Terry and Jean have supported Cornwall Wildlife Trust for almost 60 years. During that time, they’ve been involved in numerous ways, such as membership, volunteering, helping set-up our trading arm, attending walks, and including Cornwall Wildlife Trust in their Will. On a gloriously clear and sunny day in January, James, Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Fundraising Manager, met Terry and Jean at their home overlooking the beautiful St Austell Bay, to say a massive thank you and hear more about their support of Cornwall’s wildlife.

When and why did you first start supporting Cornwall Wildlife Trust?

Terry: Why? We just love wildlife is probably the simplest and best answer.

Jean: I’m particularly interested in birds, while Terry is more keen on butterflies. We both love getting out and walking.

Terry: The thing I like about butterflies is that there aren’t that many of them; I believe there’s only about 60 in Britain, so it’s not too many to remember! Jean has a much harder time with birds where there are vastly more species! In regards to ‘when’, we moved to Cornwall in 1964 and must have joined shortly after.

Jean: Yes, we joined pretty much right away. It was known as the ‘Cornwall Trust for Nature Conservation’ at the time.

Terry: I read recently that it’s your 60^th year, so I imagine we must be some of the longest members, having joined almost at the beginning.

Can you share some of your experiences with the Trust over the last almost 60 years?

Jean: We’ve done some wonderful walks and events with the Trust, including on the Lizard peninsula.

Terry: We’ve also done walks at both Redmoor and Breney Common [areas of Helman Tor nature reserve] with Dave Thomas, who I believe was previously a Trustee. We weren’t fortunate enough to see a marsh fritillary though.

Jean: And we attended a lovely series on wildflowers at your headquarters in Allet. It was sort of a 10-week lecture series and was very good. But don’t test us as it was a long time ago! 

Terry: We were probably most involved for a year or two from around 1991. At the time the Trust was hoping to set-up a new trading company to provide consultancy services to local companies and public sector bodies, using the Trust’s expertise to raise funds. I joined Nick Tregenza and some others as a founding Director of the new company, Cornwall Environmental Consultancy (CEC), and it’s nice to think that, all these years later, it’s still making a useful contribution to Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s funds.

At a similar time, Cornwall Wildlife Trust was chosen to host the National Heathland Conference. We helped organise the conference, which took place at one of the hotels on Falmouth’s beach front and involved various tours, particularly of the Lizard, which is famous for heathland.

Jean: For a few years, we also helped out in a small way with hand deliveries of Wild Cornwall magazine for the Duporth and Porthpean areas, and made donations to cover the cost of postage during the pandemic. And we’ve also included Cornwall Wildlife Trust in our Wills.

That’s very kind. Would you mind sharing why you decided to support us in this wonderful way?

Terry: Well, we think the work you do is incredible, and the cause means a lot to me. When we were born, the world’s population was around 2.1 billion. Today I believe it’s between 7.5 and 7.9 billion. That’s increased by over three times in one lifetime and it’s just not sustainable. And poor wildlife is being pushed out.

Nature has bought us such joy and it’s nice to know that, through leaving a gift to Cornwall Wildlife Trust, we can help protect and create nature reserves, contributing to something permanent to help wildlife and for others to enjoy. It’s lovely to know we can do that.

What’s your hope for Cornwall’s future?

Terry: Good question. It’s quite a big question, but a very good one! Well, I hope it’s able to survive and flourish. I haven’t got an answer beyond that.

Jean: And I hope more and more people take an interest in it. The more people experience and appreciate its wonders, the more they will do to protect its future – whether by changes in behaviours, donating, volunteering, or leaving a gifts in Wills.

And what’s your favourite place in Cornwall?

Jean: I’d perhaps have to say Mullion - Polurrian Cove in particular. It’s a magical place.

Terry: We honeymooned in Mullion and have spent a few Christmases there too. The coast down to Lizard point is spectacular.

Cream tea or pasty?

Terry: Cream tea

Jean: Pasty (although it depends on the quality!)

Looking out to sea or across the Cornish countryside?

Terry: Oh, I’d have to say sea

Jean: Yes, me too

Spring or summer?

Jean: They’re both glorious

Terry: Probably spring for me

Beavers or badgers?

Terry: I’d go with beavers due to another experience I had with Cornwall Wildlife Trust. One summer evening we went to look for badgers as part of an event and I got absolutely eaten by midges and I’ve never quite forgiven them! So definitely beavers!

Jean: They usually go for me, but Terry got the worst of it on that occasion.

St Piran’s crab or Cornish chough?

Terry: That’s a no brainer. It’s got to be the chough. We’ve been lucky enough to see a few choughs when visiting the Lizard.