As a result of a discussion between two members at a branch meeting, regarding the issue of Japanese knotweed control, the Environment Agency and the National Trust organised and hosted a conference on the issue of knotweed management. Co-ordinators and practitioners' groups have now been established to manage the knotweed problem in Cornwall.

The conference, held on 25th November 1997 at Lanhydrock House, discussed modes of knotweed transmission, control methods and the need for co-ordinated control efforts. A speaker from the International Centre for Landscape Ecology described the fascinating story of knotweed spread. There are no records of male knotweed plants in the UK. All seed produced is therefore sterile and plants colonise from the distribution of stem and rhizome material. The rhizome can spread to a distance of seven metres away from the parent plant, and new plants can grow from as little as 0.7 grammes of rhizome material. Most knotweed is spread by means of contaminated soil. The cut stems also regrow from the nodes in soil or water. Even flailing does not prevent regrowth as only a quarter of a single node is required to produce a new plant.

It is hoped that with this new understanding of knotweed ecology effective control can be achieved. Knotweed effectively excludes all native flora where it is established. In view of its continuing spread throughout a range of habitats, it is a serious threat to our biodiversity.

Trevor Renals

Caradon

The Caradon Branch of the Trust is eager to encourage new members onto its committee and has arranged an open meeting, which Trust members are invited to attend to see if they are interested in joining the current group. Committee issues will be discussed at this meeting, and we are especially interested in ideas and suggestions from individuals. If you are really keen, then come along and help out.

The meeting will be held at Stoke Climsland School on Wednesday 3rd June, starting at 7.30pm. Refreshments will be provided.

If you are interested in becoming a committee member for the branch or would like further information on the above meeting, then please leave a message for Gail Cory on (01579) 347445.

We look forward to seeing you.

Gail Cory

Launceston

Attendance at our autumn events has been very encouraging, with almost a hundred adults and children at each of the two Fox Club meetings in November and January, and over thirty adults at our February evening meeting.

The Reptile Encounter, organised by Mark Nicholson, is now an established attraction. Nearly everyone had "hands-on experience" of the five species presented by Gary McCammick, with Zoë, a huge Burmese Python, as the central attraction. The Story Telling was equally successful. The country mansion, a log fire, and a close-packed audience of mixed age seated on blankets and cushions, set the scene, and the story teller, Clive Fairweather, entertained us for about one and a half hours with a wide mixture of stories. We will try to make this a regular activity.

Gary Pilkington, of the Welcombe and Marsland Nature Reserve, treated us in February to a stunning set of slides and a very interesting talk covering his conservation work at the reserve. Of particular interest was his information on the importance of coppicing to the conservation of wildlife. Talks on hedgerows, on otters and weasels and on bird song will complete our winter programme.

Our summer walks will start again in late May. Anyone interested in a relaxed walk in peaceful surroundings, in the presence of natural history and local history experts, should contact me or check with the Tourist Information office, just before the last Saturday of the month. We hope to have started on the restoration of Truscott village pond by the time this copy is distributed.

Brian Stringer

Penwith

We have had some good events recently, starting with the annual branch party which was kindly hosted by Liz Tregenza. There was plenty to eat and drink and also an interesting yet amusing quiz, which held most people's interest throughout the evening.

The following morning we were up bright and early, armed with shovels. Our task for the morning was planting trees for Frank and Sylvia Gartside. Frank and Sylvia have recently purchased a small field close to their home; approximately two thirds of the field will be native woodland with the remainder being a wildflower meadow - a real wildlife haven. Following our morning's work, Frank and Sylvia provided us with a tasty lunch.

Our most recent event was the branch AGM which was held at St Piran's Hall, Goldsithney. We had an attendance of 16. After the formal meeting we enjoyed a very interesting slide show given by Jane Richardson on her travels to Nairobi, North Africa.

With summer on the way, we have planned several outdoor events and, as always, everyone is most welcome.

Alistair Beasley

Restormel

Excerpts from the Restormel report, which would have filled a page and half in total!:

No sooner have we finished posting all our Trust magazines than we find it is time to start writing up for the next one. Talking of which, our magazine distributor Ken Isham, without whom we would all be lost, would like to hear from anyone who can help with hand-delivering around the Fowey area. Call Ken on (01726) 64391 if you can help.

Our winter events included the annual late Christmas get-together and informal meeting in January, when any of our members can come along and show slides and photographs of what wildlife they have seen throughout the past year. It proved to be a good night with many excellent slides and some photographs of Scotland. Many thanks to all who brought their slides and to those who came to watch and help with the refreshments. Please remember to take some good shots this summer for our next January meeting.

Dave Thomas

An intrepid band of members walked along Spit Beach on a cold, grey and blowy day in December. Due to meticulous forward planning, we arrived at the beach just after high tide! Francis Couch, an experienced bird-watcher, helped us identify some of the birds we found. The water gradually receded in the harbour area, where the outer wall is a haven for waders. We could see oystercatcher, curlew, ringed plover, dunlin and redshank, all feeding along the beach and amongst the seaweed.

Cathy and I gave a slide show on the Trust's reserves and the work it does to the St Austell Methodist Circuit. Quite a few Trust leaflets were taken and hopefully there will be a few more new members and more eyes to conserving nature.

Cathy and John Tucker

On a very fine spring morning in February, 35 members and friends met at Ponts Mill for a circular walk to Treffry's Viaduct in the Luxulyan Valley and back again. The Valley is owned jointly by Cornwall County and Restormel Borough Councils, and the lower end at Ponts Mill is close to the Trust's newly acquired Prideaux Wood. It is hoped that in the near future a path will link the two woods. In February the spring flowers were beginning to add their beauty to the scene and we were lucky enough to observe mistle thrush, dipper, treecreeper, nuthatch and willow tit along our route.

Ken Isham

Tamar

Committee news

At our AGM in January Arline Hansen was confirmed as Chairman and Mary Robbins was elected to the committee and has now agreed to act as Membership Secretary in Arline's place.

Congratulations to our Vice-chairman, Leesa Chapman, on the birth of Kayleigh Rose, also in January. Our enjoyable programme of winter meetings has continued.

Sir Christopher Cadbury

I have been allowed a few extra words to tell you about the unveiling ceremony last October of the memorial to Sir Christopher Cadbury at Marsland Mouth. You will find an article about the Welcombe and Marsland reserve in this edition of Wild Cornwall.

Sir Christopher Cadbury was a Quaker. During the Second World War he worked as a stretcher bearer through the blitz in London. He promised himself that, if he survived, he would buy some of the beautiful areas which he had discovered and preserve them. Sir David Attenborough said in his speech that his friend Sir Christopher had often spoken of this dream, and of a "secret valley" which he hoped to buy one day. He would never tell Sir David where that valley was. Sadly, Sir David has still not seen the valley, for it was shrouded in thick fog during the ceremony - but he turned this into good account during his speech, by saying the valley would always remain a "secret valley" to him! I felt so sorry that the poor man had to go back to London straight after lunch, without seeing the glories of the Marsland/Morwenstow area. I hope that Trust members will find time this summer to go and pay their respects to Sir Christopher and see what Sir David Attenborough missed!

Apart from the valley, Morwenstow is well worth a visit, with its wonderful church, the Rectory built by the Reverend Hawker, with chimneys in the shape of church towers, and dramatic scenery. There is good food there too!

Gill Ruddock