ANCIENT moors in Mid Cornwall have gained landmark national nature reserve status.

The Mid Cornwall Moors has been declared the 14th site in the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves.

The 1,100 plus hectare network of moorland, heath, mire, and wet woodland in central Cornwall is located in clay country between St Austell to the south, Bodmin to the east, and St Columb Major to the north.

The declaration celebrates places that have shaped Cornwall’s national story and recognises the county’s richest historical landscapes, spanning prehistoric tin streaming, Iron Age hillforts and ancient woodland.

Iconic sites including Helman Tor, the Iron Age hillfort of Castle an Dinas, and Goss Moor, known locally to have been King Arthur’s favourite hunting ground, all form part of this nationally significant landscape.

The reserve combines land managed for nature and heritage by Natural England, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Cornwall Heritage Trust, the Gaia Trust and Imerys.

It also includes land designated as the Mid Cornwall Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is land of exceptional ecological importance.

Home to rare habitats and species, the nature reserve includes wet ‘willow carr’ woodland, with the rare willow tit, and raised bogs with sphagnum moss, lesser butterfly orchid, royal fern and the carnivorous round-leaved sundew.

Cornish moneywort, which is unique to Cornwall’s tin streaming landscape, also thrive.

Tony Juniper CBE, chair of Natural England, said: “The declaration of the Mid Cornwall Moors as a National Nature Reserve is a powerful recognition of the landscape's extraordinary natural and cultural heritage.

"By bringing these landscapes together under one reserve, we are not only helping to restore precious habitats but also creating more opportunities for people to connect with nature, history and the unique character of Cornwall for generations to come.”

Matt Walpole, CEO of Cornwall Wildlife Trust added: “The new Mid Cornwall Moors National Nature Reserve reflects the importance of long-term collaboration in creating bigger, better and more connected spaces for nature recovery.

“The inclusion of Helman Tor within the National Nature Reserve recognises decades of work to restore habitats and support wildlife recovery within this special landscape.

“We are already seeing the benefits of working with natural processes through conservation grazing with Longhorn cattle and Tamworth pigs, alongside pioneering wild beaver reintroductions.”

Cathy Woolcock, CEO of Cornwall Heritage Trust said: “We are pleased that Castle an Dinas is to be included within the expanded National Nature Rreserves, especially given its direct links to the Goss Moor and the wider landscape in Mid Cornwall.”

Mark Hewson, who leads Imerys in the UK said: "Nature restoration is central to modern mining and is built into the design and management of every pit.

“Local community involvement has been an essential element of this, and the clear message is that increased access for walkers, cyclists and horse riders is the number one priority.”

The King’s Series will create 25 new or expanded National Nature Reserves in honour of His Majesty the King, with five new sites announced each year until 2028.