CATTLE GRAZING and fencing plans for three moorland areas have been confirmed by the National Trust and Natural England.

The Heath Project will subsidise landowners to manage moorland at Lanyon Farm near Madron, Carnyorth Moor at St Just, and Carn Galva near Zennor.

The European directive is committed to restoring and protecting heathlands which promote biodiversity.

The National Trust confirmed plans to graze 30 cows on the 150 acre Carn Galva site "to protect Bronze Age barrows and Iron Age hut circles lying beneath the bracken as well as create pathways and improve access".

"The dense scrub and bracken have overtaken the moors, shading out mosses and smaller plant species and reducing the variety and numbers of species such as nightjar," said a National Trust spokesperson.

According to National Trust plans, fencing will be erected in the inaccessible Western area, which is out of view from the B3306 north coast road.

The plans involve the building of two cattle grids on the B3306 north coast road, each with stone hedging, a double gate, and a single track bypass, and four traffic signs at each side.

However, the National Trust said revisions to the scheme in light of residents' comments include lowering the height of traffic signs and reducing the number from four to two at each grid. Signs will be set in granite as opposed to metal poles, the road surface will be granite scalping, a green strip of concrete on either side of grids has been removed, and a strip of post and rail fencing will be replaced by traditional Cornish hedging, using local granite.

At Lanyon Farm near Madron, more than 3,000 metres of barbed wire fencing will be erected along parts of the 327-acre site. Almost 1,000 metres of existing fencing will be replaced.

Twelve gates will be built, two water troughs and 200 metres of pipes will be installed. Natural England said 33 cows will be put out for spring summer and autumn grazing on the moorland, owned by Bolitho Estates.

On Carnyorth Moor, at St Just, 24 cows will be put out for spring, summer and autumn grazing and 1,000 metres of fencing erected in various parts of the 250 acre moorland, owned by Tregothnan Estate and Warren Farm Trust.

Infrastructure, expected to be installed in November, includes a cattle grid with a bypass gate, 12 bridle gates and two water troughs.

Controlled burning and scrub cutting are also being proposed. Save Penwith Moors action group, campaigning against fencing and grazing of the moors, said it would fight the plans.