Churchtown Farm Community Nature Reserve

12/12/2007 00:00:00 The reserve has a picturesque setting between the Tamar and the Lynher estuaries. The majority of habitat is farmland, which is now managed for wildlife and includes wetland, hay meadows, arable land and hedgerows. The two quarries are designated as County Geology Sites.

Highlights: Redshank, slthough they don't breed in Cornwall, can be seen on the estuary throughout the year excepting a few weeks in late May and most of June.

The colourful goldfinch can be seen year-round at Churchtown Farm, sometimes in large flocks. They benefit from the management of arable fields here which provide a valuable source of seeds for these and other farmland birds.

Location: Locate Saltash College. At the junction with St Stephen's Road turn left and follow the road until the next junction. Turn right down Wearde Road, and pass the school. The reserve entrance is found a few hundred yards further along the road on the right down an old trackway. Limited roadside parking. The majority of the site is accessed via permissive footpaths and there are some public rights of way. In some areas access is restricted because of farming management. There are some hard surfaces that lead to the heart of the site, affording access to wonderful views, but many of the footpaths can be wet and slippery, with some inclines.

Grid reference: SX 419 575

For further details, please see the Cornwall Wildlife Trust website.