National Trust brings coastal land at Tintagel into its care

National Trust brings coastal land at Tintagel into its care - National Trust

The newly acquired land at Smith's Cliff, Tintagel, in Cornwall will be improved for with species-rich habitats for wildlife and better access for visitors / © National Trust Images/Steve Haywood

A stretch of rugged Cornish coastline that borders the medieval fortress of Tintagel has been acquired by the National Trust to look after on behalf of the nation.

Smith’s Cliff, on the north Cornwall coast, will be cared for by the conservation charity as a space for wildlife to flourish, for heritage to be conserved and for people to access and enjoy for ever.

The 55-acre (22.6 hectares) acquisition puts in place a vital piece of the coastal ‘jigsaw’ for the National Trust in the area, joining up land that the charity looks after at Barras Nose, which lies north of King Arthur’s Castle, all the way to Bossiney, to become a continuous 2.7-mile stretch of coastal land.

Knitting together these sections will create a coastal corridor that connects and encourages the spread of wildlife within a naturally and culturally significant landscape. The site sits within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Pentire-Widemouth Heritage Coast, and forms part of the setting of the spectacular Tintagel Castle.

Over the coming years the newly acquired Smith’s Cliff and adjacent clifftop grasslands, once a golf course, will be expertly managed for nature, bringing benefits to local species such as the small copper butterfly, maritime plants like rock sea lavender and golden samphire, a range of birds including linnet, skylark and fulmar, and a nationally-rare black headed mining bee. Rangers will create a mosaic of species-rich grasslands and wildflower meadows, while the wild nature of the steeper cliff slopes will be enhanced by sustainable grazing. The charity aims to create a patchwork of wildflowers, scrub and trees that mirrors its approach along other parts of the coastline.

Mike Simmonds, the National Trust’s Lead Ranger for the area, said: “We’re working hard to bring back these vital species-rich grasslands on many parts of the north Cornwall coast, and wildlife surveys show the positive difference this kind of conservation work can make. To have the opportunity to extend these wildlife habitats at Tintagel is fantastic. We look forward to improving visitor access, particularly on existing footpaths and rights of way, to help local people and visitors enjoy this very special place.”

Jon Stewart, National Trust General Manager for North Cornwall, said: “It’s been widely reported that 97% of traditional meadows have been lost since the Second World War, so we’re delighted to be able to make another positive contribution to halting and hopefully reversing this decline.”