Race to buy 'missing piece' of nature haven

An area of land regarded as the "missing piece" of a wildlife haven could finally be within grasp, Cornwall Wildlife Trust has said.

Bartinney nature reserve on Penwith peninsula is a 75 acre (30 hectare) expanse of land with structures thought to date from the Bronze Age, as well as an important habitat for birdlife and the UK's rarest bees, according to the trust.

About 53 acres (21 hectares) of the site was purchased in 2023, but a new slice of land has now come up for sale on the open market, the trust said.

The trust said it was acting quickly to raise £100,000 to buy the site from the "open market" before another buyer steps in.

Nick Marriott from the trust said: "By securing this land, we can create a richer, more resilient landscape where diverse habitats help wildlife respond and adapt to a changing climate."

Marriott, who is west Cornwall reserves manager, said the land was "almost entirely" within the reserve boundary already and its purchase would be in line with their 2030 strategy for a "bigger, better and more joined-up" approach to nature recovery.

The trust has launched an "urgent public appeal" to raise funds toward the £100,000 parcel of land.

It said £20,000 wills donations would contribute to the target, but they were keen to beat rival buyers to the purchase.

Its acquisition would make Bartinney the "largest nature reserve in Penwith", the trust said, creating a "more resilient landscape" for wildlife, as well as protecting the site from potential development.

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