Accessibility - Footpaths
Permissive footpaths
Since 2016 The Friends have re-opened and maintained the permissive footpaths in the woods.
These are the 'top path', the 'diagonal path', the 'Maenporth Hill path' and the 'bluebell path'. Some of these footpaths are signed with green arrows.
The Friends are gradually repairing the steps on the steep sections of these paths.
Statutory footpaths
Cornwall Council, in partnership with the Parish Council and landowners, are formally responsible for the upkeep of the statutory footpaths - the 'bottom path' which leads up from Maenporth Beach and divides at the bridge with one arm linking to Carlidnack Lane, the other to the fields of Meudon Farm. This footpath is signed with yellow arrows.
The Friends assist by hand-clearing small obstructions and reporting problems requiring professional assistance to clear.
Re-open the 'bottom path'
Over the winter of 2024/25 The Friends are also helping by re-establishing the original route of the 'bottom path' which had become overgrown with brambles and blocked with fallen trees. This sign was found concealed within a huge bramble thicket.
Biodiversity
Since 2022 The Friends have started a programme of works to increase biodiversity in the woods. This involves thinning out over-represented non-native species and encouraging a wider range of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
Thinning out non-native trees
The densely-planted new plantations (planted in the nineties and noughties) were never thinned and have become dominated in places by fast-growing non-native evergreen trees notably Monterey Pine and Holly Oak.
In moderate numbers these can provide useful habitat and fine specimen trees. But en masse they have out-competed slower growing broad-leaved trees which were planted with them at the same time. They have also shaded-out the understorey leaving the ground underneath completely bare.
These ‘exotics’ will be thinned out and in their place a range of native species - e.g. oak, ash, lime, elm, rowan, spindle and hawthorn - will be encouraged by natural regeneration and planting of saplings.
Removal of invasive Three-Cornered Garlic
The non-native Three-Cornered Garlic (leek) Allium triquetrum is rapidly establishing itself along the footpaths, its seed carried along by walkers and dogs. It now covers an area of 250m2.
Since 2010 it has been an offence under the Section 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 to release this Mediterranean plant into the wild as it is recognised to be a threat to the natural flora and fauna.
It has become highly invasive in the warm, humid conditions in this part of Cornwall and, left to its own devices, it will supplant the native ground flora including bluebells and woods anemones.
The Friends are trialling a technique of repeated strimming to prevent the further spread of Three-Cornered Garlic and eventually to beat it back to the boundaries, if possible without resort to chemicals.
