Bissoe Reserve- a hidden gem

(Written by Dr Mark Nason, Head of Cornwall College Newquay) 

I’m not ashamed to admit that I like contaminated dirt. With more derelict land than any other county, Cornwall suits me fine. Our Duchy has nearly 4000 hectares of spoil where lack of organic matter and the presence of toxic metals inhibits and slows recolonisation by plants and wildlife. Who decides what happens to post-industrial land? Should we intervene and if so what methods can restore it, and who pays? Questions any restoration programme must address whilst balancing competing priorities of stakeholders. Do we wish to enhance biodiversity, preserve industrial archaeology, or restore ecosystem services? Can a mixture of different land-uses satisfy all without resulting in too much of a mishmash to do any one thing properly? 

Common Darter- photo by Duncan Viner

During a recent cycle along the coast-to-coast trail from Portreath to Devoran I passed Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Bissoe Reserve near Point Mills Arsenic Refinery. Thinking it a prime location for a field-trip with ecology, conservation and plant science students I met volunteer warden, Duncan Viner, and had the privilege of accompanying him on a tour of the 7.5 acre former mine site.

Bissoe is a hidden gem, a mosaic of hummocks, hollows, ponds and flowing water, managed in part for its spectacular flying critters. Damselfy and dragonfly species here include golden ring, emporer, southern hawker, common darter and demoiselle. Lucky visitors might spot the grayling butterfly with its cryptic camouflage. Streams flowing through the reserve are managed and ponds maintained to promote biodiversity. They are spring-fed and appear relatively clean, in sharp contrast to the adjacent Carnon River, into which the County Adit discharges phenomenal quantities of metals from over 100 mines. 

Grayling butterfly- photo by Duncan Viner

On an outcropping of sandy soil the presence of stunted alder, rowan, sycamore and cherry hint at the difficult growing conditions on contaminated land. There is bare ground in and around the reserve and rather than ‘greening it’, it is valued as a haven for some of Britain’s rarest species of invertebrates and plants. Pushing through undergrowth we reach the top of a hummock and are treated to the incredible sight of thousands of ivy bees, a species first recorded in Britain in 2001. As the name suggests they feed almost exclusively on ivy, nesting in dense aggregations in sandy soil. 

We pick our way very carefully through their nesting site, bees buzzing harmlessly around us. Amongst reedmace at the northern edge of the reserve I reach down to gently remove an impressive water scorpion clinging to my boot. Ripe seed pods of Himalayan balsam explode against our legs with surprising force. This is one of many invasive non-native species in Cornwall and controlling it is essential to ensure our native plants and associated insects thrive. I make a note to offer Duncan help from the committed volunteers in our Student Invasive Non-Native Group. 

Invasive Himalayan Balsam growing at Bissoe Reserve

Bissoe Reserve and the surrounding area provide a unique opportunity to study the legacy of mining in Cornwall and discuss the opportunities and difficulties of land restoration. 

I’ll be bringing our students here soon.


For more information on the range of Ecology, Conservation, Zoology, Marine and Surf   courses available at Cornwall College Newquay visit www.cornwall.ac.uk/newquay or call 0330 123 2523. 

New degree course making a splash!

A specialist degree course at Cornwall College Newquay is celebrating 100% pass rate and 100% progression rate into employment or onto further training.

The BSc (Hons) Marine Sports Science degree is celebrating the success of its first cohort of students, who have just graduated with a majority of 2:1 and first class honours. The unique qualification, which is delivered at Cornwall College’s Newquay campus on Wildflower Lane, is accredited in partnership with Plymouth University.    

Course Manager Brender Willmott said: “I’m really proud of the success of our first cohort of Marine Sport Science students who graduated this year and also of the amazing team that took on the programme and delivered the new modules in such an engaging and successful way. The students embraced this new course and the opportunities it offered and produced some excellent research in a field that is currently understudied and that offers many openings in the field for future research and development.”

This is certainly the case for Cornwall College graduate Nicolo Agliata, who relocated from Rome to study the course. Nicolo said: “From a young age, I have always been fascinated by the marine environment; whether it was surfing, scuba diving, freediving or fishing, I have always tried to spend as much time as I possibly could in the water. It was also thanks to my parents, who both are devoted sailors that I was able to grow up so close to the environment that I love and, accordingly, cultivate my passion.

Nicolo Agliata is now going on to study a Masters in Australia

“To all the aspiring students I would say that choosing Cornwall College Newquay is by far the best choice you could make; not only are the lecturers and staff extremely helpful, but Cornwall will soon become your home away from home. This has truly been an amazing experience for me and I would recommend it to any marine sports enthusiast who is willing to start a career in this industry.


“What I love the most about the college are the small-size classrooms and the proximity to the ocean. Most of our lectures took place at Tolcarne beach, which is, without doubt, the best location for a class. Cornwall College definitely contributed a great extent to get me where I am today. I am about to leave for Australia where, in January, I am starting a master in Sport Management at Bond University. The surf industry is a tough one to get into but, thanks to the people I met during this course and their advice, I was able to find my own way.”

Cornwall...no better place to study marine sport science

The qualification, which is available as a full three year degree or as a one year top-up to supplement a relevant existing foundation degree, covers many aspects of the marine industry. The subjects range from business to oceanography, from health and fitness to advanced design concepts and with a focus on applied sport science. It is this versatility of topics that makes the course so unique and an excellent head start in a competitive industry.

Another graduate Esteban Hack, has taken the skills and confidence he gained on the course to progress to a project manager role at Anja Jones Translations, a translation agency in Newquay specialising in German, English and French translations. With a team of 32 in-house and freelance translators under him, Esteban is responsible for planning staff work volumes, making sure client deadlines are met, dealing with enquiries and any other problems that may emerge. Esteban said:  “Cornwall College has provided great opportunities to develop skills that aren’t purely academic. In my case that was anything project management and teamwork related, such as the managing of surf competitions and business modules.

“Surfing is more than just a hobby for me and it plays a major role in my everyday life. Everything about the ocean and how it works drew me to study the marine environment. In combination with learning about how I can perform better in that environment, the modules about sports performance and the human body in particular, were the main reasons for me to study this course.

“Studying in Newquay allowed me to live a lifestyle I actually wanted to live while being in full time education due to the incredible location. Being/living/studying in a place or environment you enjoy a lot obviously does help significantly with anything that comes your way. The only advice I think I can give would be to study what’s most fun to you, chances are higher it’ll take you somewhere you actually want to be in life.”

Esteban Hack graduating at Truro Cathedral 

Students have the opportunity to study a number of different modules relating to the ocean environment in which they practice their sport and in addition modules that will allow them the opportunity to gain key qualifications in their particular area of expertise and  interest to help enhance their employability in a competitive industry.  Alongside of this the essential business and management skills, transferable and soft skills key to graduate level employment will be embedded in a number of modules including event and expedition management and business and enterprise. Sustainability of marine sector sporting activities and environmental awareness will be considered alongside new and developing technology in the industry.

Graduate Ben Morrison is now looking to use his knowledge and skills to work abroad. Ben said: “Cornwall College has helped me understand the surf industry better and introduced me to so many different and helpful contacts. My tutor Brender has helped me apply for ski courses and jobs and at the moment I am training so I can start doing seasons as a ski instructor.

“Newquay is a great place for uni, close to the beach for surfing and it has a great night out. The college is fairly small but this just makes it better for lectures as you only have 15-20 in a class, so you get more opportunities to speak to your lecturer. The course is great, covering a range of really interesting modules. If you love surfing or any sort of marine sport, this is the course for you!”

For more information on the range of Marine, Surf or Zoology courses available at Cornwall College Newquay visit www.cornwall.ac.uk/newquay or call 0845 22 32 567. 

Dream job at the Beeb for former Newquay student

A former wildlife student from Cornwall College Newquay has landed a dream job presenting a popular children’s programme on the BBC!!   
  
Lizzie Daly, who studied her FdSc Animal Behaviour &Psychology course at Cornwall College Newquay, is currently presenting The Lets Go Club on the CBeebies channel. 

An adventurer at heart, Lizzie regularly goes cliff jumping, sea swimming and off road running and has just completed running 200 miles alone in Europe to raise money for the World Land Trust this summer. Her curiosity for the natural world has led her to conducting research in Iceland, Cornwall, across South Africa, and even venturing alone into Northern Cyprus to observe the distribution of snakes.  In addition to presenting The Lets Go Club, Lizzie aims to engage others by making wildlife documentaries which will inspire and encourage people to involve themselves in scientific endeavours. 

We sat down with Lizzie to find out more about her latest success and what she remembers from her time at Cornwall College: 


Where does your interest in wildlife and the natural world stem from?

Lizzie: It's funny because I get asked this a lot but I can't actually pinpoint the moment I fell in love with learning about the natural world! What I do know is that from a young age, elephants were a species that fascinated me, particularly in their complex social behaviours, and when I was in school I remember listening to hundreds of audio clips of elephant rumbles to try and learn the "elephant dictionary". Apart from that, I spent a lot of time when I was younger amongst nature and in the outdoors as I would go camping and backpacking with my family, so that probably played a huge part in my early interest.

What exactly about the subject draws you to it?

Lizzie: The natural world tells some of the most dramatic stories ever seen - what's not to love?!  No, really, I feel the most comfortable when I'm exploring nature or heading off into the middle of nowhere in search of catching a behaviour or wildlife spectacle on film, and my fascination for wildlife comes hand in hand with my strong sense of adventure. 

I'm drawn to research because of the combination of problem solving, creativity and rigorous testing that gives us today's extensive knowledge of the natural world and this has always inspired me. In fact I would go as far to say that not a week goes by where I'm not amazed by a new discovery science makes. 



What did you enjoy about studying at Cornwall College Newquay?

Lizzie: One of the highlights of studying at Cornwall College was the location and the people. Having the Cornish coast and the zoo right on my doorstep meant that I could apply what I learnt at University to the environment around me. Furthermore the staff and researchers were very supportive and creative, encouraging students to involve themselves in a variety of scientific endeavours. 

Can you tell me how your presenting job on the BBC came about?

Lizzie: A lot of my time is spent making my own wildlife films and pushing them on social media and believe it or not the BBC job came from being randomly spotted online! This is why it's so important to put yourself out there...and also through pushing myself online I was able to get myself noticed by an agent.

How did Cornwall College contribute to where you are today?

Lizzie: Cornwall College was an important stepping stone for me in learning more about the world of research. The University provided me with plenty of opportunities to volunteer, work in the field and develop my skills in communicating science. The work of projects like SINNG are vital in raising awareness and communicating to the public about our important native species, it's these projects which really make a difference.


Have you got any advice for aspiring wildlife presenters out there?

Lizzie: YES! To anyone who wants to be a wildlife presenter, grab a camera and start filming as soon as possible! If you are passionate about wildlife then the story will tell itself, all you have to do is catch it on camera. It takes practice, time and patience (usually waiting around in the cold/rain for hours which 90% is the case when filming wildlife), but when you do get the shot / camera piece you need it's the most rewarding feeling - and being able to share that moment with others is even more special!!


Keep up to date with Lizzie:
https://www.facebook.com/LizzieDalyWildlife/ 
https://twitter.com/_lizziedaly



To see the range of Zoology, Surf & Marine courses on offer visit: 
www.cornwall.ac.uk/newquay 

Want to be a Beach Ranger?

Young people across the county have been benefiting from the launch of an exciting new programme, designed to offer valuable life skills and accredited qualifications against the backdrop of Cornwall’s stunning marine environment.

The Beach Rangers Academy, part of the Your Shore Beach Rangers project run in partnership between Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Cornwall College Newquay, encourages young people aged 16 to 24 to connect with Cornwall’s marine surroundings through a structured programme of personal development. Through engaging activities that will build confidence, teamwork, communication and other life skills, the programme not only increases employability but also raises awareness of important environmental issues to a wider audience.

 Beach Ranger Academy Leader Ruth Martin, said: “It’s a really exciting opportunity for young people to gain training, awards and rewards that will make them more employable. The Academy recognises the special places we live and encourages young people to celebrate and protect them.”

Using Cornwall’s inspirational coastline as a setting, this last month has seen the programme gaining momentum, with a large number of aspiring Beach Rangers taking part in various training sessions at both Cornwall College Newquay and the College’s beachside classrooms at Tolcarne Beach.

So far, the Rangers were given an insight into the importance of beach safety training by a supervisor from Newquay RNLI lifeboat station, as well as a basic first aid training sessions from Staying Alive Cornwall. The programme also provides training in marine environmental issues, mindfulness, survey techniques including shore and snorkel surveys, nutrition, the ethics of farming and aquaculture, marine species identification, and experience in planning and organising outdoor events and activities.   

The Beach Ranger Academy is one of thirty one youth-led projects across the UK receiving funding to give young people the skills and knowledge to improve their local environments – from reducing marine pollution to minimising food waste. In Cornwall, The project will be recruiting 180 Beach Rangers, building their confidence and resilience to become environmental leaders and influence decisions at local and national levels.

Beach Ranger Academy Leader Brender Wilmott said: “The Beach Rangers Academy is an adventure, stretching young people to learn new skills that are directly applicable to their future development and employability. Trained Beach Rangers will go on to organise and lead public engagement activities that promote the local marine environment to local secondary school pupils and the general public, enabling them to gain new skills relevant to finding jobs, training, volunteering opportunities, or starting entrepreneurial projects that contribute to the green economy. If you are looking to learn new skills, meet interesting people, be part of a community and achieve qualifications that will look great on your CV, we would love to see you get involved.” 

 For more information on the Cornwall Beach Rangers Academy, find out more at: www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/YSBR 

or email: beachrangers@cornwall.ac.uk     

The heat is on....or is it?

The heat is on! 

This week sees our crowd funding project go live!

The reason we are one of 14 zoo projects around the world in the Zoo Challenge is that west coast USA crowd funder host Experiment spotted a recent paper published in Zoo Biology by a student and Centre and Zoo staff. They were impressed; they approached us to encourage our participation in the Zoo Challenge.

Our project The heat is on, or is it? Better heating for captive tortoises will find out how critically endangered Madagascan radiated tortoises Geochelone radiata in Newquay Zoo use the heat sources in their enclosure.

Be part of this project by contributing to the project. Any amount will help us get to our total and the more people who contribute, the more chance we have of being selected to receive an extra $1000 direct from the crowd funder.

Click on this link to go to the crowd funding page for the project

Some detail on the project. Thermal imaging cameras will be used to compare the effectiveness of different external heat sources in warming tortoises. The results will be widely disseminated in the zoo world through links with Durrell, ZSL and of course Newquay Zoo who will incorporate the information into development of their tortoise enclosure.

The project is a brilliant example of the collaborations involving the staff and students at the Centre for Applied Zoology at Cornwall College Newquay – uncovering information that has a direct, local and widespread application in zoology. We plan to use Centre equipment and staff expertise together with Zoo staff to collect and interpret the data. The crowd funding proposal was co-written by the team and the supporting video was produced by a recent BSc Applied Zoology and Wildlife Education & Media graduate.

So the heat is on! We have about a month to raise the project total. If you are unable to help by donating, please spread the information far and wide through your networks in case someone you know can.

(by Peter McGregor- Research Coordinator at Cornwall College Newquay )