News and Updates

Dog walkers on the heathland at Berry Head National Nature Reserve recently may have been puzzled to stumble across a group of volunteers on their hands and knees, wielding sharp tools and peering into the undergrowth! Walkers stopping to chat would have discovered that the volunteers were clearing bracken and scrub from around small bell […]

Read our latest blog from Justin, Farmer here at Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust. Harvesting in Autumn It’s been quite the year, and we’ve just wrapped up harvesting the oats & barley we sowed back in the spring. This corn is crucial as it feeds our sheep and cattle through next year, but it wasn’t […]

Ellen joined as one of our residential Long Term Volunteers (LTV) in November 2023, working with the ranger team at Berry Head National Nature Reserve, and more recently also the ranger team at Occombe Farm. Now her 9 months volunteering have come to an end, she has shared her experience. “I had a desire to […]

We once again got involved in this annual event at Berry Head National Nature Reserve which took place between 29 July – 2 Aug 2024. Our Engagement Range Marije Zwager was at the forefront of the event and here shares a roundup of what was discovered… “Exposed at the end of the headland we were […]

Nestled on the rugged coastline of South Devon, Berry Head National Nature Reserve is a sanctuary for wildlife and a haven for nature enthusiasts. Here you’ll find Marije Zwager our dedicated Engagement Ranger who, along with a team of volunteers, have identified some worrying trends. In this blog, Marije shares her insights and explains what […]

We are delighted to confirm that Cockington Country Park has once again received the Green Flag Award – an international quality mark for parks and green spaces. We are one of four parks that have received the Green Flag Award every year since the scheme was launched 28 years ago. The Green Flag Award is […]

Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust is pleased to announce the results of their latest survey on the Cirl Bunting population at Berry Head National Nature Reserve. This study, conducted with the invaluable assistance of volunteers, marks a significant milestone in ongoing conservation efforts for this rare and beautiful bird species. During the second seasonal survey […]

Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust is delighted to announce a remarkable discovery of over 800 Small Hare’s-ear plants (Bupleurum baldense) thriving at Berry Head National Nature Reserve, perhaps its sole surviving site in Devon. This significant find underscores the careful habitat management of the Trust, who care for nearly 80% of all Torbay’s green spaces. […]

A brand-new collaboration underscores the power of corporate responsibility. Superhub, a dynamic media agency, based in Paignton, has joined forces with Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust as their first Corporate Partner. The launch of Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust’s new corporate packages marks a significant milestone in their efforts to protect and preserve the natural […]

Nestled in the heart of Cockington lies Cockington Country Park, a beautiful country estate cared for by Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust.  A park that is also home to Redbay Design, a landscape consultancy that specialises in design through to delivery of sustainable landscape solutions. Redbay and Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust have a shared […]

Welcome to our brand new Community Garden blog written by Torbay Coast & Countryside Volunteer Amanda. After years of dormancy, our Community Garden, at Occombe Farm, is springing into life. Our goal this year is simple: to provide fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs to our kitchen and café. We’re off to a good start! We’ve […]

Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust is a dedicated conservation charity that cares for nearly 80% of all Torbay’s green spaces, some of which are sites of national and international importance. One of the sites we manage is Cockington Water Meadows. You may have noticed a series of posts on social media from a friendship group […]

The breeding season for guillemots is here (March – July), so extra caution is needed when exploring the coastline that we care for at Berry Head National Nature Reserve. In the below picture you can see jet skiers entering the Area of Special Protection recently at Berry Head. They disturbed the guillemots and sent the […]

Welcome to our latest farming blog written by our Farmer, Justin, featuring new arrivals on the farm… What a wet winter we’ve experienced in Torbay! As depressing as winter can be, we’re now in my favourite time of year when new life seems to burst from everywhere on the farm. And at the same time […]

Nestled along Preston Down Road, Paignton lies a green haven meticulously tended by the Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust. Here, the rarely seen brown hairstreak butterfly finds its home, thanks to the Trust’s diligent efforts. Their methodical approach involves rotating cleared areas, ensuring there’s always a variety of young blackthorn—a favourite laying spot for the […]

The roses in our Memorial Rose Garden at Cockington Country Park have sadly reached the end of their 10 year life span and are now in need of replacement. To ensure optimal growth and prevent rose dieback disease, we need to replace both the roses and the soil. As a result the Memorial Rose Garden […]

As the chill of winter begins to fade away we’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new season: lambing time! If you’re curious about what goes into preparing for these cute additions on our farm, you’re in the right place. Within Occombe we have two locations where we welcome our spring lambs. These include […]

Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust, a dedicated conservation charity that cares for Berry Head as well as 76% of Torbay’s natural green spaces, has launched a striking new campaign designed to encourage dog owners to pick up their dog’s mess. Their ‘Purple Poo Campaign’ aims to reduce the amount of dog waste at Berry Head, […]