Falmouth Nature member, Kevin Thomas, has shared the positive impact a local group has made on a footpath in Falmouth.

Although the South West Coastal path runs for 630 miles the only part allowing access that meets all the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act is found in Falmouth.

Not only does this allow wheelchair users all-year-round access to the stunning views across Falmouth Bay, but it also enables other users such as young families with prams and buggies to enjoy the scenery as well.

This unique section that runs from Falmouth's Gyllyngvase Beach to the viewing platform above Swan Pools was created in 2022. The project was a partnership of Natural England and Cormac with inputs from Cornwall Disabled, Penny Hodgson, Cormac's Countryside Ranger for the West, and the Boscawen Fields Group.

Construction work that included the widening of the original footpath to allow two wheelchairs to pass each other was carried out by Cormac. The project also included the installation of new benches with adjacent space for a wheelchair to allow people to rest and take in the view.

Boscawen Fields Group has worked hard to improve the area.

The Boscawen Fields Group since its inception in 2014 has raised an amazing £52,500 to fund various projects that have enabled a wider range of people to enjoy the area. 

These include creating steps with stainless steel handrails to improve access from Boscawen Road into two of the fields that lead down to the coastal path.

The group has also funded the placement of wooden seats in two fields with a further two on the coastal footpath. Sitting on one of these on one lucky day I spotted a pod of dolphins or porpoises jumping in the Bay, a truly magical sight.

Offering panoramic views of the coast and sea, this area is a very popular part of Falmouth, with two of the fields being a favourite place for dog walkers to exercise their dogs. One field is kept dog free and in this the group funded the installation of three stone picnic tables and benches.

As well as their impressive record of fundraising, the group also carries out a variety of tasks themselves. The group meets on the first Saturday of each month to carry out litter picking and work on other projects in the Boscawen Road fields and along the coastal path.

In addition to enhancing the area for the local community and visitors alike, the group has also been involved in work to benefit wildlife such as the creation of the native perennial wildflower areas in 2019 as part of the charity Buglife's Urban Buzz project.

This year the group has undertaken the creation of wildflower areas alongside part of the new coastal path and from the photos who can see that they are a mass of colour. Sitting on the nearby bench I witnessed the enthusiastic reaction of walkers as they came upon them, many stopping to admire and take photographs.

The footpath is allowing wildlife and nature to thrive. (Image: Falmouth Nature)

Just as important was the constant attention they were receiving from a variety of insects such as butterflies together with both bumblebees and solitary bee species.

Taking an ecological view, I was equally pleased to see a nearby hedgerow covered in bindweed flowers. Not everyone's favourite wildflower but one that has evolved for millions of years playing its part in the web of life.

The roles that our urban green spaces play are also changing and are much more varied today than twenty years ago. Many local residents have been persuaded by people such as David Attenborough who ended Planet Earth II with the words, "It's surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth".

However, we live in one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, we have lost more biodiversity than any G7 country, and we are in the worst 10% globally. Perhaps surprisingly, many towns now have more varieties of bee species than are found in the nearby countryside. So, adapting our green spaces can play an important part in helping wildlife to survive and hopefully one day to recover.

Although the Boscawen Fields Action Group is relatively small in size it has accomplished some impressive achievements. With support from our town council, its activities help to care for and protect this beautiful area of Falmouth for locals, visitors, and Nature.

You can find more about the group's work here: Facebook

You can also follow the work from Falmouth Nature here: Falmouth Nature - Cornwall, UK | Facebook