EarthShare

09/06/2026

There’s something quietly heartbreaking happening in Cornwall right now and it’s getting harder to ignore, so please do share.

Across Newquay and likely across Cornwall, we’re watching the slow erosion of something far older and far more meaningful than most people realise: our Cornish stone-faced hedges and the unfaced earth banks. These aren’t just walls. They’re centuries‑old structures, built by hand, shaped by weather, rooted in culture, and alive with wildlife. A human-made ecosystem that's humming with life. They’re part of who we are.

Yet more and more of them are being damaged, poisoned, stripped back, or replaced entirely, often in a single morning.

Cement is being used to close in the earth and the wildlife living inside. Walls that were never meant to be sealed. Glyphosate is being sprayed into hedge faces, killing the plants whose roots hold the soil core together. Once those roots die, the soil spills out onto paths and roads, weakening the structure until the hedge eventually collapses. You can see fresh examples of this outside local primary schools. That same soil then washes into drains and lakes, causing problems far downstream.

And then there’s the timing. The cutting. The ripping out of hedge‑toppers and coppicing at the worst possible moments for wildlife. Some of this comes from not knowing better. Some of it feels like not caring enough to find out.

What makes it even sadder is what these hedges are being replaced with: fences that barely last a decade in a place once known as Towan Blystra, “the windy town.” We all know what the weather is like here. A fence will blow down sooner or later. But the Cornish hedge that stood there before? It survived storms, generations, and centuries… until it was destroyed in a single morning.

I don’t know if this is happening because new homeowners don’t understand the significance of Cornish hedges, or because some local people have forgotten their value. But it’s becoming more common and it’s painful to watch.

Cornish hedges are not obstacles. They’re not “messy.” They’re not disposable. They are living heritage and they deserve better than this slow, quiet vandalism.

09/05/2026

Tomorrow’s the day — our Planting Party at Polwhele Permaculture Gardens is nearly here, and we’d love to see you there.

We’ve got a brilliant mix of activities lined up:
• Tasty drinks and snacks from Booker
• Scones and cream from the Habitats Team
• Hands‑on plant‑pot making with paper seeds
• Strawberry, raspberry and pumpkin planting
• Slate pieces and acrylics for creative plant markers
• And of course, the native lime tree planting to celebrate Sir David Attenborough turning 100yrs at around 13:00–13:30

Bring your enthusiasm, bring a friend and let’s grow something beautiful together.
If you want to learn more about how community agro-ecology can help nature recovery, please come along

Sir David Attenborough reaches his 100-year milestone on 8th but we will be celebrating with the planting of a native lime tree on Sunday 10th.

We have chosen a native lime tree as a tribute to Sir David Attenborough because it embodies the values he’s championed throughout his life: biodiversity, ecological balance, and the connection between people and nature. 🌳

• Native species support local ecosystems. Lime trees (Tilia species) are rich in nectar and pollen, feeding bees, hoverflies, and butterflies, exactly the kind of wildlife Sir David has spent decades inspiring people to protect

• They’re long-lived and shelter-giving. A lime tree can live for centuries, providing shade, nesting sites, and food for generations of creatures. A living legacy of conservation

• Symbolically, it’s gentle and generous. The lime’s heart-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers evoke kindness and harmony, qualities that mirror Attenborough’s approach to environmental storytelling

• It’s a community-friendly tree. Easy to grow, resilient, and native to Britain. Perfect for a shared planting day that celebrates both nature and togetherness.

Better still, native lime (Tilia cordata, or small-leaved lime) has tender young leaves that can be eaten raw. They are mild, slightly sweet, and make a lovely addition to salads or sandwiches. This makes the tree not only a gift to wildlife but also a gentle reminder of our own connection to nature’s abundance.

It’s not just planting a tree; it’s planting a message of hope and continuity, something Sir David himself would likely smile at.

Treloggan Residents Association Newquay in Bloom The Bishops' C of E Learning Academy Newquay Town Council Newquay Town Council Events Drew Creek Mayor of Newquay

04/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1497899331906748

02/05/2026

Isn't it amazing what you can find, just a stone's throw from your own doorstep? Nudibranch sea slug (Holmes, K. 2026), Spit beach Par/ St Austell.

02/05/2026

Sir David Attenborough reaches his 100-year milestone on 8th but we will be celebrating with the planting of a native lime tree on Sunday 10th.

We have chosen a native lime tree as a tribute to Sir David Attenborough because it embodies the values he’s championed throughout his life: biodiversity, ecological balance, and the connection between people and nature. 🌳

• Native species support local ecosystems. Lime trees (Tilia species) are rich in nectar and pollen, feeding bees, hoverflies, and butterflies, exactly the kind of wildlife Sir David has spent decades inspiring people to protect

• They’re long-lived and shelter-giving. A lime tree can live for centuries, providing shade, nesting sites, and food for generations of creatures. A living legacy of conservation

• Symbolically, it’s gentle and generous. The lime’s heart-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers evoke kindness and harmony, qualities that mirror Attenborough’s approach to environmental storytelling

• It’s a community-friendly tree. Easy to grow, resilient, and native to Britain. Perfect for a shared planting day that celebrates both nature and togetherness.

Better still, native lime (Tilia cordata, or small-leaved lime) has tender young leaves that can be eaten raw. They are mild, slightly sweet, and make a lovely addition to salads or sandwiches. This makes the tree not only a gift to wildlife but also a gentle reminder of our own connection to nature’s abundance.

It’s not just planting a tree; it’s planting a message of hope and continuity, something Sir David himself would likely smile at.

Treloggan Residents Association Newquay in Bloom The Bishops' C of E Learning Academy Newquay Town Council Newquay Town Council Events Drew Creek Mayor of Newquay

04/04/2026

🌿 Community Notice – Broken Glass at Polwhele Permaculture Gardens
We wanted to make everyone aware of an issue that has caused harm at the gardens this week.
A visitor’s dog sadly cut its paws on broken glass at the bottom of the site. When we investigated, we found a significant amount of smashed glass embedded in the grass, which is extremely difficult to fully remove.
We now believe that someone has been bringing wine bottles from home and stuffing the bins full of them instead of recycling at home. These bottles are then being fished out by someone else and smashed around the gardens.
For the time being, please keep dogs close and avoid letting them wander off the paths, as we continue working to make the area safe again.
Our bins have very limited capacity and are not suitable for large amounts of glass. There is also no space for litter or dog waste, so we kindly ask everyone to take these home with them.
Thank you to everyone who helps care for this shared community space. Your support genuinely keeps the gardens safe and welcoming for all.

Treloggan Residents Association

15/03/2026

🌼 Happy Mother’s Day 🌿

A big warm thank you to everyone who joined us last weekend for the Hedgetravaganza. Together, we planted 420 Woodland Trust deciduous and edible saplings with the Towan Blystra Habitats Integration Team. A brilliant effort and a real reminder of how community grows through small shared moments.

These young hedges will become food, shelter and safe corridors for wildlife, while creating a greener, more resilient space for people too. But now the real work begins: keeping them alive through the summer with mulching and managing grass encroachment.

Huge thanks to:
• Drew Creek for funding equipment
• Newquay Open Spaces Team for lending tools
• Booker for refreshments
• Newquay Town Council for fresh support of Polwhele Permaculture Gardens
• And everyone who turned up with time, energy and heart

🌿 Want to help this week?

We’ll be out on Wednesday between 10:00 and 14:30 at Polwhele Permaculture Gardens opposite 127A Polwhele Rd, mulching the new hedge and prepping the no‑dig garden area for planting this spring.
We have equipment, gloves, and ingredients for hot drinks. Just bring yourself.
Here’s to community, to care, and to the small actions that make a big difference.

06/03/2026

🌿 Hedge‑Planting This Sunday — Everyone Welcome! 🌿

Please help share this event

Just a little reminder that we’ll be supporting a lovely community hedge‑planting event this Sunday morning, and you can drop in at any time to get involved. It’s a relaxed, family‑friendly session and a brilliant way to help strengthen the gardens for the future.

We’ve had some incredibly generous support to help make the day run smoothly:
• The Mayor of Newquay and Newquay Town Council Events have kindly donated equipment for the activities
• Booker have stepped in to keep our volunteers refreshed with cups, ingredients for hot drinks, juice, and treats for the children
A huge thank‑you to them, it really does make a difference.

And if you’re wondering why hedgerows matter so much, here are just a few of the ecosystem services they provide:
🌱 Improve water quality
🌱 Reduce flooding
🌱 Capture and store carbon
🌱 Produce oxygen
🌱 Give shade and natural cooling
🌱 Act as windbreaks and protect young trees
🌱 Prevent soil erosion and stabilise land
🌱 Support pollinators and boost biodiversity
🌱 Provide food and shelter for wildlife
🌱 Create wildlife corridors
🌱 Reduce noise and dust
🌱 Support natural pest control
🌱 Offer berries, nuts, and forage
🌱 Enhance landscape beauty
🌱 Provide privacy and natural boundaries
🌱 Support mental well-being
🌱 Offer nature‑watching and outdoor learning opportunities
🌱 Increase climate resilience
🌱 Provide nesting and overwintering habitat
🌱 Help cool local microclimates
🌱 Capture snow and reduce drifting
🌱 Support fungi and soil microbes

It would be amazing to see some of my awesome customers there, getting stuck in and helping grow something beautiful for the community. Bring the kids, bring a friend, or just bring yourself — every pair of hands helps.
💚🌿
Drew Creek Mayor of Newquay Newquay Tretherras Newquay Town Council Events Newquay Town Council Cornwall Council Newquay University Centre Cornwall College Treloggan Residents Association Newquay in Bloom Crantock Street Community Garden Raak Thai Kernow CRAG - Cornwall Reptile & Amphibian Group St Columb Minor Academy - Blue School The Bishops' C of E Learning Academy

29/01/2026

😀

Scotland is officially leading the way for nature! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 With the passing of the Natural Environment Bill,

Scotland has made swift bricks mandatory in all new builds—a huge win for the relentless Hannah Bourne-Taylor and her "Feather Speech" campaign.

But it doesn’t stop at birds. Scotland is mandating a "nature-first" approach to every new home:
• 🦔 Hedgehog Highways: Small gaps in fences so our prickly friends can roam freely.
• 🐝 Pollinator Planting: Native wildflowers and "bee bricks" as standard.
• 💧 Sustainable Drainage (SuDS): Using ponds and wetlands to manage water while creating vital new habitats.

Meanwhile, England is lagging behind with weak "guidance" that developers can ignore. It’s time for Westminster to stop stalling and follow Scotland’s common-sense lead. We need homes for people and wildlife! 🏡🕊️🦔

29/01/2026

🌱 A little PSA about verge parking… with a sprinkle of humour and a dash of “please stop doing this.”

Friendly reminder: your vehicles won’t get fatter if you park on the road where it’s safe to.
But our verges definitely get thinner.

When cars churn up the vegetation, it’s not just an eyesore. All that bare soil washes straight into the drains during bad weather, carrying sediment and extra nutrients with it. Downstream, those drains clog up, overflow, and—surprise—flooding happens. And in places like Trenance Valley, where some drains sit below sea level, this has already contributed to flooding around the Heron Tennis Centre and the playpark. Local businesses feel the hit every time.

And where does a lot of that sediment end up?
Right in the boating lake.
Which means more nutrients, more eutrophication, and yet another blow to the businesses that struggled to operate in 2025 because the lake turned into a green soup instead of a visitor attraction.

On top of that, those grassy verges are more than decoration—they’re tiny but vital urban habitats. Wildlife uses them as stepping stones to move safely through town. When we tear them up, we’re literally breaking the path that keeps their populations healthy.

So yes, it might feel convenient to pop two wheels onto the verge… but the ripple effects are anything but small.

It’s time for local authorities to take this seriously, protect these spaces properly, and help stop avoidable damage before it becomes yet another “how did this get so bad?” problem.

Be kind to the verges. They’re doing more work than you think. 🌿

Cornwall Council Newquay Town Council Newquay Locals