About the event

Please note: This walk, and all other walks listed on a Thursday in 2023, are led by Chris Jones, owner of Woodland Valley Farm, and his daughter Felicity. Chris and Felicity are resident beaver experts and in charge of the walk. As such they carry out their own risk assessments and independently run the walks in line with their own liability insurances. Cornwall Wildlife Trust list the event and process payment and tickets. For contact information for this walk please see below.

Take a walk around our unique reserve to see what the beavers have been building, including their dams and the first lodge in Cornwall in over 400 years!

Join us for a guided walk around the reserve and then relax in this tranquil place at dusk to (hopefully) see and hear the beavers in action.

During the two hour visit, we’ll show you how busy the beavers have been and teach you about their fantastic way of life as ecosystem engineers! The walks will take place at dusk to ensure that you get the best opportunity to see the beavers. The animals are becoming more secretive so a sighting isn’t guaranteed.

Meet at: Woodland Valley Farm, Ladock near Truro, Cornwall.

Grid ref: SW907515

Postcode: TR2 4PT. Contact: Tel 01726 884127

Suitable for: ages 8+, and an adult must accompany those under 16

What to bring: Please wear CLEAN wellington boots. Wellies are essential as the site is incredibly wet. You may be asked to use a disinfection footbath for your footwear so it should be waterproof. You will also need warm and waterproof clothing including long trousers. You are advised to bring binoculars and you may wish to wear insect repellent. A torch (preferably head torch) is advised to help exit the site at the end of the walk.

Leaders: Chris Jones – owner of Woodland Valley Farm - and his daughter Felicity, and project volunteers.

Contact: beaverproject@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk 

Access information: Following the installation of a raised boardwalk in Spring 2022, the Beaver Enclosure is accessible to people with reduced mobility. There is Disabled parking on the site – please follow the signage and an Accessible toilet is included in the new composting toilet block at the farm.

There is a farm lane of about ¼ mile going down to the Beaver enclosure. Within the enclosure there is a level raised wooden boardwalk of 1.2m wide leads through the wooded area with some sections of enclosed gravel pathways and passing and resting points.

There are several options to get to the enclosure:

1. Off road mobility scooters and good electric wheelchairs can proceed down the lane with due care and attention on the incline down the valley.

2. There is a modified, electric golf buggy which can take up to three passengers on a front seat. It is a 5–minute journey. This is available for anyone with limited mobility range, either as a front seat passenger or there are two seats on the rear of the buggy.

3. An alternative option for a wheelchair user would be to travel down in a link box attached to the tractor and a carer/pa can travel with you to help support if needed.

We have had visits and advice from Disability Cornwall Team to ensure we have made visits to this wet woodland environment as accessible as possible to all.

Please inform Cornwall Wildlife trust when booking if you will need additional support during your visit.

Parking instruction: Follow postcode to farm track entrance, look out for ‘Woodland Valley Farm’ sign, drive down the track and into the farm. Follow ‘Car Park’ signs.

Other information:

• Please remember that Woodland Valley Farm is a working farm with livestock.
• Please arrive at the farm with plenty of time to get ready in your wet gear.
• Be prepared for a short but steep walk down a farm track.
• Unless you hear otherwise, please assume the walk is going ahead, even in rainy conditions.
• Please ensure that your mobile phones are switched off or on silent mode during the walk. 
• If you bring a camera please respect our no flash photography rule with regard to the beavers.

Limited free tickets

For each 'Individuals and Families' beaver walk we have two tickets available, free of charge, for lower income earners and students. If you would like to book a free ticket please email beaverproject@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk with the subject 'Beaver Project Free Ticket'. These are subject to availability and not guaranteed. If available we will reply with a promo code which will enable you to access a free ticket.

WELLBEING AND SAFETY

The site is in its natural state and so we ask you to be cautious with regard to: Low branches, logs, and brambles on the ground and uneven ground. Please don’t pick any foliage there is Hemlock on the site. The site is surrounded by an electric fence, so please wait for a member of the team to escort you into the site.

We look forward to you visiting the Cornwall Beaver Project!

All proceeds go towards running the project.

Main image: © Jack Hicks.