GWR grant boosts project to increase visitor numbers to Cornwall nature reserve

Cornwall Wildlife Trust wants to promote walking links between the reserve and Saltash station, as well as helping to reduce social isolation and provide new volunteering opportunities.

As part of GWR’s franchise agreement with the Department for Transport, the train operator has a Community Cohesion Fund to assist small community charities, enterprises and station adopters.

The nature reserve has the mainline railway and the viaduct running spectacularly across it and is a 20-minute walk from Saltash station.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust fundraising officer Emma Miller said:

“Churchtown Farm Community Nature Reserve is an important place both for people and wildlife. Recognising the importance of the site to local people, a group exists to enable community members to contribute to all aspects of the site’s management.

“We want more people to become involved with this group, to help reduce social isolation and encourage more rail users to visit and benefit from the reserve’s location on the edge of Saltash, making it an ideal place for people to escape for a bit of peace and quiet.”

South East Cornwall MP Sheryll Murray said:

“Churchtown Farm Community Nature Reserve provides a fantastic recreation area and I would like to thank Great Western Railway for their generous donation. Cornwall Wildlife Trust carry out fantastic work which enables people to engage with our natural environment. Encouraging people to walk between the Saltash Railway Station and Churchtown Farm will also come with health benefits.”

GWR Community Manager Emma Morris said:

“The project fits in well with our objective to engage with the wider communities we serve, helping to deliver a sustainable future in a socially-responsible way by promoting local environmental and economic regeneration.”

Notes to editors

First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR was recently awarded an extension to its direct award franchise (called DA3), which shall run up to 31 March 2023 with an option to extend for a further year. 
Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us