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

Who’d have thought it! There we were thinking that the beginners’ barefoot season is over, and now we find that folk are enjoying it so much that they want to carry on through the Cornish winter. Our would-be last of the monthly hikes took the barefoot explorers along the Mount’s Bay Coastline in October; you can see what a treat of a day it was. If you can’t wait for the next NT barefoot hike in April, just email Steve Bloor, the Barefoot Podiatrist, on info@naturalfeet.co.uk to be added to the barefoot hikers’ email group.

It’s been a pretty exciting barefoot year all told. On the monthly hikes we’ve explored each ranger’s patch of coast and countryside and taken people to places they haven’t been before: Godolphin Hill – with its hard-to-beat panorama; Porthcurno – a kaleidoscope of light and colour; Chapel Carn Brea – views to make your heart sing; Bosigran – where it’s hard to keep walking because you want to just keep looking; and Cudden Point – the sleeping dragon of the Bay.

In the spring Spotlight’s John Danks came to try out the Barefoot Trail at Godolphin. Steve Bloor and Julie, the ranger for Mount’s Bay, were mighty pleased that John planned to bring his family to give it a go. The Barefoot Trail has been a real draw, particularly for families – and especially for those doing the ’50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4′ challenge. (Going on a barefoot walk is number 24).  The trail is closed now to protect it from the winter, but remember you can go barefoot whenever you like! The trail will re-open in April.

Hundreds of barefoot people came to the Godolpin Barefoot Festival in August. Some folk even planned their holidays around it, they enjoyed it so much last year. There’s a write-up and pictures below – and another lovely article in October’s issue of Cornwall Today. Yes – the editor brought her daughter and had such a lovely time that she wanted to tell the county. Thanks Kirstie!

The South West Coast Path has seen an increasing number of bare soles this year. Steve and Julie helped to celebrate the SWCP’s 40th anniversary by leading a group of walkers from Porthleven to Marazion. One of the party even tried a bit of barefooting himself for a mile or so and said he’d do it again! We also met a German film crew who were preparing to film their documentary about long distance footpaths around Europe. Imagine what fun was had when they came back to film in the summer. Julie met Bradley, the long-distance walker (protagonist),  at Cudden Point, explained the reasons for barefooting ( yes, Bradley did have a go), described a ranger’s job, and related some Prussia Cove smugglers’ tales. As soon as the programme information is available we’ll post a link. (It’ll be dubbed into German – can’t wait..)

And no – although barefooting is delightful, healthy and addictive, a ranger can’t be barefoot all the time. Watch out for the updates on all the habitat management, footpath maintenance, estate work, conservation grazing, repairs and let’s not mention the rubbish and litter collections …

We’re still hugging ourselves a little bit after the magical experience we had at the Godolphin Barefoot Festival a couple of Sundays ago. After a wet Saturday the clouds just faded and we had a bright, bright sunshiny day! It’s so easy to smile when you take off your shoes: the orchard was full of delighted children trotting round the multi-textured trail, with decorated or muddy feet, while grown-ups enjoyed the reflexology, the henna painting and the amazing demonstrations.  Mullion gymnasts entertained us for hours, and the little ones were keen to have go at cartwheeling and tumbling.

It was hard to choose which activity to do first, and hard to fit them all into the day – especially when the soapy slide is such addictive fun. Who would have thought that a slippery piece of discarded flooring could provide such excitement? Apologies to Nicola for going through more soap than we’d planned to!

Some families who came to our first barefoot festival last year planned their holidays round this year’s date; if you’d like to do the same, pencil in 17 August 2014 and we’ll see you for a spot of barefoot fun.  Have a look at this post to find links to all the people who helped to provide such impressive arts and crafts, music, activities, treatments, products, advice and of course food! Thanks again to Steve Bloor the Barefoot Podiatrist who’s encouraged the National Trust on our barefoot journey from the first step. Here’s a link to the images in the local paper.

And if you just can’t wait to try a bit of barefooting, why not come on our next beginners’  Barefoot Hike around Bosigran? (7 September 10 – 1. Free. Phone 01736 791543 for details).

We’re all set for another day of barefoot fun at Godolphin on Sunday 18 August.

We’ve been collecting textures for the one-day-only special barefoot trail (remember the one in the woods is open every day) – so get ready to walk on things you’ve never walked on before. There’ll  also be  a bunch of barefoot professionals who’ll be delighted to talk about their special areas of expertise; Steve Bloor, the local barefoot podiatrist; Janey Lou from Daisy Feet Reflexology, and Shane Benzie – a barefoot running coach from Running Reborn.

Children will love all the barefoot arts and crafts we’ll have on offer; without spoiling the secret we can reveal that we’ll be using paints, clay, feathers, beads, bells, transfers and a whole list of other stuff.

For intrepid folk who like to try new experiences we’ve lined up tasters of some must-be-barefoot activities; karate with the Helston/Camborne Sandokai Clubs, Iyengar yoga with Amanda Brown, gymnastics with Mullion gym, Slacklining with Natural Feet and of course barefoot running with Shane Benzie.

If you like your Sundays lazy and full of treats why not visit Edge of the World Books – who’ll have a barefoot selection worth browsing, Pure Nuff Stuff – who specialise in products which are good for feet and good for the planet, Rachel’s foot massage corner, Charlie’s henna designs and Creative Claws nail art booth. All the stalls will be under canvas – many thanks to Meadow Yurts for providing the most spectacular, Natural England for the  ‘circus’ tent and Trevean Farm for the geodome.

Even folk who are sceptical about taking off their shoes will surely enjoy the atmosphere, the music (thanks to Beth,  Joe,  Keith and Carole), the tasty lunches from Archie Brown’s and all the demonstrations – we’ve even got Dave the barefoot pole-lather from Trelissick!

If you’re looking for a gently amusing and stimulating day out just come to Godolphin on Sunday 18 August, from 10 – 4. Entry on that day only is £2  ( free for NT members and children).  Children can then get a sticker for £3 and  do oodles of arty crafty things to wear or to take home. You can contact Godolphin on 01736 763194 or Julie (barefoot events organiser) on Julie.Hanson@nationaltrust.org.uk

Here's one I made earlier

The sun shone down brightly on our third annual Play Day here at Trengwainton Garden, near Penzance. Part of a national day that celebrates children’s right to play, there was lots of fun to be had by the families that flocked through the gates.

Catch me if you can!

Running free

Children were encouraged to get their hands good and dirty with mud pie making, followed by a soaking with water pistols. They could also use their imaginations with leaves and wood to create models or collages, or have a go at gardening with children’s sized tools. Many simply enjoyed the freedom of running at full tilt while towing a kite.

The atmosphere at our Play Day events is always fantastic, with both children and adults losing their inhibitions and getting stuck into some really simple play activities. Sometimes it’s hard to tell who’s enjoying themselves more, the children or their parents!  As staff and volunteers we get a  buzz too watching so many families have a really good time together and knowing that we’ve helped to make it happen.

While making leaf collages, one parent was overheard saying to her children that they could have a go at doing something similar at home.  This is exactly what we hope to inspire by these sort of events – that they leave a legacy of children once more preferring the attractions of the great outdoors to the attractions of their computers and the world wide web.

Don't stop me now