Tehidy Country Park has had an interesting and varied past; each part of its history has been significant in producing the varied habitats that we see today.

The Basset family have had the biggest influence on the estate; they first lived here in 1150 and remained until 1915. They owned a great many mines in the area and the wood which grows on the estate was once managed to provide charcoal and timber for the industry. In the early 18^th century it became fashionable amongst country gentry to landscape areas of their estates in order to create ornate gardens. The Bassets began by planting trees to form wind breaks and then used the shelter to grow more exotic species such as the rhododendrons that are still much in evidence today. In 1738 the cascade was built from the pond outlet and in 1739 the pond, known as Parkan Pond, was developed into a lake to supply a source of fish and an attractive view from the mansion.

At the beginning of the 20^th century the estate was bought by the county council as a war memorial. Ownership then passed to the Cornwall Sanatorium Committee who created a hospital to treat sufferers of tuberculosis. During this period part of the land was leased to the golf club and the Forestry Commission managed the woodland. In 1983 the hospital closed and the County Council acquired the estate once again and established the Country Park that we know today. The Country Park is now alive with ideas: local schools use it for activities; local artists have produced sculptures; youth groups use the camping area; a beautiful wildflower meadow has been created; specialist-led walks take locals and visitors to see fungi, badgers, dragonflies and much more.

I chatted to Richard Walton (who is the Land manager for Cornwall County Council) and the newly appointed David Clarke, who is taking on the role of site manager for Tehidy Country Park this year, about their future plans for the park. They explained that management of the woodland is particularly important and will include thinning out the tees in some areas. Where trees grow very close together the woodland floor becomes too dark for flowers such as bluebells to thrive. The trees themselves do not benefit from such crowded conditions becoming spindly and leafless. Some parts of the woodland have traditionally been managed by coppicing and these areas need to be re-worked on a rotational basis to encourage a greater diversity of species. One mammal that David is keen to encourage is the dormouse. This mouse is usually associated with hazel but also needs a good mix of other trees and plants, such as honeysuckle, and by sensitively thinning the trees and coppicing the hazel conditions for the dormouse should be improved.

These plans are fairly typical of any good woodland management, but what I did find very refreshing was their commitment to the local community. Both Richard and David aim to involve local people in making decisions about the future of the park. They agree that the education of youngsters is a priority and are keen to provide materials to enable the general public to benefit as much as possible from their visits. Recent developments include way marked trails with accompanying leaflets for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders.

Autumn is a good time to visit, the woodlands are at their most attractive as the leaves turn golden brown and the sunlight penetrates the canopy a little more than in full summer. On the ground amongst the leaf litter, on rotting logs and even on healthy trees there are numerous fungi. The damp conditions at this time of year are perfect for them to gain enough nutrients to grow their distinctive mushrooms. Possibly the most common is the sulphur tuft which grows in large numbers on rotting tree stumps, its vibrant sulphur-yellow colour also makes it one of the most obvious species. Look out for the tall, scaly parasol mushrooms growing from the ground and on the mature trees you might see the artist’s fungus, an unusual bracket fungus with a chalky white underside in which it possible to write or draw (hence the name). One of the most beautiful mushrooms, growing on beech logs, is the porcelain fungus which, as its name suggests, is almost pure white with a glossy, translucent quality. Identifying fungi is notoriously difficult so if you are interested it would be a good idea to join an organised party, for information look out for Events leaflet.

The busiest part of the estate is around the lakes adjacent to the South Drive car park where people like to sit and enjoy the picturesque landscape that was created by the Basset family when they lived here. Even though this area is popular with people, it is also where wildlife activity is at its most obvious. The presence of water here attracts a whole host of bird species including many types of waterfowl such as swans, moorhens, tufted duck, little grebe and mallard duck. Occasionally a young cormorant drops in hoping to find some easy pickings. Blue tits, great tits, chaffinches and robins can also be spotted in the trees and other vegetation growing around the lakes. Great spotted woodpeckers can be seen on the taller trees though green woodpeckers are more likely to be encountered on the short grass of the golf course.

Besides birds many other types of wildlife can also be seen around the lake. Standing water provides excellent habitat for many types of insect, including dragonflies and damselflies which can be seen flying around on warm sunny days. Insects are an important source of food for many types of wildlife. If you take a walk around the lakes at dusk during the summer you are likely to see fish rising to catch the insects that float on the surface of the water whilst bats swoop low over the lake catching insects as they fly above the still waters. I have also seen mink at the edge of the lake and we know that there are otters present by the ‘calling cards’ that they leave in obvious places, so watch where you sit. Historically otters have always been present, the bridge half a mile down river of the lake was called Otter Bridge when, in the 18^th century, it contained a trap to catch otters for the gentry to ‘hunt’.

Away from the lake life is less hectic and you don’t have to walk too far to find tranquillity. The area of coniferous woodland has its own ecology with different fungi growing in the acidic conditions created by rotting pine needles. There are fewer birds but two species which love the extra shelter provided by these trees in winter are goldcrest and coal tit. The small ponds scattered around the park are good for amphibians and it won’t be long before they are returning to spawn.

There is a good mix of habitats at Tehidy offering something of interest for everybody. The woodland and amenities are constantly evolving so it is always worth coming back to have another look, particularly in November, when the woodland offers good shelter from the elements, and in the spring when bluebells and birdsong abound.

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