Towans Ranger Martin Rule departs ……

Farewell to Towans Ranger Martin Rule

After 10 years leading Friends of the Towans, Ranger Martin Rule is leaving for pastures new.

Looking back over his decade working to conserve, protect and promote the Towans, Martin says that setting up FOTT ranks as his greatest achievement.  “Friends of the Towans started as a volunteer group and is now a registered charity. If the point of the role of Ranger is to engage people, you need to give them the chance to be involved, and I’ve always liked working with local groups carrying our practical conservation work. It’s also important that the Ranger is the key point of contact across the Towans – the person who everyone can contact, whether they’re a landowner or a visitor,”

Martin has been interested in the environment since his childhood in Helston, and joined Helston and District Young Ornithologists Club, Birds have been his passion ever since.

In recent years, Martin has enjoyed leading birdwatching walks between Gwithian Green and the North Cliffs beyond Godrevy, as part of his role as Towans Ranger. “Our walk at the beginning of May this year was incredible – we recorded 69 species! To have such a list from a low-carbon, foot-powered outing is brilliant. It goes to show how biologically-rich the Towans area is.”

Martin will miss the friendships he has made through the volunteer group. “When we were able to meet again after Covid, It struck me how much the cameraderie of the group meant to us all. We’ve always welcomed new volunteers. There are still people in this area who haven’t discovered the Towans yet – but everyone should be able to have access to a green space.”