Key Corn Bunting habitat destroyed by The National Trust at Trevose Head

As  I drove up to the top car park at Trevose Head today to check on the Corn Buntings I couldn't believe my eyes, I was dismayed to see that the best place on the whole headland that the Buntings use to rest and take cover has been completely removed! The Beetle bank ( a wild raised hedgerow purposefully left alone for invertebrates , wild flowers and birds) was one of the last remaining outposts for possibly Cornwall's most threatened breeding passerine. It's position between two of the headlands main feeding sites was perfect nesting habitat for many other scarce red listed breeding birds such as Skylark and Meadow Pipit, it was also commonly used habitat for tired migrant birds such as Short-eared Owl and Woodcock. However the really big issue here is the future of Corn Buntings in Cornwall , for me this habitat destruction is really that big a deal! Trevose Head is ( was) the last stronghold for this species , ten years ago you could see 40 birds , last winter seeing 12-13 was as good as it got.

The previous land owner was awarded funds to preserve and protect the habitat for Corn Bunting and although not ideal they did work with the RSPB to help conserve their breeding and wintering habitat. In 13 years of birding and monitoring the Corn Buntings at Trevose this is the single worse disaster for the Corn Buntings I have seen. There can be no denying that the National Trust has made a huge ecological mistake by removing the beetle bank. My question to the National Trust is           this: Can you acknowledge you have made an error? If so we all make mistakes. What can we do about it , can you restore the original habitat ?( although it will take several years to regrow). If this in fact part of your management plan have you allocated extra habitat for Corn Buntings in replacement? Do you still get paid by Natural England and the RSPB to conserve and protect the Corn Buntings and their habitat? 

This could be the final nail in the coffin of Corn Buntings at Trevose and unless something can be done we will lose them in circa ten years.

A Corn Bunting perched on the Beetle Bank, the bracken and rich abundance of insects was important in both summer and winter.

The long green strip was once a raised bank of long grass and bracken which was perfect for the Corn Buntings and nature, sad times.......