A sanctuary for land, wildlife and people
Join us to celebrate 10 years of Polcoombe with a weekend BioBlitz!
We are really looking forward to welcoming everyone to our little haven, here in Polperro. We can’t wait for you to see all the wildlife that lives on the land.
On arrival you will be directed to our Info Point, where you can find out timings for everything happening throughout the day,
pick up a trail map, access drinking water and find out about facilities on site (toilets, recycling point etc.).
However, please ensure you read our Essential Information section before you visit.
This will provide you with all the advice you need to prepare for our BioBlitz in advance.
What's Happening?
Below are all the events we will be running over the course of the weekend.
Visit our Info Point when you arrive to find out what's on next and sign up for sessions!
Morning Moths
With Dave Barker
Get up close and personal with a variety of our local moths.
Heather & Dave will be surveying moths captured in our moth traps over night on both Saturday and Sunday morning. From 11am you’ll be able to come and learn about the moths we have identified in different habitats.
You’ll get a closer look at any left in the trap as they spend the daylight hours sleeping in the shade, and find out how moths and butterflies differ!
Dave is the founder and director of Wildlore CIC. He is a professional ecologist, woodsman, and nature-based educator with over 30 years of experience spanning wildlife conservation, applied ecology, regenerative land use, and community engagement.
Pond Dipping
A chance to see what happens under the surface with a mini-safari of water based mini-beats.
Use a net to explore our pond and examine the contents to identify the many different water beetles and insect larvae you find. Learn about the dramas that unfold as we find out which of these tiny creatures are predators, and which are prey.
If you’re really lucky you might pull up some snails, or even a developing froglet!
Pond dipping sessions are for all ages - a fantastic family activity. These will be restricted to smaller groups so make sure to visit our Info Desk and sign up on day.
Wildlife Walkabouts
With Budding Nature (Sunday Only)
Habitat-based walks focusing on different groups of wildlife.
Budding Nature is a fantastic CIC that aims to increase opportunities for public engagement with the natural world and empower communities to manage and improve local biodiversity - perfectly aligned with our own mission at Polcoombe.
These sessions will enhance your knowledge of natural history and, of course, be lots of fun!
The Budding Nature experts will provide an introduction to what lives where, highlight the ways in which species interact, and explore human relationships with the environment.
Brilliant Bugs
With Scott Martin (Sunday Only)
Scott is the Conservation Officer for the Kernow Wyls (Wild Cornwall) division of Buglife - the only organisation in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates.
You’ll find Scott in our wildflower meadow, working alongside Botanical Cornwall Group, on Sunday. He will be focusing on pollinator groups from the UKPOMS FIT counts (Flower Insect Timed counts). This is a great citizen science project that everyone can participate in, and is guaranteed to get you buzzing!
Learn about bumblebees, solitary bees, wasps, beetles, hemiptera (aka true bugs) and other winged insects, including butterflies and moths.
Scott is the man to ask if you need an insect ID and he will happily take you on a bug hunt to look at insects in different habitats on the land, too.
Nighttime Bat Walk
With Theresa Stewart & Dave Barker (Saturday Only)
Come and join us to meet our nocturnal friends at Polcoombe.
Advanced booking essential. Please register on Eventbrite to secure your place.
Arrive at 21:00 for a short briefing beside the campfire. Full details on how to find us will be sent via email on successful registration.
At sunset, we’ll head out into the woods, as the bats begin to emerge. With the aid of our bat detectors, we will be able to hear the bats and, if we are lucky, get to see them too!
The bat walk will be guided by bat ecologists Theresa Stewart, and Dave Barker, who have both worked with bats for well over 15 years.
Tree & Dave will be joined by special guest David Hill, a retired professor and bat expert, who will be conducting specialised bat surveys using harp traps & acoustic lures. If we time it right, this may provide the opportunity for a few lucky individuals to see wild bats in the hand as David records species, sex and life-stage, along with other physiological features.
Please dress appropriately. Although we are not going far, we will be walking through wild woodland in the dark. So, long trousers and sleeves are advised, and sturdy footwear is essential. Full darkness will be in place from just after 22:00. So, please also bring a torch / headtorch to use when navigating the unfamiliar terrain.
You are welcome to join us around the fire for a hot chocolate or night cap, after our excursion.
Please note: Bats are wild creatures of the night and, as such, we cannot guarantee hearing or seeing them. Furthermore, the walk will be weather dependent, so please keep an eye out for updates / communications closer to the time.
Essential Information
We care about both your safety and your comfort.
With this in mind, we remind you that Polcoombe is, by its very nature, a wild environment.
Therefore, there’s a few things you need to be aware of before you come…
Parking
We are only able to offer a limited amount of parking. Therefore, we encourage you to share vehicles, where possible, or walk to us, if you are able.
Please look out for our Hilltop Car Park on the day.
This is further up Longcoombe Lane, past our usual entrance point. You can pinpoint the exact location for your maps using what3words:
You will be provided with a trail map and directions to Base Camp on arrival.
Please note that access from our Hilltop Car Park is a 10 minute walk down a steep path, through our beautiful wildflower meadow.
This means that it is unsuitable for anyone with limited mobility.
However, we do have a small number of additional parking spaces at an alternative location. From here, our Base Camp can be accessed via a flat track, which will provide access for sturdy wheelchairs and mobility scooters. It takes approximately 10-15 mins on foot.
Alternatively, we can collect you from either parking location in our off road vehicle at an agreed time.
Please let us know asap if you require alternative parking or pre-scheduled pick up.
Food & Drink
There will be no food or drink available to buy, or provided by Polcoombe, over the weekend.
Drinking water will be available at our Info Point.
Our Camp Kitchen will be out of bounds during the BioBlitz (access for Crew only).
Please ensure you bring your own picnic and snacks!
What to Wear
Suitable clothing for both the environment and the weather are really important for your comfort levels and safety.
Please make sure you look out for any communications from Polcoome and check the local weather forecast before leaving the house.
We want to help ensure that you (and your children) arrive with appropriate clothing.
Here’s our recommendations:
Long sleeved T-shirt or shirt and long trousers (bare arms and legs can get sunburned, scratched or stung)
Sturdy footwear
Waterproof coat if rain is expected (and trousers if you have them)
Sun hat and sunglasses
Sea shoes & microfibre towel (if planning to paddle in the stream)
Top Tips from our Team:
Quick dry materials are your friend!
Bring layers!! It is better to be overprepared than not have what you need to be comfortable and protected from the elements (that goes for both rain and sun)!
Unsuitable Clothing
Leggings (too thin to provide proper protection from brambles / nettles)
Open toe sandals (you can stub your toe very easily)
Sliders, flip flops / similar types of footwear (soles do not provide adequate grip or protection)
What Else to Bring?
You could also consider bringing a few personal items, if you would like to:
Refillable water bottle (essential)
Flask for hot drinks
Extra snacks and refreshments
Picnic blanket
Camera
Binoculars
Magnifying glass
Notebook and pen
Personal medication
Sunscreen
Rucksack to carry it all!
Dogs
Due to the nature of this event, there will be no dogs allowed on this occasion.
If you need to bring an assistance dog, please let us know in advance.
Health & Safety
There are brambles, stinging nettles and poisonous native plants on site. We will point out any obvious examples on your arrival but, if in doubt about any such species, avoid contact and ask for confirmation.
You will be in close quarters with plenty of trees, plants and creatures - including our insect friends. Please use a natural repellent if needed, we will provide some on the day.
If you suspect you have picked up a tick, please inform the Info Desk or your Activity Guide as we have the appropriate tools to remove them safely.
Report any accidents or injuries to the Info Desk at Base Camp. If you are unable to safely return to Base Camp then please inform a volunteer as soon as possible.
Accessibility
Please contact us in advance if you have any accessibility requirements, allergies or additional needs (including emergency medication).
Unfortunately, we do not currently have step free toilet facilities. So, you will need to be able to walk up a few steps and / or take someone to the toilet who can help you with access.
Wildlife Activity
As a final point of consideration, it is worth noting that wildlife activity will depend on the weather. For example, many flying insects will be less active in the rain. Therefore, we cannot absolutely guarantee that you will see specific creatures.
However, we will monitor the weather closely and tailor our sessions accordingly. So, whatever the weather, there will be something to see, do and enjoy on the day!
Donations / Tips
All our wonderful activities are free of charge and delivered with our mission in mind.
Polcoombe’s ambition is to:
Protect and tend the wildlife that inhabits the land;
Develop connections between the local community and the land; and to
Provide a space where people can have meaningful experiences in nature.
We believe that, through restoring our human connection to the natural world, we can be an important part in healing the damaged and fragmented ecosystems of the earth.
If you have enjoyed your experience, a donation to Polcoombe via the Info Desk, or a tip directly to your Activity Guide, would be graciously welcomed.
There will be no card facilities available. So, donations / tips on the day will be cash only.
Thanks in advance,
from the team at Polcoombe.