CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST UPATES US AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON

View this email in your browser APRIL NEWS Spring has truly arrived, and across Cornwall, hedgerows are bursting into bloom, splashes of colour are appearing on clifftops and woodland floors, and birdsong is once again filling the air. There’s no better time to head outdoors and reconnect with Cornwall’s stunning countryside and coast. Read on to discover what species to keep an eye out for, the latest news wildlife news, and ways you can help care for the wild places we all love. Last chance to offer your feedback! As a valued member of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, we’d love to hear your feedback on what your membership and the work that it supports means to you. Take the 10-minute survey NATURE NEWS Cornwall Council U-turn on glyphosate We're delighted that Cornwall Council has voted to delay the planned reintroduction of glyphosate based weedkillers. Councillors voted 61 to seven to challenge the decision, following public protests, concerns raised by organisations including ourselves, and more than 13,000 petition signatures from Cornish residents. We’re hopeful this extended timeframe will now allow for proper public engagement and exploration of safer alternatives. Thank you to everyone who got involved and helped make your voices heard! Read the full article NEW BIRD FEEDER GUIDANCE Changes in how and when we feed garden birds can have a big impact on their health. New guidance from the RSPB encourages us to feed seasonally to help reduce disease risk - notably against trichomonosis, which has already caused serious declines in species like greenfinch and chaffinch - affecting their ability to swallow food, and can be fatal. From May to October, stop feeding seeds and peanuts to prevent crowding and disease risks, instead offer a small amount of mealworms, fat balls or suet year-round. Natural food is plentiful at this time of year, but disease risk is higher. From November to April, feed seeds and peanuts in moderation, when the benefit to birds are likely to be greatest. The guidance also suggests weekly cleaning of feeders and moving them after a clean to clear debris underneath, as well as changing drinking water daily and cleaning baths weekly will have a big impact on bird health. Find out more about their new guidance here. EVENTS Smuggler’s Cottage Holidays 06 May - 09 May | Looe Island Immerse yourself in Looe Island’s nature and unwind to the sound of lapping waves in the quaint and cosy Smuggler’s Cottage, or get grounded in simplicity in our Bell Tent. Beaver Walks at Woodland Valley Farm - with BBQ! Thu 7 May | 6pm - 10pm Join us a locally sourced BBQ, followed by a guided walk around our fantastic beaver project at Woodland Valley Farm. Biological Recorder’s Conference 2026 Sat 9 May | 2pm - 9.30pm | Penryn Campus Join us for the annual Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Biological Recorders Conference 2026, exploring the theme Nature in the Dark. See all events OPEN GARDENS Bolts Quarry Farm near Bodmin opens its door and kicks off the Open Garden season this weekend. Join us for some tea and cake, a wander amongst the flowers, and go home with plenty of gardening tips and maybe even a plant or two… By coming along, you’ll not only enjoy a wonderful day out but also supporting Cornwall’s wildlife and wild places for future generations. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Bolts Quarry - Sun 26 April | 2pm - 5pm | Bodmin Lavethan Manor - Sun 17 May | 2pm - 5pm | Bodmin Higher Trenedden - Sun 7 June | 2pm - 5pm | Pelynt Hole Farm - Sun 28 June | 2pm - 5pm | Liskeard Meadowside - Sun 19 June | 2pm - 5pm | Redruth Trelan - Sun 9 Aug | 2pm - 5pm | St Ives South Bosent - Sun 23 Aug | 2pm - 5pm | Liskeard Pedn Billy - Sun 13 Sept | 2pm - 5pm | Mawnan Smith APRIL SPOTTER’S GUIDE Expect your wildlife sightings to soar this April, with migrant birds arriving back to our shores and spring flowers attracting a wealth of pollinators and insects. Do you know your swifts from your swallows? Look out for the long boomerang wing of the swift versus the long fork of the swallow’s tail. Sand martins are the smallest of the bunch and are usually nest in sandy banks, whereas house martins are more commonly spotted around our towns and villages, as their name suggests. Read the blog See the full guide Images: Robin - Gillian Day Looe Island - David Chapman Bat - Dale Shut/2020VISION Beaver - Jo Noon Snorkeller - Shorereach Finals Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon © 2026 Cornwall Wildlife Trust. All rights reserved. Registered charity number 214929. Privacy Policy and T&Cs Our mailing address is: Cornwall Wildlife Trust Five Acres, Allet, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9DJ Want to change how you receive these emails? You can unsubscribe from this list.