August 2, 2016

Godolphin has hidden residents that most visitors are completely unaware of. By day they stay tucked away in buildings and trees. And you’ll only get a glimpse of them at dusk. Can you guess what they are?

Well, they are of course Godolphin’s secretive nocturnal inhabitants: bats! And with Godolphin’s Bat Season approaching, it’s the perfect time to learn about these fascinating creatures.

Bats inhabit Godolphin’s buildings and woodland (Photograph: Russ Fletcher).

At dusk, bats begin to emerge from Godolphin’s roof spaces, trees and other nooks and crannies. With lightning speed they dart in and out of small openings, manoeuvring with the agility of jet aircraft.

They venture from their roosts in search of insects. And you won’t believe the numbers they can go through: some bats can eat up to 3000 insects in a single night! This fattens them up ready for hibernation during the winter months.

Common pipistrelle bat (Hugh Clark / Bat Conservation Trust).

Now, you may have heard the phrase ‘blind as a bat’, but this isn’t true. In fact, most bats have vision that’s as good as ours, if not better. Even so, instead of their eyes they rely on their specialised hearing to navigate in the dark. They use a clever technique called echolocation. Like sonar on a boat, they emit sounds and listen for the echoes. This allows them to map their surroundings and locate their prey with incredible precision.

The UK has 17 species of bat. And here at Godolphin we’re lucky to have several species, including common pipistrelle, lesser horseshoe and brown long-eared bats. Check out the video below of a brown long-eared bat in Godolphin’s Cider House.

Brown long-eared bat (John Altringham / Bat Conservation Trust).

But unfortunately bat numbers have declined dramatically in the UK over the last century. Building work has disturbed roosts, their habitat has been destroyed, and roads have disrupted their commuting routes.

In recent weeks National Trust staff, volunteers and the public have been monitoring bats at Godolphin for the National Bat Monitoring Programme. This work is vital for safeguarding these amazing creatures from further decline.

And it’s not just at Godolphin where bats can be found in West Cornwall. National Trust sites across the region host impressive bat populations, including many of the old mine engine houses that are dotted across the countryside.

So if you’d like to learn more about the fascinating life of bats then why not join us for Bat Season at Godolphin starting in September, with guided walks on select days.

June 28, 2016

We stand in a tight huddle gazing curiously into a rock pool. Matt, a marine life expert from Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Shoresearch survey, enthusiastically plucks out a few apparently empty mollusc shells. To our surprise, a tiny hermit crab tentatively peers from one of the shells.

Matt’s eyes widen, hinting that this is not just any hermit crab. “It’s a new arrival from warmer waters further south” he explains. Incredibly, this was one of the first recordings of this crab in Cornish waters since 1985!

Close up of a rare hermit crab rediscovered in Cornish waters in March. It was recently named St Piran’s crab by BBC Spring Watch viewers (Photograph: Matt Slater).

This was just one of the amazing discoveries when Cornwall’s Shoresearch survey visited the National Trust’s Boat Cove in Mount’s Bay. The survey is playing a vital role in documenting the life on Cornwall’s rocky shores—information crucial for the conservation of this biologically rich habitat.

And you too can explore the fascinating life of Cornwall’s rocky shores. You don’t need any fancy equipment or even an expert eye. All you need is sturdy footwear, a tide timetable, and a little sense of adventure.

But before you get out there it’s useful to know about some of the remarkable creatures you can expect to find.

Rocky shores

You may be wondering what a rocky shore is. Well, it is quite simply a rock ledge with saltwater pools. Due to the tides, the sea moves up and down rocky shores daily. The upper shore is left exposed for the longest period of time, with the lower shore only briefly exposed at low tide.

Sea urchin and two sea cucumbers gripping to the underside of a rock.

Now, you’d be forgiven for thinking that rocky shores are pretty much lifeless. After all they’re battered by pounding waves and storms, and dried by the sun and air at low tide. But take a closer look and you’ll discover a habitat teeming with weird and wonderful critters that are specially adapted to this hostile environment.

So what biological wonders might you discover?

Let’s start with the upper shore. Here you’ll find rock surfaces dotted with what look like miniature dormant volcanoes. These are barnacles. You may find it hard to believe that they’re actually alive. But when submerged under water these surprisingly complex creatures spring to life. A fan of delicate finger-like structures emerge from their hard shells to gather microscopic creatures known as plankton.

Rock pools

Moving to the middle shore, you’ll likely find an abundance of rock pools. And this is where it gets really exciting! Rock pools provide refuge for an array of creatures when the tide is out. Turn a rock and you might think that you’ve stumbled on strange life from another planet: sea anemones with stinging tentacles that paralyse their prey, sea cucumbers that shoot sticky threads at their enemies, and sea urchins covered in piercing spines.

One particularly beautiful sea anemone you may spot is the snakelocks anemone. Its dense mass of green and purple tipped tentacles are used to catch fish and other animals.

The beautiful snakelocks anemone (Photograph: Matt Slater).

If you’ve ever been rockpooling as a child, you’ll know that crabs are a common resident. Look out for the stunning Montagu’s crab, with its huge and immensely strong claws.

Montagu’s crab (Photograph: Matt Slater)

And if you’re lucky you may even encounter fish, such as the vibrant Cornish sucker fish. It has a plunger-like sucker on its underside allowing it to grip to rocks. Also keep your eyes peeled for the scaleless and slimy common blenny, which is also known as a shanny. Its tiny razor sharp teeth allow it to crack open barnacles and limpets, and possibly nip rummaging fingers!

Venture down to the lower shore and you may well see a giant seaweed known as kelp sprawled over the rocks. It can be over a metre long, and when submerged under water it stands tall like land plants thanks to its air filled bladders.

Kelp on the lower shore at Boat Cove.

Get involved

Cornwall offers an abundance of rocky shores for you to explore. The best time to do so is during spring tides when the largest area of shore is exposed at low tide. These occur every two weeks, coinciding with the time of the full moon and new moon.

If you would like to improve your rocky shore identification skills then why not become a Shoresearch volunteer. You can also click here for further advice on rockpooling. But please remember to return rocks how you found them. Many creatures depend on the cover of rocks for their survival!

April 8, 2016

Meet our Shetland ponies, the unsung heroes of wildlife conservation at Mount’s Bay. These dainty ponies are ensuring that wildflowers bloom and rare birds sing. Wondering how? This post explains all.

If you venture onto the towering cliffs of Mount’s Bay, you’ll encounter a patchwork of gorse, bracken, heather, grasses, and rocky outcrops. This diverse habitat, known as coastal heathland, is where the Shetland ponies call home for several months of the year.

But what’s really special about this habitat is its array of wildflowers, birds, insects and animals: from the rare chough to the delicate spring squill.

Shetland pony enjoying the views at Cudden Point, Mount’s Bay.

However, you may be surprised to learn that this habitat is not entirely natural. Maintaining its current state requires careful management. You see, if we stood back and let nature take its course, just a few types of vegetation such as gorse and bracken would soon take over.

And let’s face it, would you rather see carpets of colourful wildflowers or a dense blanket of prickly gorse?

Gorse at Rinsey Head, Mount’s Bay. Grazing by the ponies prevents such vegetation from taking over. This leaves open space for a diversity of wildlife to flourish.

And this is why the hardy Shetland ponies have been drafted in. They play a stellar role in conserving the heathland habitat and its wildlife by:

• grazing grasses to create prime habitat for insects;
• grazing on saplings of gorse and bracken to prevent them taking over;
• trampling vegetation to keep open space for other plants and wildflowers.

To witness the astonishing results for yourself, take a stroll along the coast path in late spring to see the vibrant display of wildflowers. You’ll see subtle purples of pale dog-violets, crisp whites of sea campion, and vivid pinks of English stonecrop. Also look out for hairy bird’s-foot trefoil, heath milkwort, and common vetch.

Sea campion at Rinsey Head, Mount’s Bay.

And it’s not just wildflowers that benefit. The rare chough—a bird species that disappeared from Cornwall in 1973, later returning in 2001—relies on heathland grazing. They depend on short grass and animal dung that provides habitat for the insects they feed on.

But, unfortunately, coastal heathland has been in decline across the UK for some time. Vast areas have been lost to agriculture, and land historically grazed has gone unmanaged.

That’s why the presence of the ponies at Mount’s Bay is so important. They’re helping to safeguard this wildlife-rich habitat for the future.

So why not visit Mount’s Bay and see what wildlife you can spot. And should you stumble upon the ponies, perhaps take a moment to pay homage to these stalwarts of wildlife conservation.

If you want to see the ponies they’re currently at the National Trust’s Trewavas and Cudden Point properties. But please don’t feed them. They’re on a strict grass-only diet!

Wildflowers at Cudden Point, Mount’s Bay.

March 24, 2016

If you dream of being a countryside ranger, then volunteering is often a key step on the path to a job. And one of the best ways of gaining this experience is to do a full-time volunteer (FTV) ranger placement.

So what are FTV ranger placements and who are they for?

They involve assisting with the countryside management, conservation, and public engagement activities of an organisation such as the National Trust. They typically last for between 3 and 12 months, and are primarily aimed at those with ambitions of becoming a ranger. Crucially, they offer a prime route to gaining the practical experience and skills that employers seek.

I’m now two months into an FTV placement at the National Trust’s Godolphin and Mount’s Bay properties in Cornwall. And I’m loving it. I’ve been tending to Shetland ponies on dramatic coastal cliff tops, waymarking trails across majestic countryside, and conserving the habitat of rare plant species.

The stunning Mount’s Bay coast where I am fortunate to be volunteering.

If you’re thinking of applying for an FTV placement, then there are many factors to consider. Having recently gone through this process, I’ve come up with 9 points to ponder before embarking on your search.

1. Career ambition: As mentioned above, FTV placements are mainly geared towards those with ambitions of becoming a countryside ranger, or similar role. To gain a placement you will therefore need to effectively convey—through your application documents, and possibly also at interview—your commitment to becoming a ranger.

Now, it may seem premature to raise the issue of employment, but you should be aware that there are many more would-be rangers than there are jobs. This is evident from online articles, as well as discussions I’ve had with rangers. The blunt reality is that competition for ranger jobs is fierce. Having said that, I’m not aware of many career paths that aren’t intensely competitive.

Tending to Shetland ponies at Rinsey, Mount’s Bay, Cornwall. Grazing by the ponies serves to control bracken and gorse, creating ideal habitat for wild flowers.

2. Education and volunteering background: A HND- or degree-level qualification in an environmental-related discipline (e.g. countryside management; conservation; environmental science; geography) can bolster your chances of landing an FTV placement (and, in the longer-term, a ranger job). Though this is by no means essential. I know several rangers that have no formal environmental/conservation education, but through volunteering they gained the core knowledge and practical skills required for the role.

Having previous relevant volunteering experience can also be advantageous. It will equip you with handy practical skills and provides further evidence of your commitment to your chosen career path.

3. Braving the elements: Many aspiring rangers are attracted by the prospect of spending warm summer days working in beautiful landscapes. But bear in mind that wet, cold, and blustery days are the norm. Put simply, ensure that you’re content working outdoors in all weather conditions. I’ve found that with appropriate clothing (particularly thermals in the winter) and a hot flask, working outdoors can be rewarding no matter the weather. Besides, working outdoors in driving rain still trumps staring at a computer screen all day, right?

Working at Cudden Point, Mount’s Bay, Cornwall. The moody clouds in the background gave me a drenching soon after.

4. Embracing work variety: The day-to-day tasks of a ranger can be highly varied: from strolling the countryside preparing new walking routes one day, to enticing ponies into a horse box the next. However, there will inevitably be some tasks that are less attractive, such as litter picking. A willingness to tackle the full range of tasks a ranger encounters is therefore a must. For me, the sheer diversity of tasks means that the work of a ranger is never dull.        

5. Physical fitness: Being a ranger can certainly be physically demanding. In my first few weeks as an FTV, I found myself using muscles that had lain dormant for most of my adult life. On any given day you can find yourself handling cumbersome equipment, marching up steep slopes, and excavating cavernous holes in the ground. All of this requires a reasonable level of fitness (I’ll let you judge what ‘reasonable’ means). I have discovered a major plus to the physical work, however: I feel more energetic and healthier than I have done in years!                                            

6. Let’s talk money: Of course, as a volunteer you will not be paid. Yet many organisations will cover commuting costs within a reasonable distance. And some placements offer free accommodation—some will even cover utility bills.

If you’re fortunate enough to land a placement with free accommodation and bills, then you will mainly just require funds for food and socialising. But unless you have savings, you may need to work part-time. This means working evenings and/or weekends, so be sure that you’re content with sacrificing some of your precious spare time for the period of the placement.

Volunteer accommodation at Godolphin, with adjoining staff offices. Known as the Count House, this attractive building dating to the 1840s was the public face of Godolphin mine and provided office space for the purser and clerical staff. I often find myself thinking about the lives of those that worked here over a century ago.

7. What skills and experience do you want acquire? Not all FTV ranger placements are the same. Some focus on public engagement (e.g. conducting guided walks; delivering educational programmes), whilst others mainly involve conservation and land management activities. With this in mind, carefully consider the type of experience and skills you want to gain, and how this matches the FTV opportunities you come across.

Also, establish whether the placement has a training budget. If so, you may have the opportunity to acquire some equipment certificates, such as in the use of a brush-cutter, chainsaw, trailer, and tractor. Having such certificates can pay dividends when you start applying for jobs. In fact, if you peruse ranger job specifications on websites such as Countryside-jobs.com, you will find that many employers require that you have some (or all) of these certificates.

8. Competition: Gaining an FTV placement can be tricky with, in some instances, stiff competition for places. Competition is likely to be greater in notably scenic locations, such as the Lake District. Consequently, many FTV placements involve interviews, either by phone/Skype or in person, and/or ‘taster’ days. To stand out from the crowd, ensure your application contains a compelling statement on the importance of the placement to your career ambitions, as well as the unique suite of skills you can offer.          

9. Location, location, location: When considering where to do an FTV placement, the first question to ask yourself is whether you’re able to move to a new area. Inevitably, an ability to move opens up the range of opportunities available to you. Also consider whether you require a placement that offers free accommodation—as mentioned above, there are many that do.

Additionally, think about the type of environment (upland, heathland, coastal, woodland etc.) you want to work in both during and after the placement. For instance, if you’re set on being a ranger in a coastal environment then it may be wise to do your placement at the coast. On the other hand, if you’re undecided on your preferred environment then there are placements where you can experience a range of environments. Indeed, my placement in West Cornwall has enabled me to work in woodland, heathland, grassland and coastal settings.

So, if you’ve read this and you’re still eager to apply for an FTV placement then the best place to start searching is Countryside-jobs.com. I certainly have no regrets. My placement marks the beginning of a new and exciting career path. And so far the breathtaking countryside of West Cornwall has been my office, I’ve acquired an abundance of new skills and knowledge, and I’ve met an eclectic mix of people with a shared passion for the environment and its conservation.

The humble snowdrop (botanical name ‘galanthus’) is such a welcome sight in the cold winter months.  When we see its green shoots start to push through the soil we know that spring isn’t some distant mirage, but really is on its way!

There are certain plants which evoke emotions in us and snowdrops are certainly one of those.  They can lift the heart on the chilliest of days and there’ll be plenty of them to see nestled amongst the trees at Trengwainton when we reopen in February. 

Their name is coined from the Greek words “gala”, which means milk, and “anthos” which means flower.  As the first flower of spring, it symbolises purity and a clean start after winter.  Other common names include Candlemas bells (Candlemas is 2 February), Mary’s taper, snow piercer, February fairmaids and Dingle-dangle.  Although snowdrops and their bulbs are poisonous to humans, they contain an ingredient which is reputed to help with sleep and the common snowdrop contains galanthamine, which has been approved for use in the management of Alzheimer’s disease in a number of countries.

Snowdrops have a dedicated following and collectors and enthusiasts are called ‘Galanthophiles.’  Snowdrop collecting has really taken off in Britain over the last few years, with single bulbs selling for several hundred pounds each.

Often thought to be a native species, the snowdrop is now believed to have been introduced to Britain and has since become naturalised.  Its future survival is threatened by habitat destruction and being the most heavily traded wild-collected bulb genus in the world. Several European countries have listed the snowdrop as near threatened, vulnerable, or even critically endangered.

So make a note in your diary to wrap up warm, stretch your legs and treat yourself to a stroll amongst Trengwainton’s winding wooded paths to make the most of this cheerful harbinger of spring.

Trengwainton Garden will reopen to the public from Sunday 15 February, 10.30am-5pm daily, except Fridays and Saturdays when we’re closed.

By lunchtime everyone had forgotten the drizzly start; folk were busy chilling out, relaxing and enjoying the happy sunny atmosphere.  This is the third time the National Trust at Godolphin has put on a celebration of bare feet, and we were delighted to welcome familiar faces and  new friends alike. The children loved the multitextured trail and trotted around and around the central circuit – the seaweed and the lavendar were top and bottom of the favourites list.

Steve Bloor, our local Barefoot Podiatrist, chatted to people about the health benefits of walking barefoot and explained how most feet work better without shoes. It was Steve who introduced the National Trust to barefooting and who sowed the seeds for the idea of the barefoot trail at Godolphin. Try it if you haven’t already – it’s open every day until the end of October.  

The tents were full of treats for grown-ups and arts and crafts for children. Emily brought her Pure Nuff Stuff foot products, Charlie decorated hundreds of feet with henna tattoos, Rachel and Clare provided relaxing foot massage and reflexology and lots of NT volunteers helped the little ones with clay footprints, toe pets, foot painting, tattoos , foot beads and lots more. No wonder some families stayed all day!

Thanks to the barefoot professionals who gave us the opportunity to try some new barefoot experiences; Amanda provided a taster yoga session, Dave introduced QiGong ( ‘a bit like Tai Chi’ he says) and Ady Benn ran short coaching sessions on barefoot running. The Helston Sandokai Karate Club gave an impressive demonstration before inviting folk to have a go – and Cate amazed and delighted everyone with her hoop dancing antics -perhaps she’s started a craze.

Of course everyone smiles when they take off their shoes -but the smiles are wider when there’s simple natural food and simple acoustic music to enjoy too. Thanks to Archie Brown’s for the catering, and Beth and Hetty and friends for the sounds – perfect.

It’s hard to choose what was the best thing about this happy barefoot day – but perhaps the soapy slide sums up the joy and abandon that most people were feeling ( to differing degrees).  Some children were so taken with it that they went barefoot from the tips of their toes to the tops of their heads!

 Don’t worry if you missed the festival – there are barefoot opportunities everywhere every day – and there are monthly barefoot hikes from April to October.  Contact Julie.Hanson@nationaltrust.org.uk for details.

( If you’re interested in barefoot running contact Ady Benn from Elemental Fitness. He’s even offering barefoot training in Spain!)

 For more pictures and news about the National Trust in West Cornwall click on these links: Mount’s Bay, Trengwainton Garden, Godolphin, West Cornwall Welcome Centre  , East Pool Mine.

Title: Make Mother’s Day
Location: National Trust Trengwainton Garden Madron, Penzance TR20 8RZ
Link out: Click here
Description: Bring mum along to the garden and create your own unique Mother’s Day card for her. Top off her day with a tasty treat in the tea-room.
Garden open 10.30am-5pm. Admission prices: Adult £7.00, child £3.50, family (2 + 3) £17.50, family (1 + 3) £10.50, National Trust members free. Contact: 01736 363148
Start Time: 10-30 am
Date: 30-03-2014
End Time: 17.00pm

Here’s Jaz at the wheel of the NT Mitsi – looking like a proper NT Ranger. And after her stint volunteering with me (Julie, Ranger) on the Mount’s Bay properties she’s gone and landed herself an eight-month internship up country! Still, in between the busy-ness Jaz has managed to answer a few questions for us – Rock Chick style! ( The photos scattered throughout are a mixture of Cornwall and Jaz’s new location – guess which is which?)

Julie: What were you doing before you came to volunteer with the NT?

Jaz: I graduated from Cardiff in June 2012 with a degree in illustration. I’d studied Art and Design at Truro so I came from a very creative background with no experience in conservation work.

Julie: Why did you choose to volunteer with the countryside ranger?

Jaz: When I came back to Cornwall I wanted to keep busy while waiting for the perfect job. I was living at home and working in the local pub in the evenings. But I’m a pretty active and enthusiastic person and I enjoy doing productive things so I thought about other things I was interested in. I liked the idea of working for the National Trust, outside, in beautiful places and that was it really! After helping out with the Godolphin Bare Foot Festival in 2012 I started volunteering with the rangers every week and that’s when it began.

Julie: What’s the best thing you did while you were here?

Jaz: I have experienced and been involved with many fun and memorable things whilst being here but one thing that stands out to me was getting to go abseiling with Mount’s Bay School. I wasn’t nervous all morning or when we were standing on the edge of the cliff waiting for our turn. Only when I was strapped into the harness and putting my weight over the edge the nerves finally kicked in! But I made it down in one piece, with Mr Fish, MB’s outdoor adventure expert, guiding me down. It was great fun to do something different and truly exhilarating and also at a place I helped to look after through volunteering. (editor’s note: this was a perk offered by Mr Fish after we asked to watch and take photos of his class enjoying our cliffs at Trewavas. Who could say no?)

Julie: What was the worst thing you did while you were here?

Jaz: ( by email. I’m going to ignore this – I think it is a trick question)

Julie: What was the most interesting thing you learnt?

Jaz: What I have found most interesting through working with the Trust is probably learning the history about the properties and the places I have worked. I always appreciate them visually, but they become even more intriguing when you discover the stories behind those places.

Julie: Have you changed your mind about anything since you came? Or changed your outlook or career plans?

Jaz: before I started volunteering for the Trust I had very recently finished my illustration degree, so the idea of becoming a countryside volunteer for the Trust was far from my mind. Still – since I have been working with the rangers I suppose my direction has changed a fair bit. I have enjoyed working here so much that I wanted to continue learning and developing my skills. (editor’s note: Jaz replaced the daily sandwich foil with a reusable lunch box while she was on our team. Result!)

Julie: What are you doing now? (apart from trying to keep warm and trying to find the best thermals?)

Jaz: In January I started an NT Ranger internship with the countryside team in the South Lakes. I have been here for a few weeks now and am loving every moment. We have been doing lots of practical work such as dry-stone walling, tree planting, fencing, coppicing and I have been learning a lot about the South Lakes property as I go, and feel like part of the team already. We have been shown around a fair bit of the property, and every place is a sight for sore eyes. It is a beautiful place to work – and I feel so lucky to have got this opportunity.

Julie: What does the future hold?

Jaz: I hope after I have completed my internship with the Trust I will be in a better position to look for employment in Environmental conservaion, whether it is with th eTrust or another organisation. I’m learning so much and enjoying every minute so hopefully I will be able to continue along this path.

Julie: What would you say to someone thinking of being a volunteer countryside ranger?

Jaz: To someone thinking about volunteering for the Trust I would say DO IT! I tried it and I loved it, and I’m still doing it. Even if you have one free day, it’s very flexible and no matter what your interests are there is probably something you will enjoy or find to inspire you through working with the Trust.

Alhtough we’re  sorry to lose Jaz to the South Lakes ranger team, we’re very pleased for her – and proud that a stint with us has had such a life-changing effect!

(Footnote: The Mount’s Bay Ranger is currently looking for a local volunteer! Must be fairly fit, moderately entertaining, quite interested in nature conservation and environmental education – and living not too far away! Would suit someone at the beginning or end of their career! Get in touch: Julie.Hanson@nationaltrust.org.uk )

Julia clearing the ever-pervasive bamboo

With only three week to go until the garden opens to the public again, our gardeners at Trengwainton are working hard battling the elements, as well as getting on with planned works, in an effort to be ready on time.

Over the Christmas and New Year, strong winds brought down the large branch of a sycamore and uprooted a rhododendron. With very strong winds forecast in the next few days they’re unlikely to be the last trees that will need addressing with the gardeners’ chainsaw skills before being cleared away.

Gully in the Middle walled garden

Not for nothing is Trengwainton’s name translated by some scholars as ‘the garden of springs.’ With natural springs feeding the stream that runs down through the centre of the garden, the ongoing heavy rains have added to these. New ones are popping up in various places throughout the garden and creating new streams on paths that were once compacted gravel.  Gullies several inches deep are running the length of some paths and they will all need to be re-dressed with gravel before we re-open.

Hammer head revealed by the rains

The scouring of the rain has had one interesting outcome though; on a couple of the paths several bricks have been uncovered – perhaps discarded when building the walled kitchen garden in the 1800s? On another, an intriguing hammer head embedded in the soil has come to light.

Contractors are working on widening the path that leads in and out of the plant sales areas into the garden, and the garden team have started on a long-term project to replant the Terrace at the top of the garden. They’re being helped by a group of 10 people who are taking part in a pioneering partnership between the Trust, Cornwall College and the Job Centre to provide work skills training for the long-term unemployed.

Work Skills Training Academy hleping to

Those who are part of the Work Skills Training Academy are based at the garden for a fortnight and take part in practical tasks such as pruning, coppicing and clearance work. Led by Trengwainton’s gardeners, and helped by learning support workers from Cornwall College, they also learn tree identification, best practice in nature conservation, safe tool use and general health and safety, in the hope of being better equipped to then go on to find paid employment.

This is our fourth Academy at Trengwainton and Stephen Maunder, Business Development Manager for the Work Skills Training Academy at Cornwall College says, ‘The positive encouragement, work preparation and self-discipline that the programme has generated have been such a success that we have demand from the Job Centre to repeat it throughout the County.’

While all this bustle goes on in and around it, the garden is slowly coming back to life, with crocuses already out on the Meadow and snowdrops starting to bud beside the stream. Some camellias and early rhododendrons are already in flower and the magnolias are on their way. Spring is on its way – coming, ready or not!

Crocuses on the Meadow