Give Cornwall's winter birds a safe haven

As winter arrives, Cornwall’s resident winter birds are joined by others from far and wide. From fieldfares gathering in hedgerows to golden plovers sweeping across open fields, our county becomes a haven for birds escaping harsher conditions elsewhere.

But the wild spaces they depend on are under increasing pressure.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves offer a vital refuge in the colder months, but these important habitats need our continued care and protection. Will you help us reach our £20,000 target to maintain, protect and restore nature reserves across Cornwall - and give winter birds somewhere safe to feed, rest and shelter?

Please donate today and help provide a safe haven for winter wings.

Donate today

Cornwall’s winter birds need your help

Here are just some of the many species of overwintering birds that rely on Cornwall’s nature reserves:

_{* Classifications in the UK from Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021).}

The challenge: A tougher winter for wildlife

For many birds, winter is a time of long journeys, changing conditions and the search for food and shelter. Cornwall's relatively mild climate and varied landscapes make it an important destination for both resident birds and visitors arriving from elsewhere.

Fieldfares and redwings travel from Europe to feed on berries in our hedgerows. Snipe probe damp grasslands for food, while golden plovers gather in open fields. On our estuaries and wetlands, wading birds and wildfowl find places to rest and feed.

But as natural environments are lost, degraded and fragmented, these vital resources are becoming harder to find. Climate change and more extreme weather bring further challenges, making it increasingly important that we look after the wild spaces wildlife relies on.

Our nature reserves: vital havens for winter birds

Cornwall Wildlife Trust manages over 5,500 acres of land across over 50 nature reserves throughout Cornwall. They are a hugely diverse collection of rare and important habitats for wildlife and carbon capture, helping tackle the climate and ecological crisis we face – as well as providing essential refuges for winter birds and countless other species. Across wetlands, grasslands, heathlands and woodlands, each environment supports different wildlife and provides the food, shelter and conditions they need to survive.

Looking after these landscapes takes ongoing care and practical conservation work. This can include:

• Creating and maintaining wetland scrapes:  Shallow pools and exposed muddy margins provide feeding opportunities for wading birds such as snipe, dunlin and black-tailed godwit.
• Maintaining ditches and wet grassland: Helps retain suitable damp conditions where snipe and other birds can probe for invertebrates and other food.
• Managing grasslands: Maintaining open areas and appropriate vegetation height provides feeding and resting opportunities for golden plover, starlings and other farmland birds.
• Managing hedgerows: Cutting hedges later in winter helps retain berries and seeds for birds such as fieldfares and redwings.
• Maintaining field margins and arable bird crops: Provides food and cover for flocks of finches and other farmland birds during the colder months.
• Managing heathland and open scrub: Helps maintain the open landscapes used by species such as short-eared owls, snipe and golden plover.
• Caring for wet woodlands: Maintains sheltered environments used by woodcock and other woodland birds.

By protecting and improving our nature reserves, we can help ensure they remain rich, wildlife-friendly environments throughout the year.

Your support makes a difference

Please consider giving to the Winter Bird Appeal, and help us reach our target of £20,000.

Your gift, no matter the size, will support the conservation work that keeps Cornwall's wild spaces full of life, helping us protect and restore the landscapes that birds and other wildlife depend on.