Category Archives: Wildlife

SHARE’s Latest Project


As you may know by now, we have secured an Option to purchase about four acres of land just outside Trevigro. This gives us first refusal and a fixed price for two adjacent fields, between the Trevigro-Haye footpath and the stream below the South West Water works.   Our working title for the project is “Quarry Bottoms” – from the names of the fields, Quarry Field and Bottoms Field.

A PROSPECTUS detailing our vision for this project is now available – read it here…

The prospectus begins with an introduction from our Chairman, then describes:

  • The location and extent of the piece of land
  • Its potential value to the community
  • Possible uses for the land
  • How we can finance the purchase

    As a companion to the prospectus, you can view a short aerial film of the land.  Taken on a lovely day in early Spring, and accompanied by atmospheric music, it shows the silvery beauty of the bare tree branches, the stream glinting through the trees, and the potential for a nature-friendly space in South Hill parish.  It’s on our SHARE YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Svkd9L53ks.  

    Did you spot the buzzard at about 2m 10s?  Beautiful!

    The footpath from Trevigro to Haye passes alongside the fields.  Take a look by all means, but remember that the fields are private, farmed property.  SHARE does not yet own the land, so please keep to the path.

    Coming soon:

    • Competition to choose a name for the project
    • Feasibility study exploring the possibilities for the site
    • Financial projections (boring but necessary!)

    March 25th 9miles Luckett start


    Starting at Luckett car park at 10am, (there is limited space here) we’ll stride out to Horse Bridge along the muddy footpath. Or meet us at there. ( it’ll take us 1/2 hour to walk ) More muddy footpaths take us through Scrub Tor (where we spotted deer on our recce) and fields with new born lambs to Sydenham Dameral church, (4 miles) arriving at 12 noon ish.

    We’ve been invited to climb the tower to see their bells…..

    Heading back via Horse Bridge ( to cross the Tamar) and pick up anyone that slipped away to the pub. .. we’ll follow the road back to Luckett BUT .. by the new defibrillator … (adding a couple miles) we’ll head off along the footpath to Broadgate Engine House… then drop down crossing the leat and follow the mine workings track to the road, taking the footbridge over the ford. Staying on the Apple Line under Deer Park, we will encounter their wonderful Highland Cattle, and back onto Luckett Hill and DOWN to our start/finish. 8.8 miles in total.

    Great weather to start our walk, came in drizzly as we arrived at St Mary’s church and climbed the tower, wonderful views, and fun “ringing” the bells. Thank you to Mike for a great hour, before heading back via Sydenhal Dameral Mill and as soon as we crossed into Cornwall the weather cleared again.

    South Hill Parish news


    April 2024 South Hill Connection Newsletter.

    In this edition:

    • Happy Easter enjoy the Egg Hunt, Trail & donkey
    • New council kerbside collection starts
    • Council Housing in the parish
    • Comedy Evening at The Parish Hall
    • St. Sampson’s Open Afternoon
    • Internet, which is the best provider?
    • Seasonal car parking ticket
    • All our local Advertisers here
    April.News_Download

    As well as the on line newsletter we also offer a print copy which can be delivered to you within the parish. We love your feedback and articles email to editor@south-hill  or call Ali on 07305 044049.

    You can follow us on our South Hill Parish FACEBOOK Group  Where you can share posts of interest, lost cats and dogs, for sale or wanted items…

    THANK YOU, AND ENJOY READING THE NEWSLETTER.

    From The Connection Team

    Archived newsletters (all of them!)
    can be found in our public Google Drive folder – here…

    Business advertisers can be found on our Local Business pageSave

    South Hill Bat Project Update – helping bats and humans share their space


    South Hill Bat Project was thrilled to be nominated for an award from the Bat Conservation Trust, for work with Bats in Churches.  Church Warden Miranda Lawrance-Owen stated how affirming this was for the work being done with our bats.

    The campaign to help local bats keep the roof over their heads, was launched in August and has had an amazing response. 

    An article in the church Times stated:

    Just before the £30,000 project to repair the roof began at St Sampson’s, South Hill, in Callington, near Saltash, it was discovered in May that two families of bats, pipistrelles and regionally rare Natterer’s bats, had set up a maternity wing in the roof. Work was suspended for a survey, and subsequent alterations to the plan to accommodate the legally protected animals.

    Judith Ayers, project coordinator said:

    “The £6,000 target is becoming a reality with £3,700 already secured through our sponsor a bat campaign.  We now have bats named Eeyore, Sampson, Daisy, Brent, Acrobat, Batman and many more.  Supporters are from all around the globe, with intertest as far away as Melbourne!”

    There has been welcome support from celebrity Chris Packham, well know naturalist.  He has personally sponsored a bat and named it Botham, as he said in his Tweet “he was quite handy with a bat.”  His support and sharing on his social media has considerably increased the amount raised and the profile of the campaign.

    St Sampson’s Church, South Hill where the project is situated, has recently received it’s bat mitigation licence and the urgent roof works have now begin, being sensitive to the resident bats who have finished breeding for this year.  Some bat boxes have been sited to house any bats found in the roof, whilst works are being done, with an ecologist to oversee their safety.

    The first bat talk has taken place with local bat expert Tony Atkinson telling the packed church all about the amazing habits of bats.  There was even a special fly by of two bats as he was finishing speaking.  The whole evening was bat themed with bat cakes and crocheted bats to buy.  And to make the evening extra special it was announced that Tony had won an award from the Bat Conservation Trust.   More talks, a bat walk and a bat box building workshop are planned for the spring.

    You can donate on our Just Giving page South Hill Bat Project -helping bats and humans share their space. – JustGiving  then send an e mail to stsampsonssouthhill@gmail.com  to receive your certificate or, by sending a cheque made out to ‘The Rector and Church Wardens of South Hill – to Judith Ayers, Southview Barn, 83 Launceston Road, Callington, Cornwall PL17 8DS.

    For further details of South Hill Bat Project, helping bats and humans share their space.

     contact Judith Ayers  judithayers@yahoo.co.uk or  St Sampsons Unlocked | Facebook   or  St Sampson’s, South Hill – A Church Near You

    Survey – South Hill Community Jubilee Orchard


    Welcome to South Hill Community Jubilee Orchard’s participant survey.

    This survey will help to inform whether there is enough local support for a new community orchard.

    Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/M6RDR58

    South Hill Community Jubilee Orchard

    A proposed view of how the community orchard might look

    This new space is owned by South Hill Parish Council, near Golberdon, and would be a new area that the local community can access. It will be a joint project between the Council and SHARE.

    Continue reading →

    SHARE – Out and About Again


    Lethytep Conservation & Wildlife Haven

    In July, Saltash Environmental Action (SEA) arranged a visit to Lethytep for their members, which was publicised in the SEA newsletter.  Seeing this, we asked if some SHARE members could join in and included an invitation in our latest Member email bulletin.  In the end, only four of us were free to go on the trip, so Geoff, Mike, Ali, and Sue joined the lovely SEA members and Philip and Faith Hambly for the afternoon.

    Philip and Faith have transformed 52 acres of meadows, lakes and ancient woodland into habitats that they manage for wildlife.  The amazing wildflower and hay meadows are managed the old-fashioned way using only carefully-timed grazing and cutting, resulting in a rich and varied habitat.  Though probably not financially viable as a working farm, Lethytep is a valuable resource for biodiversity and wellbeing and is open to visitors by arrangement and on planned open days in June and July each year.

    Continue reading →