Torbay's ‘crown jewels’ managed by stricken charity trust

While Occombe Farm, with its award-winning cafe and animal trails, is the shop window for the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, it manages a huge portfolio of Torbay’s natural assets.
Known as the ‘green guardian’ of Torbay, the trust is an independent conservation charity with responsibility for more than 1,700 acres of green space.

The cost of managing those areas is huge. According to the Charity Commission, the trust spent £3.63million in the year up to March 2024, the last year for which figures are available.
Its income comes mainly from trading activities, donations and legacies. It was announced today that the trust had been put into liquidation by its trustees.
It is understood the charity has given staff at the farm a week’s notice. The trust has confirmed it will cease trading and enter liquidation imminently during what is being described as a 'sad and difficult time'. That will include the farm cafe an animal trails.

What happens to the rest of its 'estate' is the million dollar question?

These are the Torbay ‘treasures’ managed by the trust are:
ANSTEY’S COVE
The trust cares for Anstey’s Cove and nearby Redgate Beach, which connect Walls Hill to Hope’s Nose. The cove, which has a seasonal beach café on the promenade, is popular for kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkelling and swimming.
BERRY HEAD NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE
Berry Head at Brixham is home to the rare greater horseshoe bat, the UK’s most southerly guillemot colony and a variety of rare or threatened plants and wildlife. It also features some of the UK’s best-preserved Napoleonic fortifications.
BISHOPS WALK
Created by Henry Phillpotts, the Bishop of Exeter from 1831 to 1869, the path winds around a group of internationally-important headlands supporting rare grasses and plants.
BRUNEL WOODS
Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the gardens at Watcombe feature ma network of paths and great views over Torbay.

COCKINGTON COUNTRY PARK
The award winning Cockington Country Park is 450 acres of parkland, woodland, farmland and ornamental gardens on an estate close to Torquay seafront dating back to the Domesday Book. The park has  lakes, watermeadows, woodland, farmland and a network of walking and cycling paths.
CONQUEROR WOOD
An 18-acre woodland planted with the help of local school children as part of the Woodland Trust Trafalgar 200 celebration in 2005. The wood also hosts a natural burial site.
DADDYHOLE and ROCK END WALK
The trust manages the cliffs below Daddyhole Plain and the steep slopes extending south towards Torquay Harbour, known as Rock End Walk, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and County Wildlife Site.

ELBERRY FARM AND ELBERRY COVE
A coastal farm which is leased to the trust by Torbay Council. The site was at one time under threat from development but is currently run by a long-term farming family. Elberry Cove is a shingle beach with important sea-grass beds just offshore.
GILLARD ROAD NATURE RESERVE
This piece of land in Brixham was given to the trust to provide habitat for the greater horseshoe bat and cirl bunting. The fields are grazed by the trust’s own Devon cattle.
THE GROVE, MARRIDGE WOODS AND ELBERRY COVE
Running along the coast from Elberry Cove to Brixham, these woods have been replanted with native broad-leaves following the extensive felling of diseased larch.
THE HEARTWOODS
Occombe, Scadson and Cockington Valley Woods, which were designated Local Nature Reserves in 2004. They connect Occombe Farm to Cockington and offer walking and cycling routes.
HOPE’S NOSE
Hope’s Nose is also an SSSI and an important feature of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark.
MAIDENCOMBE
Maidencombe Farm was once a stronghold for the rare cirl bunting. It has a network of footpaths and pastures grazed by cows and sheep.
OCCOMBE FARM
Occombe Farm is a family visitor destination; a mix of farm attraction with indoor and outdoor play, animal encounters barn and animal paddocks trail plus a farm cafe.
ROUNDHAM HEAD
Headland overlooking Goodrington Sands in Paignton, with a small coastal park bordered by sandstone cliffs which are another SSSI.
SALTERN COVE, SUGARLOAF HILL AND WATERSIDE
Saltern Cove is Britain’s only designated underwater Local Nature Reserve and an important geological SSSI.
SHARKHAM POINT
Once a landfill site, it is being managed and improved by the trust for wildlife. It was designated an SSSI as long ago as 1952.
WALLS HILL
An SSSI for its geology and plants and a recognised ancient monument for its Bronze Age field system.
WARREN BARN
Located between Occombe and Cockington, Warren Barn was renovated in 2007 to provide a camping barn for residential visits. The barn sleeps about forty people.