head torch), and a bat detector if you have one. Events may be postponed if the weather turns.
Want to stay in the loop via WhatsApp? Let us know your number and Elle will add you to the group.
Come along and discover the night-time world of bats!
Water Beetle ID Workshop
CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST WORKSHOPS ON THE LIZARD
Water beetle ID workhsop
Hosted by Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
Thursday 5 June 10:00-15:00
Windmill Farm Nature Reserve
Ruan Minor TR12 7AU
Join Cornwall Wildlife Trust at Windmill Farm Nature Reserve for a fun and educational event focused on identifying different species of water beetles! Get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures as you explore their habitats and learn about their unique characteristics. This in-person event is led by the expertise of Professor Bilton and is perfect for nature enthusiasts.
Windmill Farm NR supports a network of many ponds and standing waterbodies, with almost every pond supporting a rare or important plant or invertebrate species. An aquatic invertebrate survey was conducted in 2017 and found two internationally important (Haliplus variegatus and Graptodytes flavipes) and one nationally important (Dryops striatellus) water beetle species. Come along and see if you can help spot them, and see what else you might discover!
Wildlife Groundswell Bat Nights
🦇 Join the Wildlife Groundswell Bat Nights!
Wildlife Groundswell invites you to experience the magic of bats in our local landscapes with our evening visits:
Thursday 29 May at Manaccan Church — meet at 21:00 at the church.
What3Words: ///splashes.easygoing.vivid | Grid Ref: SW76392502
(Sunset: 21:18)
Expect an enchanting evening of bat-spotting—please wear warm clothes and sturdy footwear. Bring a torch (ideally a head torch), and a bat detector if you have one. Events may be postponed if the weather turns.
Want to stay in the loop via WhatsApp? Let us know your number and Elle will add you to the group.
Come along and discover the night-time world of bats!
River Detectives: Try Out Riverfly Monitoring
🕵️♀️ River Detectives: Try Out Riverfly Monitoring
Saturday 24th May | 11:00am – 4:00pm
Meeting point: National Trust Poltesco, TR12 7LR
Join Wildlife Groundswell’s WGstreamtesters for an inspiring hands-on introduction to Riverfly monitoring – a vital citizen science project helping to protect the health of our local streams and rivers.
As wildlife habitats come under increasing pressure, our rivers and streams are some of the most threatened ecosystems. The Riverfly Partnership enables volunteers across the UK to monitor water quality and the presence of key aquatic invertebrates that indicate the health of our freshwater environments.
This free taster afternoon is a chance to:
Learn about the threats facing our streams
Understand why monitoring matters
Get practical tips from experienced volunteers
Try out the sampling method for yourself in a local stream
Whether you're curious, concerned, or keen to get involved – everyone is welcome.
🕘 Schedule
11:00 – Welcome & Introduction (National Trust Poltesco meeting room)
With Maggie Freegard
What’s happening in our streams – and why it matters
What Riverfly monitoring involves
The Riverfly Partnership and how citizen scientists are making a difference
Practicalities & Q&A
With Justin Evens, John Meakin and the WGstreamtesters group
Choosing a good site (and avoiding a bad one)
Survey frequency and seasonal variation
Kit, safety, site permissions and useful tips
What’s in a Riverfly survey kit and how to use it
How long a survey takes and what kind of commitment is needed
Recording and understanding your results
13:00 – Discussion & Lunch
Bring your own packed lunch and stay for informal chat and questions.
14:00 – Hands-On Practical Session
Cadgwith stream (below the car park)
Try your hand at:
Using a net to collect a sample
Sorting leaves and debris to find hidden invertebrates
Identifying and recording key indicator species
Returning them gently to the stream
📍 Locations
Morning session (11:00–13:00)
National Trust Poltesco Meeting Room
Poltesco Lane, Kuggar, TR12 7LR
///thrones.establish.shorthand
OS Grid Ref: SW 72526 15774
Afternoon session (14:00–16:00)
Cadgwith Car Park – Free parking for this event
Opposite Ledra Close, Cadgwith, TR12 7LD
///essay.pockets.edicts
OS Grid Ref: SW 71904 14787
💧 Important to know:
This is a taster session. To become a certified Riverfly monitor, you’ll need to attend a free, full-day training course later in the year with an accredited trainer.
🎥 Want to see Riverfly in action?
Bat Walk
🦇 Join the Wildlife Groundswell Bat Nights!
Wildlife Groundswell invites you to experience the magic of bats in our local landscapes with two upcoming evening visits:
Wednesday 14 May at Penrose Estate — meet at 20:30 in the National Trust Penrose car park.
What3Words: ///wipe.storming.predict | Grid Ref: SW63882587
(Sunset: 21:00)
Expect an enchanting evening of bat-spotting—please wear warm clothes and sturdy footwear. Bring a torch (ideally a head torch), and a bat detector if you have one. Events may be postponed if the weather turns.
Want to stay in the loop via WhatsApp? Let us know your number and Elle will add you to the group.
Come along and discover the night-time world of bats!
Invertebrate monitoring introduction day Goonhilly Downs
Tues 6 May 10:00-14:00 Invertebrate monitoring introduction day Goonhilly Downs, meet Higher Bochym, NE office TR12 7AZ w3w straying.ooze.stiletto
An opportunity to explore the NNR and learn about its invertebrates. We will host a discussion and presentation of monitoring projects for a variety of species. The plan is to hopefully build a plan of long-term surveying and monitoring to suit people’s interest and availability. If you have any particular interest or skills/specialism, please feel free to bring any guides or books to engage others. We will be working with local specialists and the NNR team to pull together a list of projects that are relevant to nature recovery and the NNR management plan
If you are interested in volunteering with either or both of the above events, click on the links below to reach Chris Waddle NNR Engagement and Visitor Experience Higher Officer for Devon and Cornwall Team, Natural England
🌿 May the 4th Be With You! 🌿
🌿 May the 4th Be With You! 🌿
The first 2025 get-together of the Any-Size Landowners’ Group is happening soon!
📍 Location: Mount Carlees Farm, Ruan Minor, TR127LL
📅 Date: Sunday, 4th May
⏰ Time: 12 noon – 2 PM
All welcome (even if you don’t have a garden). Or perhaps you have a piece of land—large or small—that you manage with wildlife enhancement in mind, come along and connect with like-minded people! It’s a great chance to share ideas, experiences, and inspiration.
More details will be shared in the next newsletter—stay tuned!
Fund raising for Wildlife Groundswell at Porthleven Food Fair with Albatross Gallery
Fund raising for Wildlife Groundswell at Porthleven Food Fair with Albatross Gallery
Friday - Sunday 2-4 May
Huge thanks to Albatross Gallery for this lovely idea. Here are some words from Kath...
Wildlife Groundswell are doing great things for people and nature on the Lizard Peninsula. We’re all inspired daily by the natural world and the wildlife on our doorstep so we want to give something back. It’s also a way to celebrate all the inspirational artists and the hard work that everyone does over the whole year.
Come along - we’ll be serving cupcakes (on a tall Cornish-ware cake stand) and English sparkling wine while you try your hand - or demonstrate - painting some stunning botanical art. Let’s face it: I’m hardly the expert!
Please drop in during PFF between 2nd-4th May!
If you’d like to join in but can’t make it, simply paint a pansy on 6x6” paper and donate it to the cause. At close of events, paintings will be offered for sale with proceeds also going to charity. There's wonderful guidance from Helen Botanics - see link here. You can also donate direct to Wildlife Groundswell - see link here
Dry Tree/Goonhilly Downs – Practical volunteering
Tues 29 April 10:00-14:00 Dry Tree/Goonhilly Downs – Practical volunteering
Access development work. Footpath enhancement work including digging, levelling and laying stone to create a more inclusive and accessible track. This track will create a sustainable infrastructure for visitors which will support the health and development of the adjacent ground conditions. The session will be within the heathland and lots of opportunities to explore and learn about the local flora and fauna.
Meet at Goonhilly Downs Car Park at 10am w3w anyway.tidal.bitter
If you are interested in volunteering with either or both of the above events, click on the links below to reach Chris Waddle NNR Engagement and Visitor Experience Higher Officer for Devon and Cornwall Team, Natural England
Swift Nest Box Belfry Tour – Ruan Minor & Landewednack
Swift Nest Box Belfry Tour – Ruan Minor & Landewednack | Sat 26 April
Join us for a special behind-the-scenes look inside two historic church belfries where swifts are finding new homes!
Saturday 26th April – Limited to 10 places
We’re inviting you to view recently installed swift nest boxes and call systems at:
• St Rumon Church, Ruan Minor at 12:00pm
• Followed by St Wynwallow Church, Landewednack at 1:00pm
These innovative installations are helping swifts return to our skies — and you’ll get to see how it’s done. Expect ladders, winding staircases, and a touch of adventure!
Bonus: The visit to St Wynwallow will be filmed by Prefigure Earth, a new platform spotlighting grassroots environmental action. If you’re inspired to say a few words on camera about your love for swifts — fantastic! But there’s no pressure.
Places are limited to 10, so please RSVP by email:
wildlifegroundswell@gmail.com
Locations:
• St Rumon Church – TR12 7JL – [What3Words: chilling.showrooms.december]
• St Wynwallow Church – TR12 7PH – [What3Words: comedians.shuts.resold]
Let’s celebrate and support swift conservation together!
#Swifts #CornwallWildlife #WildlifeGroundswell #SwiftNestboxes #ChurchBelfries
email us to tell us you are coming: wildlifegroundswell@gmail.com
Migration on the Lizard – What to expect month to month
🌍 Migration on the Lizard – What to expect month to month
📅 Monday, April 21
🕠 7:30 PM
📍 Camel Barn, Rosuick Farm, TR126DZ
Join us for an evening with Dougy Wright, wildlife warden at Windmill Farm, as we explore the incredible journeys of migrating species on the Lizard—birds, butterflies, and more!
Free to attend—everyone’s welcome! Bring your curiosity (and a friend or two) for an engaging talk and discussion.
Hope to see you there!
Bat Group Social
🦇 Join Us for a Bat Group Social!
📅 Thursday, April 10
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 St Martin Parish Hall (TR12 6BP)
The Wildlife Groundswell Bat Group is gathering for a fun and informal evening to plan our 2025 bat surveys. Whether you’re an experienced bat enthusiast or just curious, come along and help decide where we’ll explore—historic farmsteads, old churches, and wooded valleys.
Everyone’s welcome! Bring your ideas (and a friend or two). Admission is free, and it’s a great chance to meet fellow wildlife lovers.
We’d love to see you there!
Future Projects Meeting
🦋Next Wildlife Groundswell 'Future Projects' meeting
📅 Wednesday 9th April
🕠 7:00 PM
📍 Camel Barn, Rosuick Farm, TR126DZ
All welcome, please come along with your ideas for helping wildlife on the Lizard.
The State of Nature and Us: A Talk from Wildlife Groundswell
The State of Nature and Us
Lizard Flora and Fauna A Wildlife Talk by Naturalist Paul Gainey
Lizard Flora and Fauna
Trees and Hedgerows Project
Trees and Hedgerows project
Formation of a new Wildlife Groundswell ‘Trees and Hedgerow’ group
For some time now Wildlife Groundswell has been thinking about forming a new “Trees and Hedgerows” subgroup but we have been so busy recently with other activities that we just did not get around to it. Until now.
So now we are putting the call out to you, our supporters, with the question: would you like to see WG actively promoting tree and hedgerow projects? And if yes, then more importantly: would you like to participate in tree projects?
Tree projects might involve town or village communities, schools, individuals; private land or community areas, parks, green spaces, road verges, hedges, existing neglected woodland, education, outreach, community tree nurseries, urban areas, with many ways to mix and match these as the opportunity arises.
Successful projects tend to be less about the trees and more about people. Planting trees is the easy part. Essential for every project are people and their ideas, vision, enthusiasm, local knowledge and contacts. For success the project will need organisers, networkers and fundraisers – as well as people to plant and maintain the trees.
If you are interested, then please bring your ideas, talents and enthusiasm to a brainstorming meeting at Rosuick Farm Wagon House on Thursday 9th January at 7.30pm
Please write to wildlifegroundswell@gmail.com in advance of the meeting to say you intend to come, or if you would like to be involved but cannot attend the meeting, please write to say so.
Justin Evens
Farm Wagon House on Thursday 9th January at 7.30pm
PEOPLE PLACE NATURE Conference 2024
Join us for our annual conference, looking at the state of nature on the Lizard peninsula. For everyone who cares about wildlife and what we can do to help it thrive. With morning speakers and afternoon workshops.
POSTPONED!!! About Art - Naturally
POSTPONED!!!
FRINGE EVENT for Wildlife Groundswell Conference 2024
Wonderful Spiders and Their Place in Nature
Wonderful Spiders and Their Place in Nature
Join us to help identify and count bats
Upcoming Bat Walks…..
Join us to help identify and count bats
We have some spare bat recorders but please bring one if you have one.
See links below for directions to the above venues.
Tuesday 23rd July 8.30pm (sunset time = 9.03pm)
Treprenn Vean, Coverack
Directions:
TR12 6SE, turn right just before Zoar Garage on B3293 (coming from Helston direction) and stay on that road for about 1.5 miles. Look for a gravel track on the right opposite a very large concrete ex MoD building with the house name Treprenn Vean on a sign. Just past this is a grass area that can accommodate several cars.Click this link to LET US KNOW YOU'RE COMINGTO TREPRENN VEAN
Wednesday 7 August 8.00pm (sunset time = 8.52pm)
Penrose Estate, Helston
Click this link to LET US KNOW YOU'RE COMING TO PENROSE, HELSTON
Exact meeting place to be decided.
wildlifegroundswell@gmail.com
National Meadows Day
Events are FREE, everyone welcome.
All day, various locations across the Lizard and Helford River catchment
Building on last year’s successful wildflower meadow safari day, we’re planning to expand this year with more beautiful meadows to explore, wildflower seed exchanges and talks from experts. In collaboration with the University of Exeter and Plantlife. Save the date, more info coming soon.
How to make the most of a wildlife-friendly space, small or large
Event is FREE, everyone welcome.
Sunday March 17th 11.30am Trethewey Farm, St Martin TR12 6EG