_JPG.jpg)
'If Nature Thrives - We All Thrive'
​Cornwall Wildlife Trust Awards 2025
The 2025 Group Award is awarded to a group of volunteers whose collective work has made a significant difference to Cornwall's wildlife.
​
''Thank you for your incredible support of and commitment to Cornwall's wildlife and wild places''
Matt Walpole Chief Executive Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Wow! What an absolute honour to have this award bestowed upon us.
As you can imagine we are over the moon and it's all thanks to you lovely people who support us and voted for us.
As most of you are aware, we have had an incredible journey over the past 5 years, a journey we could not have endured without the love & support from so many of you who believed in us and stood by us in the face of adversity.
With your continued support we can all make a difference for our wildlife and our community and remember, it's your woodland, come and join us on our continued journey.
Friends of the Fal
Will be showcasing their work in the upstairs gallery
at
Kurt Jackson's
River Fal
Exhibition
August 30th - February 28th 2026
Open Tues - Saturday 10am to 1pm & 2pm to 5pm (closed 1pm-2pm)
Check with the gallery for winter opening times
at
The Jackson Foundation
North Row
St Just in Penwith TR19 7LB
E: info@kurtjackson.com
T: 01736 787638
photo credit: fran swanson friends of the fal
The River Fal
Grampound
​
_JPG.jpg)
Fal Rivers To Reef
Friends of the Fal have been involved with River to Reef from its early development stage of attending workshops with other landowners to having its first farm cluster meeting in May 2025.
Fal Rivers to Reef aims to transform the Fal catchment into a thriving biodiversity hotspot, where healthy freshwater systems sustain vibrant marine life, and where farm businesses prosper alongside nature.
We aim to create optimal conditions for ecological recovery within the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation (SAC), restoring clean waters, supporting native species, and protecting carbon-rich marine habitats such as maerl beds and seagrass meadows.
CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST
REWILDING CONFERENCE
April 2023
with
BBC Spring Watch
presenter
Gillian Burke
Nature Recovery Conference at Heartlands 2022
BBC Spring Watch presenter Michela Strachan
Another one for the album!
Nature Recovery Conference at Heartlands 2022
Pledge for Nature
Conference at
Heartlands
with guest speaker
Michela Strachan
Upcoming Events
Here you will find our upcoming events which we would love you to get involved with,
whether it's volunteering on our Green Gym work days, attending an event,
or a project we are working on
VoLUNTEER DAYS
1st & 3rd SUNDAY
oF EACH MoNTH
Friends of the Fal's
Easter Egg Hunt is back for a 2nd year!
Look forward to seeing you all in the Play Area at 2pm on Saturday April 8th 2023
Come and join
Friends of the Fal &
Cornwall Wildlife Trust's G7 Volunteers
to help remove some of the brambles on the embankment which are strangling the trees that were planted about 15 years ago.
(event finished)
​
Practical Restoration and
Woodland Management Course
December 2022
First Things First
Get the kettle on!
Our Leader Philip
Sharpening the Tools of our Trade
Giddy Up!
Fran on a Shave Horse
minus the Draw Shave tool!
Ta Dah!
Here, Sarah has learnt (triumphantly) the correct method of felling a tree
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
The image below is part of our journey to Caradon Woods
on a beautiful, cold, snowy December morning to a
Practical Restoration Woodland Management Course
Practical Restoration and
Woodland Management Course
December 2022
Hazel Coppicing
This Hazel has just been cut - you can just see the pale circles of wood inside - and to protect its new shoots from being eaten by deer the stools are covered with brash
'Oh My Kingdom For A Shave Horse'
A Shave Horse is used to hold rougher bits of wood which are being moulded into shape using a two-handed draw knife, also known as a draw shave.
It's so-called because you draw the knife/shave towards you in a controlled way to shave layers off your work
Hazel Hurdles
When Lindsey & Fran made these Hazel Hurdle gates for the Fal woodland earlier in the year, they could have done with a
Shave Horse
it would have made their task a lot easier!
Woodland Shelter
No, Lindsey is not being abducted by Aliens!
This shelter is a recycled parachute. It did a great job of keeping us dry during the course talks, lunch & tea breaks.
The seats around the fire are made from recycled pallets.
New Gates
Funded by Garlennick Turbine Fund Grampound
We now have new gates at the main entrance and in the play area.
The main gates are lighter and easier to use, which we hope will be helpful to those with children's buggies/pushchairs.
There are now two new gates in the play area, a main gate which has replaced the rusted iron gate,
and a side gate next to the public footpath.
The original main gate has been moved to the entrance of The Wildlife Conservation Area.
The gates were supplied and fitted by the fabulous Mark Shipway and his lovely assistant Lee
from
Mark Shipway Landscapes
Westcountry Rivers Trust
Alder Plantation Thinning Out
The Alder Plantation
Around 40 or so years ago, Elizabeth Johnstone of Trewithen Estate planted an Alder tree plantation adjacent to the river Fal.
They have since grown too tall & leggy after competing for light, a result of being planted closely together.
Westcountry Rivers Trust tree surgeons thinned out the trees to create more light, with the aim to turn this area into a glade containing native wildflowers, grasses, and beneficial trees for insects, pollinators, butterflies & bats.
The photo on the left shows the density of the trees in July, with only brambles growing in between.
Westcountry Rivers Trust Tree Surgeons
Tree surgeons with the tall & leggy Alder trees in the background.
This work was funded by
Garlennick Wind Turbine Fund Grampound.
All permissions for this work were applied for and permitted.
Our Involvement with
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
SPRING/SUMMER 2022
Friends of the Fal get mentioned in Cornwall Wildlife Trust's
Wild Cornwall Magazine
We were delighted to get a mention in the 2022 Spring Issue!
Pictured left are some of our lovely volunteers who have just finished planting hedgerow trees in the woodland and featured in
Wild Cornwall Magazine
Great to see our logo amongst other representatives who are also part of the
G7 Legacy Project for Nature Recovery
in mid-Cornwall
Cornwall Wildlife Trust have been and are continuing to advise and support us with our woodland conservation project.
The G7 Volunteer Team will be assisting us to clear brambles and reinstate a path, also to liberate the trees from brambles on the embankment
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022
THE QUEEN'S GREEN CANOPY
We have planted saplings all the way along the
chain-link fence to form a hedgerow
Our woodland is now officially on the Queen's Green Canopy Map.
Since 2021, we have planted over 700 sapling trees, with the help from community volunteers & our local school children
https://queensgreencanopy.org/map-education-hub/qgc-map/#/
When the link opens, click on 'Search Location' and enter 'Grampound', then click on the 'tree' circle to see our virtual plaque.
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022
'Bugingham Palace'
Bug Hotel
To mark Her Majesty the Queen's 70th year on the throne, the Friends designed and made a giant bug hotel which we named 'Bugingham Palace'.
We held an afternoon cream tea in the woods as part of the community's jubilee celebrations
The Making of Bugingham Palace aka Bugingham Pallets!
 It's all in the prep!Preparing the site for the palatial bug hotel |  Marking out the siteBreeze blocks & loads of pallets! |  Carpenter & SonOur local carpenter Scott & his son |
|---|---|---|
 The Boss has arrived!Coba overseeing the work |  Taking ShapeStarting to look like a palace! |  Tea Break for the workersAny seat will do! |
 Roof nearly completedRoof nearly finished and it's starting to fill up with materials |  This way to the grand revealEveryone's hard work on this project about to be revealed |  Fanfare PleaseTah Dah! Giant Bug Hotel Completed |
Safety in Mind
Hopefully it will never be needed!
The Glasdon Safety Line & Buoy are a new addition to the Fal river & woodland through funding from our local Wind Turbine Fund in Grampound
Seat with a View
'For the Community to Enjoy a Moment in Nature'
Cllr Michael Bunney & Fran sitting on the new seat he provided through his Community Chest Fund.
The seat was built by David of Cobble Lane Crafts, St Columb
FRIENDS OF THE FAL CROWDFUNDER
2022
FRIENDS OF THE FAL CROWDFUNDER
2022
​
​
Friends of the Fal volunteers are always in need of tools to help them do the vital work needed to create a haven for wildlife and our community
Having a Crowdfunder Page provides an easy way for folk to donate and be a part of what we do and enables us to obtain tools & equipment
Just a couple of the lovely comments & messages of support from donators which means so much to us
LH “We love all you do. We appreciate the work by volunteers and we enjoy so much being able to walk in the woods by the river, bring the grandchildren to play, and meet lovely people who are also enjoying the area”.
​
TS “We have just moved into the village and the work by the Friends has been fantastic to help the community, the school and the whole village. Please keep up the good work and well done! Keep up the good work you lovely people xxx”
FRIENDS OF THE FAL CROWDFUNDER
2022
Volunteers preparing ground for
tree planting
with some of the tools provided with funds from donations on our Crowdfunder.
In total, we raised £740 with the kind donations from friends, family and local communities.
Thank you all who gave their support & continue to give support to our project.
Watch out for our 2023 Crowdfunder which will be coming soon!
​
National Tree Week
November 27th - December 5th
2021
Friends of the Fal will be planting native hedgerow plants down by the Fal during National Tree Week.
Come and get involved with the planting of the trees and be part of helping wildlife and the environment
in the midst of Climate Change
​
Be a Part of the Change You Want to See
If Nature Thrives - We All Thrive
Blackthorn Blossom
Hedgerows are a Lifeline for Wildlife
As Blackthorn flowers in early Spring, around March, it is a lifeline for overwintering pollinators who are starting to emerge
Blackthorn Berries
The berries from Blackthorn are known as sloes which are a foragers delight and are used to flavour gin in the autumn, ready as a tipple in time for consumption at Christmas!
It is well known for attracting wildlife and pollinating insects and so is perfect for a wildlife hedgerow
​
Dog Rose Flower
One our most favourite Hedgerow Flowers.
Look out for them in May & June
Dog Rose Hips
Dog rose flowers are an important nectar source for insects and its fruits are a food source for birds such as blackbirds and redwings
Rose hips are high in vitamin C
Hawthorn Flowers
Beneficial to Pollinators
Flowers are in abundance in Spring
Hawthorn Berries
A vital source of food for birds during the winter months, especially when the ground is frozen and resources are limited
Resources
Information and Guides
​
(click on a picture below)
Woodland Trust
'Wood - Wise'
EVIDENCE FOR ACTION
Tree and woodland conservation Spring 2021
Woodland Trust
'Wood - Wise'
Hedgerow and Hedgerow Trees
Woodland Trust
'Wood - Wise'
Twigged
A Guide To Trees Through The Seasons
Safety Fence Installation
New Safety Fence being constructed by Barry from Trelawny Landscaping
St Austell
First Section Up! The Play & Learning Area for the Children Looking & Feeling Safer.
Safety Fencing Now Complete
Thank You Barry, You're An Absolute Star!
Local Non-Profit Makes a Splash with Fundraiser
Friends of the Fal's Open Day
August 1st 2021
Was a great success with funds being raised by selling raffle tickets and people from the community signing up for membership of Friends of The Fal.
Membership includes receiving a free tree to be planted in November 2021, accompanied with a certificate and a free quarterly e-newsletter containing Friends of the Fal's
news, events & dates for the diary.
If you would like to become a member of Friends of the Fal and help our Community Woodland Conservation Project
please contact Sarah or Fran by email to: sroberson@friendsofthefal.co.uk or
fswanson@friendsofthefal.co.uk
or in person when you see us...
Friends of the Fal Make a Splash with Fundraiser at Their Open Day
Friends of the Fal's Open Day
August 1st 2021
Was a great success with funds being raised by selling raffle tickets and people from the community signing up for membership of Friends of The Fal.
Membership includes receiving a free tree to be planted in November 2021, accompanied with a certificate and a free quarterly e-newsletter containing Friends of the Fal's news, events & dates for the diary.
If you would like to become a member of Friends of the Fal and help our Community Woodland Conservation Project
please contact Sarah or Fran by email to: sroberson@friendsofthefal.co.uk or
fswanson@friendsofthefal.co.uk
or in person when you see us.
Funding & Donations
Funding for Safety Fence
From Garlennick Wind Turbine Fund
Grampound Community Benefit Fund
Friends of the Fal were awarded £2000 through The Garlennick Wind Turbine Fund & Grampound Community Benefit Fund to install a safety fence in the Play & Learning Area
Thank you
Grampound & Garlennick
New Tables for the Play & Learning Area
Made by David of Cobble Lane Crafts
Funding for the tables were gratefully received from Michael Bunney's Community Chest Fund
A peaceful space to just stop and sit, not just for the children, feel free to use the seats when the school children are not occupying the area
Grab a coffee from the village stores cafe and just enjoy your moment in nature