National Trust News – July 2013 – Chris Townsend

National Trust – Roseland And Veryan Bay  

Hello, I’m a volunteer with the NT and would like to tell you about our work since April’s update…

cornwall-roseland-peninsula-south-west-coast-path-walkIt’s early June and the weather is glorious. Rangers Phil White and Emma Shepherd have just welcomed their new colleague, Harriet Davies, to our small team. Staff and volunteers are busy footpath cutting now to maintain good access for walkers.

The South West Coast Path Association celebrated 40 years of this long distance footpath with a special event ‘The Great South West Walk’. A series of walks raised funds for improvement projects and promoted the trail from Minehead to Poole (630 miles). NT Rangers led the 2 walks on our patch:  Mevagissey to Portloe and Portloe to Place. Great weather and friendly walkers ensured a fabulous event.

Good news for the peregrine population! Three peregrine chicks hatched in mid-May, offspring of the pair nesting annually on cliffs at St. Anthony Head. Why not take your binoculars to the hide and watch the stunning parent peregrines feeding and defending their chicks, which should fledge by early July?

cornwall-roseland-peninsula-old-paraffin-storeDespite rabbits, pigeons and a cold spring, St. Mawes allotments are now thriving and enthusiastic growers provide a friendly atmosphere for sharing plants and advice. Everyone’s delighted with the bore hole and water pump installed by the NT and several sheds complete the picture!  Of 31 plots, two remain: email Sian Scott siann.scott@gmail.com  or ring 07967 790190 if you are interested.

The Old Paraffin Store, near St. Anthony’s Lighthouse, is now an art gallery!

With Andrew Tozer as ‘Artist in Residence’ this partnership between the NT and the Harbour Gallery will see exhibitions of Andrew’s and other artists’ work throughout 2013. Up-coming exhibitions are 26th – 28th July; 23rd – 26th August and 27th-29th September. For more details go to www.TheHarbourGallery.co.uk

Many thanks to 12 people who chose an NT Working Holiday here in May, for they cleared just over a skip load of rubbish from Roseland beaches! And thank you Heligan Gardens for a welcome sanctuary one afternoon when wet and windy weather stopped work!

Local volunteers clean beaches at Porthcurnick (10am) and Pendower (2pm) on the first Monday of every month: new volunteers are always welcome. We’d also like help with butterfly surveys at Treluggan and Nare Head. For details of these lovely summer tasks please contact christownsend624@googlemail.com

That’s all now until the next update…  Chris Townsend.  

1 Comment on “National Trust News – July 2013 – Chris Townsend

  1. Just to let the Pendower beach warden know -it is wednesday night 3rd july and there are 6 tents pitched on the dunes behind the beach Fires being lit with wood from the valley behind .They are sited in different places from previous fire sites which is a pity.? if the signs were understood as they may be eastern european .Thought you should be aware.

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