Spanning more than 1,100 hectares of moorland in central Cornwall, the reserve has become the 14th site in the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves. The project brings together organisations including Natural England, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, the Cornwall Heritage Trust, Gaia Trust and mineral processing company Imerys.

While the reserve is focused on protecting important habitats and wildlife, the wider message is one that will resonate strongly across the farming industry: environmental management and farm business resilience must go hand in hand.

The project aims not only to improve biodiversity and access to nature, but also to support the local economy through sustainable land management practices. Conservation grazing, habitat restoration and collaborative land stewardship are all central to the approach.

Matt Walpole, chief executive of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, highlighted how long-term collaboration has helped restore habitats and support wildlife recovery across the landscape. Conservation grazing with Longhorn cattle and Tamworth pigs, alongside pioneering beaver reintroductions, is already helping create more resilient habitats for both wildlife and people.

Importantly, the project also demonstrates how environmental schemes can support farming businesses and rural communities. Matt Edworthy, director of the Gaia Trust, emphasised that ongoing habitat management relies on careful grazing by cattle and ponies, helping support local graziers, businesses and skills development opportunities.

This reflects a wider conversation happening across UK agriculture. Farmers are under increasing pressure to reduce emissions, improve biodiversity and adapt to changing environmental policies, all while continuing to produce food profitably. The challenge is finding practical systems that work for individual businesses and landscapes.

That is why events like the Low Carbon Agriculture Show are becoming increasingly important. Taking place on 20–21 January at the NEC Birmingham, the show brings together farmers, landowners, policymakers and industry experts to explore practical approaches to climate-friendly farming and land management.

From regenerative agriculture and conservation grazing to renewable energy, carbon reduction technologies and natural capital opportunities, the event focuses on helping farmers futureproof their businesses while working alongside nature.

The transition to a lower-carbon future is not about choosing between food production and environmental delivery. Increasingly, the industry is recognising that healthy soils, resilient ecosystems and sustainable farming practices are all connected to long-term productivity and profitability.

Projects like Mid Cornwall Moors show what can be achieved through collaboration, innovation and long-term thinking. At Low Carbon Agriculture, visitors can continue those conversations, hear from industry leaders and discover practical solutions to help shape the future of British farming.

Join us at the Low Carbon Agriculture Show 2027 and explore how farming and nature can thrive together.