A stretch of English coastline overlooking the sea has been saved for future generations, thanks to a dying gift from a local vicar who treasured his walks amid the spectacular landscape.
The National Trust acquired the 34 acres (14-hectare) near the historic port town of Fowey in Cornwall, using a bequest from Reverend Anthony Mapplebeck.
He left an undisclosed amount of money to the Trust’s ‘Neptune Coastline Campaign’ launched in the 1960s. The money has now been used to buy the site, known as Alldays Field, to preserve both the natural habitat and public access to it.
The site’s location—bordered by countryside already owned by the Trust on three sides, and the sea forming its southern boundary—makes the purchase especially significant.
“By joining this land with what’s around it, we can look after the coast as a whole,” said Andy Simmons, National Trust Ranger for South East Cornwall, “supporting wildlife, keeping paths open and making sure this landscape stays welcoming and alive for everyone who visits.
“It feels especially fitting that this land was secured thanks to someone who dedicated his life to serving Cornish communities and who loved walking the coastal paths himself.”
Though born in Surrey and raised in elsewhere, Rev. Mapplebeck’s ministry and later life were closely intertwined with Cornwall—and he was well acquainted with this coastline.
Educated at Cambridge in the 1940s the priest was known as an ‘erudite and reserved man’ who ‘carried out his duties diligently’ with ‘quiet dedication’.
The vicar, who never married, lived modestly with his mother, close to the coast he cherished and the town of Fowey which is nestled within a beautiful river estuary.
Former parishioners remember him christening babies, supporting bell-ringers and serving village congregations faithfully.
The newly acquired land secures uninterrupted access along this iconic section of the South West Coast Path, which runs along the southern edge of the field, ensuring walkers will continue to enjoy the dramatic scenery for generations.
The Neptune Coastline Campaign has enabled the Trust to safeguard hundreds of miles of coastline across England, Wales and Northern Ireland—with Rev. Mapplebeck now living on as part of that legacy.
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