We’re pleased to announce that booking is now open for our Open Garden at the Trefusis Estate near Falmouth, which is set to take place on Saturday 18th May from 10.30am – 4pm.
New for 2024, this is an Open Garden with a difference offering visitors the chance to take a look behind the gates of a working estate which puts environmental sustainability at the heart of everything it does. The estate includes informal gardens, beautiful woods, lovely views, and the community-owned market garden, Soul Farm.
Free guided walks exploring the estate’s sustainable woodland management and coppicing will be available at 11.30am and 2pm. These can be signed up to on the day and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
A variety of traditional and heritage craftspeople will also be demonstrating their work throughout the day. These include printmaker Lou Tonkin, who is our current artist in residence; artist and blacksmith Lisa Wisdom; woodturner Jamie Lovekin; basketmaker Lin Lovekin; and pole lathe woodturner Joseph Huggett.
Cakes and refreshments will be available, and we recommend bringing a picnic blanket or camping chairs as there is no outdoor seating at the estate.
Compostable toilets with access via steps will be available for visitors to use on the day.
There’s something for all the family, including a fun-filled trail to keep the little ones busy during your visit. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.
Last entry will be one hour before closing time.
Ticket prices are £6 if pre-booked online and £7.50 on the door. Under 12s go free and do not require booking. Online booking will close at 12noon on the Friday before the event.
By visiting, you’ll be helping our work to preserve and strengthen Cornwall’s heritage. As a small, independent charity, every penny makes a huge difference and we would be hugely grateful for your support.
Cornwall Heritage Trust’s Open Gardens 2024 is sponsored by Coodes Solicitors. All proceeds go to Cornwall Heritage Trust.
Following the huge success of our first Ranger Ramble earlier this month, we’re launching two new dates for rambles at Treffry Viaduct and Sancreed Beacon.
The walks involve uneven ground, steps and slopes. Please wear sensible footwear and appropriate clothing.
If you would like to book a place, we recommend doing so without delay to ensure you have a spot. Our members were given early access to book their places at this event and there are a limited number remaining. Numbers are restricted and places are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
These events have been part-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Sancreed Beacon ‘In Bloom’
Friday 26th April | 1.30 – 5.00pm
Explore all that Spring has to offer around the historic landscape of Sancreed Beacon this April.
The afternoon will include a 90-minute guided walk exploring the bluebells at Sancreed Beacon, a cream tea and paper flower craft workshop. The walk will be led by Cornwall Heritage Trust’s Countryside Ranger, Hollie.
Located near Penzance, Sancreed Beacon has a wealth of flora, fauna and historic remains to explore, as well as a stunning view across Mount’s Bay.
Tickets are priced at £20 per person. All ages are welcome to attend and all materials for the craft workshop will be provided.
‘The Sounds of Spring’ at Treffry Viaduct
Tuesday 28th May | 9.00 – 10.00am
Learn how to interpret birdsong in the idyllic Luxulyan Valley surrounding Treffry Viaduct this May.
This hour-long guided walk will help you learn about bird species and their calls. The walk will be led by Cornwall Heritage Trust’s Countryside Ranger, Hollie.
Located near St Austell, this 19th-century viaduct was designed to carry both a tramway and a high-level water channel (known as a leat) across the Luxulyan Valley for local mining entrepreneur, Joseph Thomas Treffry. Once a hive of industrial activity, the site has very much been reclaimed by nature and is home to a wide variety of flora, fauna and historic remains.
Tickets are priced at £10 per person. All ages are welcome to attend.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Open Garden at Boconnoc earlier this month — we hope you all enjoyed your time exploring the grounds! We’re thrilled to report that you have helped us raise over £1500 to support our work protecting Cornwall’s heritage.
Our events volunteers once again did a fabulous job helping set up, serve refreshments, direct traffic, and much more. We are incredibly grateful to them for all their hard work, and a special mention goes to Keith, our volunteer photographer, who spent the afternoon busily capturing the gardens on camera.
Thank you to Elizabeth Fortescue and the team at Boconnoc House and Estate for so generously opening their gates to help raise funds for our work and to Coodes Solicitors for sponsoring Open Gardens 2024. Thanks also go to historian and author Catherine Lorigan for her fascinating talk on the history of the estate.
Our next Open Garden is on Sunday 12th May at Trevince, near Gwennap, and we hope to see many of you there. The event runs from 10.30am – 4pm, and the last entry will be one hour before closing time.
Ticket prices are £6 if pre-booked online and £7.50 on the door. Under 12s go free and do not require booking. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.
Photo credits: Keith Larby / Cornwall Heritage Trust volunteer
Following a number of postponements due to an unprecedented amount of rain over the last few months, we have decided to move the date of our performances of ‘Tristan & Yseult’ to later in the year, to give us the best chance to ensure that they can go ahead.
Booking is now open for these rescheduled performances which are set to take place on Sunday 30th June at 11am and 2.30pm at Indian Queens Pit near St Columb Major.
This raucous production will see a trio of actors from Smashed Window Community Theatre perform an entirely improvised take on ‘Tristan & Yseult’. It’s epic, energetic and sure to have you crying with tears of laughter (and perhaps a few of sorrow too)!
Performances are 1 hour 30 minutes with an interval.
This production is recommended for ages 8+.
Adult tickets are priced pay as you feel at £10, £12 and £15. Tickets for those aged 16 and under are priced at £5.
This is an outdoor production, so please bring a chair or blanket to sit on and dress for the weather!
Smashed Window is a community theatre company based in Cornwall. Its team facilitates workshops and creates exciting new work, under the ethos that everyone should have access to a creative practice. Smashed Window has hosted creative workshops across Cornwall and created One Day Plays.
A Scheduled Monument, Indian Queens Pit was constructed as a preaching pit by local villagers in 1850 within a disused mining openwork. It was traditionally used by the local Methodist Chapels from Indian Queens and Fraddon, as well as a temperance society. Today, it remains at the heart of the local community and regularly hosts fetes, concerts and plays.
This event has been made possible by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and we’re hugely grateful for its support.
Join us at the Fox Lecture Theatre on Falmouth University’s Falmouth Campus for a special talk on Cornish folklore on Tuesday 23rd April at 5.30pm.
Date: Tuesday 23rd April
Time: 5.30 – 7.00pm
Location: Fox Lecture Theatre, Falmouth University – Falmouth Campus, Woodlane, Falmouth, TR11 4RH
The talk will guide you on a mythical journey across the Cornish landscape. On the way, you’ll explore the stories of giants, mermaids and piskies which people have been inspired to create and share for hundreds of years. But where do these stories come from? And how relevant are they to Cornwall today?
You will also take a closer look at the rich tapestry of folklore explored in ‘The Moor Dwellers’ Guide’, a new poetry collection which we have created in collaboration with students from Falmouth University. The collection includes original poetry and illustrations inspired by the stories which surround the historic sites we care for.
The talk will be given by Siân Esther Powell, a Cornish museum professional, amateur folklorist and host of the Celtic Myths and Legends Podcast.
We hope this talk and poetry collection will offer people the opportunity to reflect on the part Cornwall’s enchanted landscape has to play in their cultural identity, explore how these stories continue to speak across generations and discover the magic which resides in the places cared for by Cornwall Heritage Trust.
The talk is pay as you feel, with a minimum donation of £1 and a suggested donation of £5.
If you would like to book a place, we recommend doing so without delay to ensure you have spot. Our members were given early access to book their places at this event and there are a limited number remaining. Numbers are restricted and places are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Please be aware that Cornwall Heritage Trust is photographing the event and may publish these photos in a variety of media and online.
It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Ann Trevenen Jenkin who passed away yesterday just before her 94th birthday.
Ann was a trustee of Cornwall Heritage Trust for 18 years, a Life Member and a keen supporter and advocate for Cornwall’s heritage.
A former Grand Bard of the Gorsedh, educator and writer she will be much missed and we send our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.
Are you looking for the perfect day out for all the family? Then we’re sure you won’t want to miss our Open Gardens 2024, a fantastic opportunity to discover Cornwall’s horticultural heritage.
Four of Cornwall’s historic gardens are kindly throwing open their gates to help raise vital funds for Cornwall Heritage Trust. Visit a garden to enjoy a wonderful day out and support our work. As a small, independent charity, every penny makes a huge difference and we’re hugely grateful for your support.
The gardens kindly opening their gates are Boconnoc near Lostwithiel on 7th April, Trevince near Gwennap on 12 May, the Trefusis Estate near Flushing on 18th May, and Trenarth near Constantine on 23rd June.
Ticket prices are £6 if pre-booked online and £7.50 on the door. Under 12s go free and do not require booking. Online booking will close at 12noon on the Friday before each event.
Free garden tours will be available. These can be signed up to on the day and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
There’s something for all the family, including a fun-filled trail to keep the little ones busy during your visit. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.
This scheme is generously sponsored by Coodes Solicitors.
Join our team for a guided walk at Sancreed Beacon to master the art of tracking wildlife this April. This hour-long guided walk is set to take place on Friday 5th April from 9am – 10am.
The walk will help you identify and interpret signs of wildlife and will take you on a journey to discover the variety of animals Sancreed Beacon is home to. It will be led by Cornwall Heritage Trust’s Countryside Ranger Apprentice, James.
Located near Penzance, Sancreed Beacon has a wealth of flora, fauna and historic remains to explore, as well as a stunning view across Mount’s Bay.
Tickets are priced at £10 per person. All ages are welcome to attend.
Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
With historic remains dating back to the Bronze Age, Sancreed Beacon is one of the 16 historic places cared for by Cornwall Heritage Trust.
This event has been part-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Cornish hedge is an ancient style of boundary structure built of stone and earth found in Cornwall that has major cultural and environmental significance to the area. There are approximately 30,000 miles of hedges in Cornwall, which are rich in biodiversity, stay strong for hundreds of years and are a unique feature of the Cornish landscape – but there are growing fears that the skills required to build them are not being passed down through the generations.
That’s why, last year, the Cornwall Rural Education and Skills Trust (CREST) secured £230,000 of funding from the Cornwall AONB Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme (FiPL) to work in partnership with Cornwall Heritage Trust to deliver a Cornish hedging training and education programme. The programme has gone from strength to strength since its launch, with its raft of training courses, workshops and special events proving extremely popular.
This February, we welcomed CREST co-founders Helen Bowkett and Andrew Cockshaw to our latest Cornish Story Cafe to tell us more about Cornish Hedging and the project’s progress so far.
Nearly 100 people joined us for the talk at Pendeen Parish Hall, which is available to watch in full here.
The talk was made possible by funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, and we’re hugely grateful for its support.
The Penventon Park Hotel has once again pledged its support to Cornwall’s landscape, traditions and communities by renewing its top-level membership of our ‘Heritage Friends’ business sponsorship programme.
The Penventon is a 4 star Hotel with a Leisure Club and Spa treatment rooms nestled in acres of private parkland in Redruth.
Previously an elegant Georgian Mansion, converted into a Hotel in 1970 is now host to 63 luxurious rooms, the Copper Bar – which is renowned for its gin and wine – the Dining Galleries Restaurant known for its delicious food and lively atmosphere, and the Leisure Club and Spa Treatment Rooms with a jacuzzi, pool, and sauna.
Jess Pascoe from the Penventon Park Hotel said: “We are delighted to announce our continued sponsorship of Cornwall Heritage Trust for another year. Our commitment to supporting this essential organisation is rooted in a shared passion for preserving and celebrating Cornwall’s rich history. Cornwall Heritage Trust shares our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the invaluable history of the region. Their tireless efforts resonate with our belief that the preservation of history is not only an act of respect for the past but also essential to future generations. Understanding the immense value history holds for Cornwall, its residents, and visitors alike, we support Cornwall Heritage Trust in their mission to protect and promote the unique history of this remarkable region we call home.”
Cathy Woolcock, Cornwall Heritage Trust CEO said: “With such a long and rich history, this partnership with the Penventon makes perfect sense for us. Our business sponsors make an important contribution to our charitable work, and we’re hugely grateful to the Penventon for its continued support.”
More information about the Penventon Park Hotel can be found on its website: www.penventon.co.uk
We are seeking volunteers with an interest in inspiring children and young people to learn about heritage, to help the Cornwall Heritage Trust staff with education activities such as our Discovery Clubs.
Volunteers will undertake tasks, including setting up equipment and materials, cleaning up and packing away, helping to explain the activities and supporting young learners to complete them, and assisting the Workshop Leader with other duties as required.
Photo credit: Keith Larby
Our Education workshops and events are often on weekdays in the school holidays, and on weekends during term time. Expected commitment would be varied depending on the individual’s availability, however we would like to engage people who could help us at least 4 times a year.
They take place at various venues across the whole of Cornwall.
Cornwall Heritage Trust will cover agreed out of pocket expenses (e.g. travel costs) in accordance with our Volunteer expenses policy, and we can support with shared travel where needed.
If you have a passion for Cornwall and its heritage and are looking for a new challenge, this could be just the opportunity for you.
Are you aged 14 – 18 and worried about the current state of the planet? Do you want to make a difference to the environment and be a positive force for change?
Cornwall Heritage Trust is launching a brand-new environmental programme to enable young people to take action over the current climate emergency and develop their skills in countryside management.
The charity’s Climate Action Youth Group Young Rangers Project will meet once every month to undertake tasks ranging from heathland regeneration to helping increase biodiversity at the historic sites the charity cares for.
The deadline for expressions of interest is 9am on Monday 18th March 2024.
This project is supported by English Heritage’s national youth engagement programme, Shout Out Loud.
There will be a flexible approach to what environmental work the group undertakes and participants will be encouraged to explore the areas of countryside management which interest them.
No previous experience is required and support, specialist clothing and equipment will be provided.
The programme will initially run from April 2024 – November 2024 and will take place at sites near Penzance. Travel expenses to sites will be covered by the charity and it will also offer pick-ups from main public transport hubs.
If this initial trial proves popular, it is hoped that the project will become a permanent part of the charity’s volunteering programme and be expanded to cover a wider range of areas.
Engagement Manager, Sophie Meyer said: “We hear from so many young people how worried they are about climate change and we know how overwhelming it can feel to try and tackle this global emergency as an individual. That’s the reason why we’ve set this group up. We care for a huge range of historic landscapes and biodiversity, and this project aims to give young people the opportunity and the skills to have a direct and lasting impact on the ecology of these special places. By becoming a Young Ranger, you really can make a huge difference to Cornwall’s environmental heritage. We would like to say a huge thank you to English Heritage’s Shout Out Loud programme for its support and we hope as many young people as possible would like to get involved.”
