Helman Tor: Bronze Age hut circle uncovered

A BRONZE Age hut circle near Lanlivery, on Helman Tor, has been revealed by conservationists.

Nine volunteers met at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust's largest nature reserve last Saturday, which takes in the tor and the surrounding 217 hectares (536 acres), and stripped back gorse to show off the monument.

Mid Cornwall reserves officer, Sean O'Hea said: "This is a really positive thing we are doing for the reserve. By stripping back the gorse, we are encouraging increased plant biodiversity and as a result we will see more butterflies and bird species eventually.

"The whole tor including the hut circle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument – the tor's got quite a few features of interest but the gorse makes it difficult to see them."

The archaeological management of the reserve is being advised by English Heritage with the Historic Environment Service.

Sean added: "Stripping the gorse is a priority for us at the moment and we have been working to involve the local community in this process.

"Once we have managed the gorse, we can then move the project on looking at other things." The group managed to clear a quarter of an acre in their day on the tor.

Helman Tor is a county geological site and the ancient monument makes up part of the remains of a Neolithic hill settlement.