Caer Bran in Penwith was vanishing under bracken. Look at it now

A few years ago, an ancient hilltop in Penwith was disappearing. Nobody was building on it or digging it up. It was simply being smothered, one bracken frond at a time.

Now Cornwall Heritage Trust has shared new photos of the same hill covered in purple heather, and says the change is down to the people who look after it.

📷Credit: Cornwall Heritage Trust

How Caer Bran ended up at risk

Caer Bran is an ancient hilltop site in Penwith. The Trust says that just a few years ago it was overwhelmed by bracken, to the point where it was added to the Heritage at Risk Register because of the threat to its archaeology and its biodiversity.

Visit today, the Trust says, and it is a completely different story.

What changed on the hill

The Trust puts the turnaround down to regular, skilled maintenance by its Rangers. Caer Bran is now described as a rich heathland habitat, alive with wildlife and freely accessible to everyone.

It was removed from the Heritage at Risk Register in 2024 and, according to the Trust, continues to thrive.

“Ancient places don’t look after themselves. People do.”

📷Credit: Cornwall Heritage Trust

Thousands of hours a year

Caer Bran is one example of a much bigger job. The Cornwall Heritage Trust Rangers spend many thousands of hours every year protecting Cornwall’s historic landscapes and the wildlife that depends on them.

The Trust says the recent photos of Caer Bran’s purple heather are a reminder of how vital that work is, and of how much care goes into keeping Cornwall’s heritage healthy, resilient and ready to be enjoyed for generations.

It has one request for anyone heading to one of its sites.

“Take a moment to appreciate the people who help keep them special.”

📷Credit: Cornwall Heritage Trust