Overview
- Natural England has formalised the Mid Cornwall Moors as the 14th site in the King’s Series, bringing more than 1,100 hectares into a single National Nature Reserve under coordinated management.
- The reserve contains a patchwork of heath, mire, willow carr and raised bog that support rare species including the willow tit, lesser butterfly orchid, sphagnum moss communities and the round‑leaved sundew.
- Land within the NNR is managed through a partnership led by Natural England alongside Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Cornwall Heritage Trust, the Gaia Trust and Imerys, and includes areas designated as an SSSI.
- On‑the‑ground restoration uses conservation grazing with Longhorn cattle and Tamworth pigs and experimental beaver reintroductions aimed at rebuilding wetland function and habitat resilience.
- The declaration aims to improve public access, connect archaeological sites such as Helman Tor and Castle an Dinas with new learning and recreation paths, and boost local income through sustainable farming and nature‑based opportunities.