Charity liquidation sparks fears for reserve

Alex Foley said many people were worried about the future of Berry Head National Nature Reserve

Concerns have been raised over the future of a nature reserve after a conservation charity entered liquidation.

Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust chairwoman Barbara King said on Friday financial pressures had proven "too great" despite the charity's best efforts.

The trust looked after Berry Head National Nature Reserve and other sites including Cockington Country Park and Occombe Farm.

Alex Foley, who runs the Guardhouse Cafe in the reserve, said many were worried about its future.

Mr Foley said: "There is worry about stopping what the services that the trust have been doing will mean.

"The trust members are worried about the nature reserve getting overgrown, the car parking not working and there not being a toilet down there.

"I'm confident somehow something will come along and that will be taken care of - it has to because this is a national nature reserve and there are legal requirements for maintaining it in a certain way."

The trust had looked after nearly 80% of Torbay's landscapes, including more than 40 miles (64km) of coast paths and bridleways.

It said the Occombe Farm attraction and its farm cafe would "close imminently".

However, Mr Foley said he was confident the Guardhouse Cafe would remain even though the trust was its landlord.

"There's been a cafe on Berry Head for more than 100 years and I'm sure there'll be a cafe there for another 100," he said.