Cornwall Wildlife Trust has launched an appeal to buy an additional 53 acres of land neighbouring its existing Bartinney nature reserve on Cornwall’s magnificent Penwith peninsula. If successful, the appeal will result in the restoration of lowland heathland, one of the world’s most threatened habitats, and a brighter future for the Tormentil nomad bee, one of the UK’s rarest bees.

The possibility of the land purchase has caused a real ‘buzz’ for nature lovers, who are excited by the impact it could have for a globally rare habitat and a variety of bee species, for which Bartinney is one of the few remaining strongholds.

Callum Deveney, Head of Nature Reserves at Cornwall Wildlife Trust said: “Bartinney is a special place. The colours of the heathers and gorse can be breath-taking, and on a clear day you see the Isles of Scilly. The opportunity to increase its size and restore lowland heathland is incredibly exciting! In the UK, this globally rare habitat is sadly restricted to parts of Cornwall and a few other locations. Adding this land would be a huge win for wildlife, including pollinators and butterflies.”

Lowland heathland is characterised by dwarf shrubs, such as heathers, bilberry, and gorses, providing a spectacular display of colours, particularly in late summer when the purples and blues of heathers are in full bloom. Sadly, it is now one of the world’s scarcest habitats, being rarer than tropical rainforests, with the UK losing more than 85% of its lowland heathland in the last 200 years alone. The habitat’s decline has proved disastrous for many wildlife species, including vital pollinators like bees.

Yet a few lowland heathland strongholds remain, such as Bartinney. One of the largest nature reserves in west Cornwall, Bartinney is home to more than 30 bee species, including the incredibly rare Tormentil mining bee and Tormentil nomad bee, which is now recorded at only 12 sites in the whole of the UK.

Read our blog about protecting lowland heathlands

If Cornwall Wildlife Trust can buy the land, currently dominated by bracken and bramble, the charity can then transform it from this nature-poor state into vibrant lowland heathland. As a result, these rare bees, and many other threatened species, including adders (the UK’s only venomous snake) and nightjars (a rare migratory bird), will benefit.

The land’s purchase will play a role in helping Cornwall meet the international target of ensuring 30% of land, rivers and seas are managed for nature by 2030 to tackle the ecological and environmental crises. Having secured a pledge of £85,000 from a major funder, the charity is now hoping the public will help match this amount with an additional £85,000 to secure the land.

Callum continued: “People in Cornwall seem to really appreciate the beautiful wild landscapes and wildlife we have here. We were so grateful to the public for getting behind our appeal to purchase Creney Farm in mid-Cornwall last year, and we hope they will do the same again. The scale of the crisis facing nature is enormous, so protecting and restoring rare habitats is vital if we’re to avoid catastrophe.”

The charity is hoping the recent BBC Wild Isles series, narrated by broadcaster, naturalist and President Emeritus of the Wildlife Trusts, Sir David Attenborough, will help inspire people to support nature in the UK and get behind this appeal.

Find out more about the Bartinney Land Appeal