Wheal Martyn's Fun Palace

Posted on Thursday 20th September, 2018

Come and take part in Wheal Martyn's first Fun Palace on Saturday 6 October, 1 to 3pm, for community led fun!  Whether you would like to learn how to decorate a ceramic tile in the typical Cornish style or help create a mini-cake installation, there will be something for everyone. 

Fun Palaces 2018 is a free, nationwide campaign for culture at the heart of community and community at the heart of culture, happening over the weekend of the 6 & 7 October 2018.

Each Fun Palace celebrates the unique skills and passions of local people – run by, for and with the local community. Since 2014 a total of 934 Fun Palaces across the world have been made by 24,000 people (‘Makers’) with 340,000 taking part. This year will be the fifth Fun Palace weekend.

Fun Palaces create events that bring together arts, science, craft, tech, digital, heritage and sports activities – but above all PEOPLE – to work together, create together, have FUN together, and in doing so, build our own communities, from the grassroots up.

If you have a skill, hobby or passion you would like to share with your local community, contact Nikita on nbrown@wheal-martyn.com or call 01726 850362. 

Celebrate Mother Orchard’s tenth anniversary at Cotehele’s apple weekend

Posted on Tuesday 18th September, 2018

The Mother Orchard at Cotehele, the National Trust estate near Saltash, reaches a special anniversary this year. It was planted ten years ago to create a collection of local Tamar Valley and West Country apple varieties.

To celebrate this year’s apple harvest and Mother Orchard’s tenth anniversary there will be an Anniversary Apple Weekend at Cotehele on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 September in the Mother Orchard itself.

Cotehele gardeners will run talks and demonstrations in the orchard, culminating with 'The Big Squeeze' each day when they press the apples in the Victorian cider press. There will be pruning and apple training displays, information about Tamar Valley apple varieties, orchard tours and experts on hand to answer questions about pests, diseases and orchard planting. For children, there’ll be a Juice Lab, where they can blend their own apple drink, and an orchard trail too.

‘Many traditional orchards were lost over the last century, so we’re proud to be doing our bit to conserve these local trees.’ says Dave Bouch, Cotehele’s Head Gardener.

‘We always look forward to this time of year when we can celebrate apples and remember their importance to our history, culture and landscape.’

The apple trees planted in Mother Orchard were specially chosen because they are local varieties and are adapted to the growing conditions in the south west. The orchard homes 125 different types of apple tree, each with its own distinctive flavour and character. The Cotehele garden team propagate from the trees and visitors can return for ‘Grafting Days’ in February and learn how to grow a tree which will produce their favourite apples from the tastings this weekend.

The Apple Anniversary Weekend event will run each day from 11am-4pm. 

Archaeological dig begins at Trerice to investigate clues of a lost Tudor wing

Posted on Friday 14th September, 2018

Trerice Archaeological Research Group has begun a big dig at Trerice, near Newquay to discover the hidden stories of this National Trust property. The dig, which is taking place until 19^th September, has a rotation of volunteers who will be digging daily to further investigate a tunnel that was discovered in 2017 and also look in the rear court of the Tudor manor where they hope to find clues of a lost wing.

The TARG group is made up of approximately 20 Trerice volunteers, all of whom have come into archaeology through volunteering. The chance to take part in archaeological work has been met with enthusiasm by many volunteers. Remembering last year’s dig Jeremy said, “I didn’t realise I could get so excited over finding two bricks!” TARG leader Gary will be giving site tours of the digging at 1pm Saturday and Sunday (15 and 16 September), discussing their progress, finds and theories.

In 2017 the team discovered a tunnel beneath the stone slabs of a poured concrete building and a video showing the length of this tunnel is now on display in the undercroft at Trerice. The tunnel is currently being surveyed by an external contractor but the team want to know more about where it goes and why it’s there. They’ll be digging near the entrance site to see if there is any more archaeological evidence to be found.

They’ll also be digging in the rear court of the Tudor mansion looking for a wing of the house now missing. This isn’t the first time they’ve searched for the lost wing. During test pit digging in July 2017 the team searched in the long walk that runs parallel to the house with no results. The team hope that, by digging lower in the topography of the property, they might find traces of our lost past.

Lappa Valley raise money for Cornwall Accessible Activities Programme

Posted on Wednesday 12th September, 2018

Bed down by the Eden Biomes and help tackle homelessness

Posted on Monday 10th September, 2018

Vital funds for homelessness charities will be raised at a sponsored Sleep Out at the Eden Project this November.

Local charities St Petroc’s Society and the Amber Foundation are urging people to sign up for the event to raise cash and awareness for those regularly spending the night without a roof over their heads.

Participants will endure a cold wintry night in front of the Biomes with just a sleeping bag and cardboard mat for the Sleep Out on Thursday, November 15. There will be overhead cover in case it rains.

The event is not solely about endurance. Before bedding down for the night participants will be treated to live music, short films and talks as well as cookery workshops, hot food and drinks and campfire tales.

This year will see the fifth Sleep Out at the Eden Project. Last year around 100 fundraisers took part.

Dave Brown, Communications Manager for St Petroc’s, said: “We are so pleased to be part of this fantastic project again this year. The Eden Sleep Out provides us with a chance to work with people in Cornwall who actively want to help us in our campaign – Let’s End Street Homelessness in Cornwall.

“Participants brave the cold and have an uncomfortable, sleepless November night. They then have to face the next day as usual, with an understanding of what our clients have been through.

“Last year we were the only area in England to reduce the numbers of rough sleepers. The funds raised through this event helps us to do that. Shortly after the event we will be heading into our Cold Weather Provision, a pop-up winter night shelter. Last year we provided shelter for 91 people who had no other option, across 71 nights.”

Rebecca Fry, South West Fundraising Manager for the Amber Foundation, said: “Amber supports young people who find themselves with no roof over their heads with more than just a temporary home. Our programme provides all the support and opportunities they need to turn their lives around.

“The Eden Sleep Out is such a unique event in a stunning location. We are thrilled to be part of it in the event’s fifth year. The event is very important to us as it not only raises money to support Amber’s work with some of the most vulnerable young people in the region, it really helps raise awareness of the wider issues surrounding youth homelessness.”

Jess Rawlings, Project Manager of the Sleep Out at Eden, said: “We’re asking for as many people as possible to step outside of their comfort zone for just one night and get an insight into some of the challenges faced by people who are homeless.

“Anyone can take part – whether you’re an individual, a group of friends, colleagues or family members. It’s so wonderful to be able to produce an event that enables St Petroc’s Society and Amber Foundation to make a direct difference to those who need it in Devon and Cornwall. This is all down to the continued engagement, support and generosity of everyone who takes part in the Sleep Out.”

Sleep Out is part of a nationwide event organised by the End Youth Homelessness campaign (EYH), a national partnership of grassroots charities and companies.

Sleep Out is taking place at the Eden Project on Thursday, November 15, from 6pm. Interested participants are urged to sign up soon as places are limited.

To sign up and take part in the event, go here: https://www.edenproject.com/visit/whats-on/eden-sleep-out