The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB Winter 2013/14

Your Valley - Tamar Grow Local Our Watery Your Views Growing, producing Heritage 2014-2019 AONB and buying local Sam Barnes Management Plan food and drink reveals all Pages 4-5 Pages 7-9 Pages 20-21 £55,000-worth of projects made possible through the Sustainable Development Fund

The Tamar Valley AONB team is delighted to have helped kick-start £55,000 worth of projects in the area after being awarded £5,000 from the government’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF).

Sustainable development funding takes the form of a regional grants scheme for individuals, groups or businesses with ideas or projects that will benefit their area, both now and into the future. In 2013, £5,000 was made available to the Tamar Valley AONB, to share between a range of projects, encouraging people to work together to manage their activities in practical and sustainable ways. This has led to further opportunities for investment and match-funding.

Twenty projects applied to the Tamar Valley AONB for grants of up to £500. Successful applicants were able to demonstrate that their projects contributed to sustainable Cherry tree planting on the south facing slope of the Strawberry Hill Orchard. development, and that they Image courtesy of St Dominick Community Orchard and Apiary Group involved and supported local communities, while helping to Following a meeting of members The total spend on projects in deliver the AONB Management of the AONB Partnership the area has been calculated at Plan. Committee in late August, 12 £55,452. schemes were granted funding. Continued on page 3 The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

Welcome

We are in the process of preparing Maintaining the continuity of special our new Management Plan, events such as ‘Drawn to the Valley’, a statutory requirement for all the ‘Tamar Trail Festival’, and Contents AONBs. It’s been out for public several Tamar Valley Centre events consultation and is due to be has kept our loyal staff very busy! £55k of Projects through SDF 1 signed off in March 2014. The Welcome 2 Draft Plan certainly brought to Cordiale has come to an end and Your Valley - Your Views 4 attention and readily reflected that means we have also lost those Autumn Trail Festival a big hit 6 the many changes in new working key staff who were part of it. I want Drawn to the Valley 6 practices and technology to thank all those who got engaged Tamar Grow Local 7-9 compared with our previous with this European initiative and to HAMAS Growing Community 8 management plans. the staff who held it together and Tamar Valley Food Hubs 8 recently achieved wonders by Tamar Grow Local’s Such changes include pressure and successfully negotiating the many Double Award Winners 9 changes in lifestyle, social media, financial hurdles this European fund Renewable Energy 10 climate change, renewable energy created – well done from us all. Events Calendar 11 and the housing crisis, besides We also enjoyed a recent accolade Local Train Times 13 structural changes in agriculture. All those, if mentioned even 15 from UNESCO for investing in the - Ferry 13 years ago, seemed futuristic and a and West Mining Double Waters 14 long way off – now they necessitate World Heritage Site and opening up Stoke Climsland WW1 callout 14 inclusion and consideration in our further public access in the area. This St Mellion mobile shop 14 new 5 year Plan. is no more impressive than what has Volunteering in the Valley 15 been achieved in our AONB, to which Community Woodlands 16 Like all government-funded bodies, the Cornish Mining World Heritage Gawton Gravity Hub 16 the core funding to the Partnership Site is central. The use of the trails is Invasive Plants Update 17 will gradually decline, but I am very growing rapidly and hopefully, we Forest School brings pleased that we have been able will be enjoying late winter and early woodland to life 17 to resurrect the Sustainable spring sunshine to explore further our Landscape Management 18 Development Fund (SDF), which wonderful scenic valleys. UNESCO Membership 18 was recently allocated. Yes, it was Apple-lovers of Japan 19 just £5K – crumbs compared to Enjoy reading about the most recent Our Watery Heritage 20 a few years ago when we shared events and the many articles to Annual Review available 22 out £90K to community groups suit all interests. Can I wish all our Make time for yourself 24 – ‘changing times’ to coin a phrase. readers, staff and those all-season NAAONB News 24 However, we intend to allocate SDF dedicated volunteers the very best support in 2014 too. for 2014.

More from us... As ever,

Produced by Tamar Valley AONB – Sign up to receive monthly e-bulletins 01822 835030 from the Tamar Valley AONB – a great Charlotte Dancer, way to keep up-to-date with progress of [email protected] projects and calls for volunteers in Editorial support: Rowena Millar, between issues of The Valley newsletter. Natural Word www.naturalword.co.uk Please visit www.tamarvalley.org.uk Design: PED - Paul Eustice Design Print: Latimer Trend and click on ‘News’ to sign up This newsletter has been printed on Follow us: 100% recycled paper. Please pass this Cllr Neil Burden newsletter on to a friend before recycling. TVAONB @TVAONB Chair, Tamar Valley AONB Partnership

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£55,000-worth of projects made possible through the Sustainable Development Fund continued from page 1

We look more closely at three projects that have benefited from the latest round of SDF grant funding: been spent on tree guards. and engineering the sculpture. These will protect the young trees The striking, free-standing feature from sheep that graze the orchard, will welcome the public to the as well as deer and rabbits. open area, and will incorporate nooks and crannies that can be A living sculpture for people and stocked with fat, seeds and nuts birds at Tamar Adventures for a variety of woodland birds. A further SDF grant will enable These might include tits, the old, milled root plate of a 6 nuthatches, woodpeckers and foot tall oak tree to be made into perhaps treecreepers. a beautiful, strong and durable sculpture that doubles up as a bird If you have an idea or project Toasting marshmallows at that could benefit from grant School’s forest school feeder for an eco-garden at the Tamar Trails Centre, Gulworthy. funding, look out for 2014’s Harrowbarrow School’s forest The concept came from local round of SDF money, by school yurt bird and wildlife expert Richard keeping a check on www.tamar Harrowbarrow School is installing Hibbert. Local craftsman Alistair valley.org.uk or our Facebook an 18ft yurt which can meet the Guy is responsible for sourcing page. ■ needs of a class of 35. It will give the children an outdoor classroom, enabling the use of their forest Successful SDF projects, 2013 school and nature areas in APPLICANT PROJECT AMOUNT inclement weather, and offering DESCRIPTION AWARDED protection from the wind, rain, Cornwall Wildlife Build an osprey nesting £300 snow and even the sun. It will also Trust platform provide a focal point for other Tamar Adventures Use local artist to create £500 activities such as storytelling and sculpture which doubles as investigating how other cultures bird feeder live. The new yurt will help to ease Work Skills SW CIC Encourage individuals with £470 physical and mental health the pressure on the school’s conditions to use Tamar Trails existing accommodation, becoming Antony Parish Council Insatll 4 benches on trail £400 an extra special classroom. Tamar Com. Trust Additional seating on trails £400 Protecting young cherry trees Day Nursery Creation of wildlife habitat £500 Strawberry Hill Orchard, occupying Denham Orchard Build links with community/ £250 10 acres on a steep, south-facing inner city slope by the , was Honicombe Ltd. Create a wildlife pond £500 once a traditional cider orchard St Dominick Comm. Volunteer run traditional £295 and is now a community orchard Orchard & Apiary orchard, supporting wildlife and apiary. Following a donation Harrowbarrow School Outdoor classroom/forest £500 of £200 by Western Power Parent/Staff Assoc. school as all-weather option Distribution, and inspired by local Landulph Memorial Create a modern pre-school £385 orchard experts Mary Martin and Hall facility in village hall James Evans, traditional local Friends of Tamar Journal £500 cherry varieties are being planted Tamar Valley to complement 80 new apple Total amount to be awarded £5,000 trees. Funds from the SDF have www.tamarvalley.org.uk 3 The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

Your Valley – your views

Members of the AONB Team have been out and about around the Valley listening to the views of local people on the draft version of our 2014 to 2019 Management Plan. This article explains what it’s all about.

Why does the Tamar Valley need the people who live here, the local adopted by the AONB Partnership a Management Plan? economy and visitors to the area. and its constituent organisations, We live in a place that is officially Working in partnership can often prior to its submission to the considered to be one of the finest achieve better results than individual Government (Defra) in March 2014. examples of countryside in initiatives, and the Plan sets out what and Wales, having been designated needs to be done by member What changes have been made? as an Area of Outstanding Natural organisations of the Partnership and The proposed Management Plan Beauty in 1995. AONB designation the AONB Team. It is revised every differs from the current one in the (the responsibility of Natural five years, in line with government following respects: England) seeks to ‘conserve and policy. enhance natural beauty’ such as • The justification for our policies flora and fauna, geology and What has the AONB team done to has been strengthened, through landscape features, archaeology revise the Plan? research and monitoring activities. and architecture, whilst recognising We have: • Policies are more specific, which the needs of the local community links them more clearly to and economy. • reviewed our progress in management issues. There are implementing the current plan consequently more policies than The Tamar Valley was judged to • consulted the AONB Forum of in the current Plan. have five special qualities of national stakeholder organisations • The content of the Plan in relation importance: • reviewed national policy to planning and development has • undertaken a small number of been considerably strengthened, • A rare water and valley landscape expert meetings on specific topics in response to the revision of • A remarkable heritage • convened technical working planning policy by the coalition • A landscape of high visual quality groups to bring together expert government. • A unique wildlife resource knowledge from around the • The structure of the document • A landscape of artistic and public Valley on a range of important has been simplified. appeal. topics • undertaken an extensive These changes will make the Plan a The role of the Management Plan programme of field trials as part more useful document for those who The Valley’s designation as an AONB of the Cordiale project, from make decisions that affect the future helps bring together the various which a great deal has been of the AONB. ■ bodies that can influence its future. learned. The Management Plan highlights issues where a coordinated approach Following the consultation on the to landscape and cultural heritage Draft Plan, we will revise it in light of projects will benefit the Valley itself, the responses received. This will be

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Priorities for the future The priorities for action are a mix • We want to continue with the volunteer programme. of recommendations to Partners work we have pioneered through • We are aware of the potential of regarding what they do to the Cordiale Project: supporting the Valley for education, protect the AONB, and practical, the development of woodfuel especially where the landscape, project-based activities. The markets; supporting volunteers to wildlife and heritage can be used Tamar Valley AONB team has record the biodiversity and to inspire people to learn. delivered a wide range of heritage features in the We aim to coordinate better projects so far, including the landscape; promoting the promotion of the Valley as an recently completed £7 million production and sale of local educational resource. Mining Heritage Project. We foods. • Our consultations have anticipate continuing to bring • We would like to continue to confirmed the importance of in additional funds and other support tourism in the AONB, the River Tamar in the life and resources to help to protect the in particular tourism initiatives landscape of the Valley. We will Valley. that have a wider range of be looking at how the AONB benefits to landscape, Partnership can add value to the Specific actions will be identified communities and the economy. work already being done by shortly, but here are our key • We are seeing increasing others to protect water, wildlife priorities: numbers of volunteers in the and heritage resources (see Valley and we want to continue page 20 for more on the • We want to be more proactive to develop a coordinated importance of this asset). in relation to Planning and Development. We aim to put more of our resources into responding to planning applications, and to improve the resources available for planners to use when deciding on planning applications. We also aim to do more to raise awareness about the special qualities of the Tamar Valley AONB where Management Plan Consultation Coffee Morning, Tamar Valley Centre, planning is concerned. November 2013 www.tamarvalley.org.uk 5 The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

Drawn to the Valley exhibit past, present and future art at Mount Edgcumbe

Past, Present & Future Exhibition, Mount Edgcumbe Country Park

In autumn 2013, the community of local artists known as Drawn to artists and doodlers, with the Valley celebrated their 10th anniversary with an exhibition and art approximately 150 people joining festival at Mount Edgcumbe. the fun. Highlights included the creation of an artwork inspired by For hundreds of years, artists have Hotel, Charles Steevenson Wines, the Tamar Valley’s agricultural and been drawn to the Valley, and today Heards Design Partnership and market gardening history in the style it holds a wealth of creativity and Deltor Communications plus of artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Five skills, whether artists use ink, paint, funding from the Tamar Valley artists ran workshops, enabling the clay, wood, metal, glass or thread to AONB, they were able to showcase public to explore different ways of interpret their inspirations. a wonderful collection of works. drawing, whether with charcoal, wood, wire, felt or even their own From 19th to 27th October, Drawn Big Draw and Family Arts Festival bodies. They all had a fabulous day, to the Valley held an Exhibition of To launch the anniversary and hope to repeat it this year. See Past, Present and Future Art at the celebrations and exhibition, Drawn Drawn to the Valley’s Facebook Barrow Centre, Mount Edgcumbe to the Valley’s first ever Big Draw page for more pictures and Country Park. Thanks to and Family Arts Festival provided a information. ■ sponsorship from Moorland Garden day out for families, budding Autumn Trail Festival a big hit! “Another great festival with a Eighteen events were organised by We hope to run the Spring Trail brilliant selection of events – thank the AONB team, with many more Festival in 2014, if funds allow. Do you for letting me be a part of it.” put on by other groups within the get in touch to tell us about any Valley. Over 200 people attended events or walks that you would like “Had a great day out today at your our events alone – together with us to run - cdancer@tamarvalley. fun day, looking forward to a return the great swathes of people who org.uk or 01822 835030. visit with friends and family.” descended on the Tamar Trails Centre for its fun day. It proved, Between festivals, remember to visit These were just two of the many once again, to be a very successful the Tamar Valley AONB website, lovely comments we received festival. Thank you to everyone for which is full of ideas for days of about the Tamar Trail Festival held their support. adventure and discovery in the during October half-term. Valley: www.tamarvalley.org.uk

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Above: Introductory bee-keeping Tamar Grow Local courses now available to book Some tasty ‘news bites’ about growing, producing, buying and celebrating local food and drink.

Get planting, growing and eating , Launceston, Spring bee-keeping courses your own food in 2014! and , also provides Tamar Grow Local is running bee- If your New Year’s resolution is to opportunities to buy locally keeping courses for beginners this eat more healthily, get out into produced food and to get involved spring. The introductory course is the garden, learn something new in growing projects in the Valley. based on practical handling of bees or keep fit, Tamar Grow Local can and is priced at £80 for three days. help. You can take part in courses to To get involved you can visit our learn new skills or join schemes for website www.tamargrowlocal.org, The course will take place on 5th, growing your own food with your write to us at Tamar Grow Local, 12th and 20th April. Places get filled neighbours. Tamar Grow Local, Unit 7-9 Pannier Market, quickly, so book early to avoid a ‘not for profit’ community interest Callington, PL17 7AD, or call us on disappointment. company based in the Tamar Valley 01579 208412. and including the towns of For further details and to book a place on a bee-keeping course, contact [email protected]

Left: Bunches of kale, delivered through Tamar Valley Food Hubs www.tamarvalley.org.uk 7 The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

Harrowbarrow and Metherell Agricultural Society (HAMAS), a local vegetable growing Community Supported Agriculture project, enters its sixth year in 2014. In 2013, over 20 different crops were grown including sweetcorn, sunflowers, pumpkins and yellow French beans, which were harvested and enjoyed by local villagers.

Growing as a community with HAMAS

Above: HAMAS field weeding. Inset: Potato planting in 2013. Below: Sunflower harvest If you would like to join this great vegetables, which you can pick and community project then you’ll be eat within minutes … there’s more than welcome. Members said, nothing better!” “We have had some lovely days working on the land together, For further details about HAMAS, learning as we go, and, although please contact Sara Rock on you can never predict the weather, 01579 351063. we grow some lovely, fresh

Tamar Valley Food Hubs – the new and convenient way to buy local food The Tamar Valley Food Hub is to their local collection point or Pannier Market, now delivering fresh veg, fish, straight to their door. 3:30pm – 4:00pm meat, dairy and lots more : Tamar fantastic locally produced food The Tamar Valley Food Hub is also Valley Centre, 4:30pm – 5:00pm to Calstock, , looking to link up with the Tamar Calstock: Railway station, 5:11pm Harrowbarrow, Metherell, Valley Rail Partnership to meet the Gunnislake: Railway station, 5:24pm Albaston and Tavistock on Friday Friday evening Plymouth to Calstock Harrowbarrow & Metherell: home afternoons. and Gunnislake train, enabling delivery, 5:00pm – 6:00pm. customers to collect their orders on Tamar Valley Food Hubs has been generously Specialising in the best of Tamar their way home from work. For more funded by the Cordiale project, a collaboration Valley produce from small producers, information and to order online, visit between the Tamar Valley AONB and teams from other protected landscapes in many of whom do not have their www.tamarvalleyfoodhubs.org.uk and north west France: www.cordialeproject.eu Cordiale was selected under the European Cross- own retail outlets, Tamar Valley border Cooperation Programme INTERREG IV A Food Hubs is an online farmers’ Friday collection and delivery France (Channel) – England, co-funded by the ERDF market where the producers receive times for Tamar Valley Food Hubs a fair price by selling direct to local Tavistock: Quaker House, people. Customers can order online 3:15pm – 4:00pm and have their shopping delivered Callington: Tamar Grow Local,

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Tamar Grow Local is a double award winner

At the end of last year, Tamar Grow Local scooped both a regional and a national award for its work.

Regionally, it won the Best Community Contribution category from amongst three finalists at November’s Western Morning News Business Awards in Plymouth. This was in recognition of its work with local food businesses, growers and bee-keepers in the Tamar Valley under the Tamar Valley Food Hubs and Tamar Valley Honey Co-op Above: projects. Rachael, Simon & Sara delighted with TGL’s double win! Earlier in the same week, representatives from Tamar Grow Local travelled to Manchester for Mark Wheddon, Local Food In response to Tamar Grow Local’s the Local Food Recognition Awards. Programme Manager, said, “The double dose of success, Project Local Food distributes grants from Local Food Recognition Awards Manager Simon Platten said, “We the Big Lottery Fund to projects seek to celebrate the most are really thrilled to have won these helping to make locally grown food outstanding community projects awards. Lots of our members, accessible and affordable to delivered with the help of Local including volunteers, small communities. The Growing the Food funding. All our projects have producers, farmers and landowners Valley project received funding from made a positive and lasting impact have worked really hard to make Local Food in 2010 and has since in the communities in which they are Tamar Grow Local projects work. been developing sustainable based, helping local people in all Hopefully in turn, Tamar Grow Local growing projects across the Tamar manner of different ways to access, is helping to create a positive future Valley, including community grow, prepare and understand the for food production in the Tamar orchards, village growing schemes, benefits of fresh, healthy food, so Valley. It is really nice to have all our small producer co-operatives and to be shortlisted for an Award is a efforts recognised nationally, as well bee-keeping groups and courses. tremendous achievement.” as in our local area.” From a shortlist of three, the Growing the Valley project was To find out more about Tamar chosen as the winner of the Grow Local, visit www.tamargrow Enterprise category. local.org ■

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(Main image) Biomass equipment at Honicombe Manor © TVAONB (Above) Before and after 2005/2013 pond works at Kingsmill Farm

A small greenhouse and raised beds filled with green compost Renewable energy from the Council make for easier vegetable growing, leading to near powers local tourism self-sufficiency in summer. Fruit and vegetables are mulched with a Tourism businesses in the Tamar Valley have been taking thick layer of home-made compost and stored, frozen or dried. measures to reduce their carbon footprint, save money and Diverting downpipes from the roof enhance the environment. We look at the approaches taken to large reservoir tanks provides by Honicombe Manor Holiday Village and Kingsmill Farm. water for the garden and also for flushing loos. Biomass introduced at Going green at Kingsmill Farm Honicombe “Preserving and enhancing the Having started with a green palette Honicombe Manor Holiday Village beautiful natural environment are of several acres, there are now recently opted to heat its indoor guiding principles underlying colours and scents throughout the pool using biomass rather than oil. everything we do here”, says year, much appreciated by guests Oil is expensive and, as a fossil fuel, Valerie Taplin at Kingsmill Farm. staying at the secluded holiday releases higher levels of carbon and cottage, hidden away on the banks pollutants into the atmosphere. Since moving to Kingsmill in 2001, of the creek. www.kingsmillcorn Using local wood ensures a secure Valerie and her husband have wall.co.uk fuel supply and minimises transport worked hard to encourage costs. It also provides an economic biodiversity, beginning with the Both tourism providers are incentive to manage woodland, creation of a wildflower meadow. members of the Tamar Valley which can improve biodiversity A tennis court and 150 Leylandii Tourism Association (TAVATA). by letting in sunlight and creating trees were dug out and replaced by Find out more here - www.tamar varied habitats. a large, freshwater wildlife pond, to valleytourism.co.uk ■ complement habitat at the nearby Honicombe Ltd’s supplier recently saline creek at Kingsmill Lake. invested in a pellet manufacturing plant in Cornwall to make use of Electricity consumption has been locally sourced timber waste. The reduced considerably by installing unit heating the swimming pool photovoltaic panels on the has already saved a considerable south-facing roof. Hot water amount of money. Honicombe Ltd requirements are met by an has further projects in mind which immersion heater, heated either will add to the site’s green by the PV panels or Economy 7. credentials such as recycling, Upgrading to a small hybrid car has photovoltaic (PV) panels and resulted in a saving of perhaps, in time, hydro-electricity. approximately 20% in petrol costs. www.honicombemanor.co.uk Above: Butyl liner, sand, pebbles & heavy rain Sept 2004 Inset: PV panels

10 www.tamarvalley.org.uk The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB events Encouraging you to Explore and Discover your AONB

Here’s a selection of guided 29th, Wednesday, Venue: Tamar Valley Centre, About the events walks and events for you to 10:00am – 1:00pm , nr Gunnislake enjoy throughout the Tamar Tamar Valley Birdwatching Cruise Organiser: Tamar Valley AONB Dress for the weather Valley. New events and guided See Avocets, Spoonbill and wide and Tamar Community Trust Layers are often best in our walks are being added all the range of winter waders with expert Booking: essential as spaces are changeable climate. Wear stout time to our Events Calendar ornithologist Bruce Taggart. strictly limited - 01822 835030, shoes or boots. Field guides and on-line. Visit www.tamarvalley. Improve your bird identification [email protected] binoculars are always useful, but org.uk and follow the link for skills and learn about the ecology not essential. your up-to-date guide. of the river. 2nd, Sunday, 11:00am - 2:00pm Cost: £15 adult, £7 child (minimum Woodland Visit Children age, 8 years) Great opportunity to visit a local We welcome and encourage Notes: please wrap up well and woodland that is being brought children at most events, but JANUARY wear suitable footwear. Please back under management, with they must be accompanied by bring binoculars, camera. Rob Penn. Learn more about the an adult who will be responsible 25th, Saturday Meet: Saltash Town Quay, under Community Supported Woodlands for them. Winter Pruning Course the scheme. A hands-on course at two orchards Organiser: Tamar Wildlife Meet: entrance to Cleave Woods, Access in the Tavy valley with tutor Information: www.tamarwildlife. just above Weir Quay on the road Most events are accessible for Charles Staniland. Gain the co.uk to , PL20 7BT. Parking any reasonably active person, confidence to tackle your trees Booking: essential – beside road is limited, may need but unfortunately many are and will cover the pruning of 01752 829163, tamarwildlife@ to park near Weir Quay and walk not suitable for pushchairs or semi-mature trees and formative btinternet.com up. wheelchairs. Please always check pruning of younger trees. Organiser: Tamar Valley AONB beforehand if you are unsure. Notes: please wear outdoor 29th, Wednesday, and Tamar Community Trust clothing, strong boots and gloves, 10:30am – 12:30pm Booking: essential as spaces are Booking and bring a packed lunch. & Cadsonbury Fort strictly limited - 01822 835030, It is essential to book in advance Cost: £15 (non members £20. This Notes: please wear comfortable [email protected] where stated. includes membership for 2 years) clothing, sturdy footwear and be Organiser: Tavy & Tamar Apple prepared for the weather! Bring a 3rd, Monday, Cost Group drink and snack for the rest stop. 10:30am – 12:00noon Unless a cost is stated, all events Booking: essential – 01822 Meet: 10:15am, Callington free Churchtown Farm are free of charge, although 841309, [email protected] car park, Saltash Road, PL17 7EG Notes: please wear comfortable donations would be appreciated. (Brian Lamb) to lift share clothing, sturdy footwear and be Information: 01822 832364 prepared for the weather! Bring a Dogs 27th, Monday, (Maggie Yarland) drink and snack for the rest stop. Please check with the organiser 10:30am – 1:30pm Organiser: Walk & Talk, Meet: St Stephens Church, to find out if dogs are allowed, Longlands to Lynher Tamar Valley group Saltash, PL12 4AP and if they need to be kept on Notes: please wear comfortable Information: 01752 318380 a lead. clothing, sturdy footwear and be (Viv Geany) prepared for the weather! Bring a FEBRUARY Organiser: Walk & Talk, Map References drink and snack for the rest stop. Saltash group These refer to OS Explorer maps Meet: St Stephens Church, 1st, Saturday,10.30am - nos 108 (Tamar Valley and Saltash, PL12 4AP (car share to 2:00pm approx. 4th, Tuesday, 10:00am – 3:30pm Plymouth) or 112 (Launceston Longlands) Valley Volunteers: Trail Makers Volunteer Day and Holsworthy). Information: 01752 318380 Work Day - Tamar Trails Help to clear trees and scrub from (Viv Geany) Help to install new signposts and near the top of the incline railway. Transport Organiser: Walk & Talk, waymarkers. Notes: please wear sturdy boots Please help to ease the Saltash group Notes: all tools, a lunch and and bring packed lunch and drink. burden of traffic on the narrow refreshments will be provided. Meet: north view car park on right country lanes. Some events are 28th, Tuesday, 7:30pm – 9:30pm Meet: Tamar Trails car park, of summit road, Kit Hill, nr specifically timed to connect with Pasties, Spies & Saffron Cake Gulworthy. Callington (SX377715) the scenic and The secret story of MI6 in West Organiser: Tamar Community Booking: preferred, email Jenny: connecting buses. Otherwise, Cornwall during WWII. Trust/Tamar Valley AONB [email protected] please try to share cars as much A talk by Mike Griffiths Booking: please register your as possible. Cost: Non-members £1 interest with Dave Readman, for 5th, Wednesday, Venue: Old School Stoke catering purposes, dreadman@ 10:30am – 12:00noon Persons who participate in events Climsland PL17 8NY tamarvalley.org.uk, 07792 483669 Danescombe Valley do so at their own risk. Neither Organisers: Stoke Climsland Local Notes: please wear comfortable the Tamar Valley AONB team, History Group 1st, Saturday, 7:00pm clothing, sturdy footwear and be other organisers, nor landowners Information: Deri Parsons Tales from the Wildwood prepared for the weather! Bring a shall be liable for any death, loss 01579 370319 An inspirational talk by writer, drink and snack for the rest stop. or damage sustained. woodsman and BBC4 presenter, Meet: Gunnislake Station Participation in events is at the Rob Penn, on how local Information: 01822 832364 discretion of the leader. No communities and landowners can (Maggie Yarland) responsibility can be taken for work together to manage our Organiser: Walk & Talk, inaccurate information in this woodlands. Tamar Valley group newsletter. www.tamarvalley.org.uk 11 The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

7th, Friday, 7:30pm Meet: Luckett Village car park Organiser: National Trust Friends of the Tamar Valley Talk (PL17 8NJ) Cotehele and Tamar Grow Local Rick Stewart, well known engine- Information: 01822 832364 15th – 23rd, Information: 01579 351346 driver from Morwellham Quay will (Maggie Yarland) 12:00noon – 3:00pm talk on 18th century copper mining Organiser: Walk & Talk, Half term fun at Buckland 7th, Friday, 7:30pm in the Tamar Valley. Tamar Valley group Crafts, activities and costume Friends of Tamar Valley Talk Venue: Tamar Valley Centre, – come and have fun with us Ron Smith discusses the break- Drakewalls, nr Gunnislake 14th, Friday, 10:30am - 4:00pm during February half term. water that was needed to protect Cost: Small charge for Valley Volunteers: Trail Makers Cost: normal admission charge Plymouth Sound. non-members Work Day - Tamar Trails applies Venue: Tamar Valley Centre, Organiser: Friends of Tamar Valley Help to install new signposts and Venue & Organiser: Buckland Drakewalls, nr Gunnislake Information: 01822 834964, waymarkers. Abbey, Garden & Estate Cost: small charge for non- [email protected] Notes: all tools, a lunch and (National Trust) members (Jane Kiely) refreshments will be provided. Information: 01822 853607 Organiser: Friends of the Tamar Meet: Tamar Trails car park, Valley 8th, Saturday, 10:30am Gulworthy. 19th, Wednesday, Information: 01822 834964, History & Things with Organiser: Tamar Community 10:30am – 12:00noon [email protected] Keith Rawlings Trust/Tamar Valley AONB Calstock Church (Jane Kiely) Enjoy a 2-3 hour guided walk, Booking: please register your Notes: please wear comfortable learning about the history on and interest with Dave Readman, for clothing, sturdy footwear and be 8th, Saturday, 2:00pm - 4:00pm around Churchtown Farm catering purposes, dreadman@ prepared for the weather! Bring a Spring Clean Community Nature Reserve. tamarvalley.org.uk, 07792 483669 drink and snack for the rest stop. Help give Churchtown Farm Cost: free for members, £2 for Meet: Gunnislake station Community Nature Reserve a non-members 15th, Saturday, Information: 01822 832364 thorough spring clean, followed by Notes: please bring binoculars 12:00noon – 3:00pm (Maggie Yarland) soup & rolls. and camera and wear suitable Tamar Valley Birdwatching Cruise Organiser: Walk & Talk, Notes: please bring rubber gloves clothing and footwear. See 29th January for details Tamar Valley group and wear suitable clothing and Meet: Cecil Arms, by St Stephen’s footwear. Dogs on leads please. Church, Saltash (SX417583) 16th, Sunday, 10:30am - 4:00pm 22nd, Saturday, Meet: railway bridge, by Organiser: Friends of Churchtown Valley Volunteers: Trail Makers 10:30am - 4:00pm allotments, Wearde Road, Farm Community Nature Reserve Work Day - Cleave Woods Valley Volunteers: Trail Makers Saltash (SX416577) Information: 01752 843852, Community woodland workday: Work Day - Tamar Trails Organiser: Friends of Churchtown [email protected] coppicing and tree identification Help to install new signposts and Farm Community Nature Reserve Notes: all tools, a lunch and waymarkers. Information: 01752 843852, 9th, Sunday, 11:00am - 4:00pm refreshments will be provided. Notes: all tools, a lunch and [email protected] Valley Volunteers: Trail Makers Meet: entrance to Cleave Woods, refreshments will be provided. Work Day - Wacker Quay Weir Quay. Meet: Tamar Trails car park, 22nd – 23rd, Saturday – Sunday, Help install new interpretation signs Organiser: Tamar Community Gulworthy. 11:00am – 4:00pm along the Wacker to Antony Trail. Trust/Tamar Valley AONB Organiser: Tamar Community Cotehele’s Daffodil Weekend Notes: all tools, a lunch and Booking: please register your Trust/Tamar Valley AONB Come and see the wonderful refreshments will be provided. interest with Dave Readman, for Booking: please register your collection of daffodils, enjoy a Meet: Wacker Quay car park catering purposes, dreadman@ interest with Dave Readman, for display of historic and new (clearly signposted from the main tamarvalley.org.uk, 07792 483669 catering purposes, dreadman@ varieties. We’ll have a guided A374 road from to tamarvalley.org.uk, 07792 483669 tour of the garden plus children’s Trerulefoot, 2 miles west of 17th, Monday, activities. Antony village) 10:30am – 12:00noon 25th, Tuesday, 7:30pm – 9:30pm Cost: Normal admission charge Organiser: Tamar Community Coombe Park & Wearde Construction of the Calstock applies. Trust/Tamar Valley AONB Notes: please wear comfortable Railway Viaduct Venue & Organiser: National Booking: please register your clothing, sturdy footwear and be A talk by Vic Harman. Trust Cotehele, St Dominick, nr interest with Dave Readman, for prepared for the weather! Bring a Cost: Non-members £1 Saltash catering purposes, dreadman@ drink and snack for the rest stop. Venue: Old School Stoke Information: 01579 351346 tamarvalley.org.uk, 07792 483669 Meet: bottom end of Coombe Climsland PL17 8NY Road, Saltash, PL12 4EU Organisers: Stoke Climsland Local 25th, Tuesday, 7:30pm – 9:30pm 10th, Monday, Information: 01752 318380 History Group History of Pentillie Castle and 11:00am – 1:00pm (Viv Geany) Information: Deri Parsons the Coryton Family St Germans Organiser: Walk & Talk, Saltash 01579 370319 A talk by Ted Coryton Notes: please wear comfortable group Cost: Non-members £1 clothing, sturdy footwear and be MARCH Venue: Old School Stoke prepared for the weather! Bring a 18th – 20th, Tuesday – Thursday, Climsland PL17 8NY drink and snack for the rest stop. 11:00am – 3:00pm 1st – 2nd, Saturday – Sunday, Organisers: Stoke Climsland Local Meet: St Germans station, Half-term fun at Cotehele 11:00am – 4:00pm History Group PL12 5LU Fun in the outdoors during half-term. Graft, Sow & Grow Information: Deri Parsons Information: 01752 318380 Wild Art - Tuesday (drop-in) Prepare for the planting season at 01579 370319 (Viv Geany) Bushcraft Activities - Wednesday our third Graft, Sow & Grow spring Organiser: Walk & Talk, (£5, booking essential) extravaganza. We’ll show you Saltash group Cook on a Campfire - Thursday how to graft your own apple tree; (drop-in, please bring food to rootstocks will be available and 12th, Wednesday, cook) we’ll have workshops throughout 10:30am – 12:00noon Cost: Normal admission charge the day. All are welcome, no need Discovery Trail at Greenscombe applies (£5 for bushcraft). to book. Notes: please wear comfortable Venue & Organiser: National Cost: Free entry to event. clothing, sturdy footwear and be Trust Cotehele, St Dominick, Workshops £2, £1 Graft material, prepared for the weather! Bring a nr Saltash £2 Rootstock. drink and snack for the rest stop. Information & booking: Venue: National Trust Cotehele, 01579 351346 St Dominick, nr Saltash

12 www.tamarvalley.org.uk The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

26th, Saturday, 23rd – 26th, Friday – Monday 27th – 30th, Tuesday – Friday APRIL 10:00am – 12:00noon Family Wild in the Woods May half-term fun at Cotehele Spring Birds with Peter Kent Cost: Adult £70, child £45, Cost: Normal admission charge 4th, Friday, 7:00pm Identifying birds on the Reserve family £200 applies. Friends of the Tamar Valley with Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Peter Booking: essential 01579 352720 Information: 01579 352720 AGM and Talk Kent. Gerry Woodcock talks about the Meet: Cecil Arms, by St Stephen’s 27th, Tuesday, 7:00pm – 9:00pm 30th – 1st June, Sale of the Century – when Church, Saltash (SX417583) Exploring the site of 10:30am – 5:00pm Tavistock was put up for sale. Organiser: Friends of Churchtown Tavistock Abbey Charcoal Weekend Venue: Tamar Valley Centre, Farm Community Nature Reserve Cost: Non-members £1 Cost: normal admission charge Drakewalls, nr Gunnislake Information: 01752 843852, Information: Deri Parsons applies. Cost: small charge for non- [email protected] 01579 370319 Information: 01822 853607 members Organiser: Friends of the 27th, Sunday, 10:30am – 5:30pm Tamar Valley Sheep Day Information: 01822 834964, A day of fun with sheep, lambs, [email protected] Walk & Talk Programmes rural crafts and stalls in and around (Jane Kiely) our spectacular medieval tithe Have a healthy start to the new year, and join your barn. 5th, 12th and 20th Cost: normal admission charge local Walk and Talk group. Spring Bee-Keeping Course applies. Introductory course for beginners, Mondays – Saltash, Venue & Organiser: Buckland based on practical handling of Wednesdays – Gunnislake & Calstock Abbey, Garden & Estate bees. (National Trust) Cost: £80 for 3-day course. It’s free, encourages you to explore your local area, Information: 01822 853607 Organiser: Tamar Grow Local and is a great way to meet new people. View the Booking: essential – please book MAY programme at www.tamarvalley.org.uk and click on early to avoid disappointment – events, walk & talk. 01579 208412, 2nd, Friday, 7:30pm [email protected] Friends of the Tamar Valley Talk Jill Drysdale will talk about Mrs 7th – 21st, various times Folley, a Missionary during the Easter at Cotehele Local Train Times Plymouth Blitz. Hop on over to Cotehele for a Venue: Tamar Valley Centre, gamut of Easter activities from Enjoy a scenic journey along the Tamar Valley Line, Drakewalls, nr Gunnislake Easter egg trails to a short story from Gunnislake to Plymouth. Cost: small charge for non- contest and pizza making day at members Cotehele Mill. Timetable information – National Rail Enquiries Organiser: Friends of the Cost: Normal admission applies. 08457 48 49 50 or visit www.carfreedaysout.com Tamar Valley Venue & Organiser: National Trust Information: 01822 834964, Cotehele, St Dominick, nr Saltash Bus Times – Traveline 0871 200 22 33 or visit [email protected] Information: www.nationaltrust. traveline.info (Jane Kiely) org.uk/cotehele. 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd (Fridays), 18th – 21st, Friday – Monday, 12:00noon – 2:00pm 10:30am – 4:30pm Lecture Lunches Welcome back to the Calstock– Easter Egg Trail at Buckland Discover more about the Abbey Track down your chocolatey prize and its inhabitants with themed Cotehele ferry service on our fun family trail and get arty lectures as part of Plymouth with our spring crafts. History Month. Come along to one Brilliant news: the Calstock–Cotehele ferry service Cost: normal admission, or the whole series, two course plus £2 per trail. will soon be back! After almost 4 years since the lunch included. Venue & Organiser: Buckland previous ferry ceased operating, new ferryman Cost: £19.50 Abbey, Garden & Estate Venue & Organiser: Buckland Jonathan Bell intends to start a regular service (National Trust) Abbey, Garden & Estate (National in spring 2014, with summer evening trips up the Information: 01822 853607 Trust) river to Weir Head at Gunnislake. Booking: essential - 01822 853607 22nd, Tuesday, 7:30pm – 9:30pm Shipwrecks and History in Jonathan has owned and operated tugs on Britain’s 17th, Saturday, 5:00am Plymouth Sound inland waterways since 1994. He volunteers with the Dawn Chorus with Gary Lewis A talk by Peter Holt Come and hear and identify the Cotehele Rangers, and on a recent trip to Island Cost: Non-members £1 wonderful early morning bird song bought the Islander ferry from Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Venue: Old School Stoke on the Reserve. Bacon butties Climsland PL17 8NY Accompanied by Calstock Parish Councillor Lee afterwards in the pub. Organisers: Stoke Climsland Local Manning, he drove the boat around the coast and Meet: Cecil Arms, by St Stephen’s History Group Church, Saltash (SX417583) upriver to Calstock Boatyard, where it will spend the Information: Deri Parsons Organiser: Friends of Churchtown winter being tidied up. Jonathan said, “With its bow 01579 370319 Farm Community Nature Reserve door and jet drive it seemed ready made for landing Information: 01752 843852, on the slipways at both Calstock and Cotehele.” [email protected] The timetable will be available soon on www.calstock-ferry.com and in the meantime any enquiries can be directed to Jonathan’s home number: 01822 833314. www.tamarvalley.org.uk 13 The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

A Tamar Valley stroll: Double Waters Back in early September, Tamar Valley AONB team members Jill Turner and Sam Barnes explored a beautiful spot on the eastern fringe of the AONB, just south of Tavistock and bordering Dartmoor. Here is their report.

Roughly following Walk 7 in the We arrived at Double Waters, Devon & Cornwall Tamar Trails* where the River Walkham meets walks book, we parked at West the Tavy, and paused to appreciate Down – designated a Site of the magical tranquillity of the place. Special Scientific Interest and home to rare high brown and heath This wooded and boulder-strewn fritillary butterflies – and followed landscape is known to support over the path east into the woods and 80 different species of lichen. A dropping down to the River footbridge crosses the Walkham Walkham. Stopping to look at the just above the confluence of the waterfalls and keeping an eye out rivers, by an interesting outcrop for dippers and kingfishers, we also known as ‘Goat Rock’. *Devon & Cornwall noticed the remains of tin mining Tamar Trails book, containing activity that was probably Finishing off our tea and snacks, we nine walks through the happening here from medieval headed back through the woods, beautiful, historic landscape times. The nineteenth century encountering some ponies on the of the Tamar & Tavy valleys, history of West Down mine, way. It really was a pleasant way to is available to buy from however, was one of failure, the enjoy an idyllic part of the Tamar the Tamar Valley Centre, mine being active for only 10 years. Valley AONB. Read another of the for £4.95. team’s favourite walks next issue.

Stoke Climsland and World War St Mellion mobile shop 1 – a call for information St Mellion village, and small communities within a In Stoke Climsland there are 20 mile radius, are getting a mobile shop. St Mellion Village Tenants and Residents Association managed plans to commemorate the centenary of the start of the First to secure £49,750, courtesy of Village SOS and the World War by completing a book National Lottery, to buy and fit out a suitable van. about those who died and are Volunteers will drive from village to village, and from named on the village War door to door where necessary, selling fresh foods Memorial, and by and cupboard store groceries. This will be a lifeline holding an exhibition of WW1 artefacts in early for places with no village shop, and especially for summer. Mementos, artefacts and photographs are people who find it hard to leave the house. All profits needed, as well as information about those named on will be ploughed back into the project. the WW1 Memorial. If you have any memorabilia or information that may be relevant, please contact For details or to request a stop, contact Deri Parsons on 01579 370319. Paul Teale on 0844 330 3881 or email [email protected]

14 www.tamarvalley.org.uk The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

Volunteering in the Tamar Valley Cornwall celebrates volunteering

The Tamar Valley AONB nominated Although our volunteers didn’t If you would like to find out more, four of its most dedicated and make it through to the final or would like to offer some of your supportive volunteers for 2013’s shortlist, they each received a time to look after the Valley, please Volunteer Cornwall awards. certificate from Volunteer Cornwall. email Becki at volunteering@ We would like to extend our great tamarvalley.org.uk Now in its fifth year, the awards appreciation for the amount of give everyone a chance to say work they do for the Tamar Valley. thank you to Cornwall’s volunteers, ‘Thank you’ doesn’t begin to cover and to recognise their commitment it! in a tangible way. Our new promise to The nominated volunteers were: Valley volunteers • Dave Williams, a Gunnislake resident nominated for his Following on from an introduction commitment and input into the to our plans to strengthen our Significant Hedges Survey, volunteering programme as in which volunteers discovered, featured in the last issue of The examined and recorded Valley, we are pleased to announce significant hedges in the Tamar our Valley Volunteers Promise. Valley. He also generously gave his time to digitise the When a volunteer signs up to St Dominick tithe map. support the work of the AONB, • Ian Aldersley, who showed Tamar Community Trust and/or great support during the Friends of the Tamar Valley, they Calstock Parish Heritage Project will receive a welcome pack that by manning exhibitions, includes the Promise. undertaking surveying work and Above: Ian Aldersley gets stuck in. taking part in almost every event The information sets out simply Below: Ray Croft stewarding at the and activity during the project. Discovery Trail Challenge and clearly what each volunteer Ian is also a regular volunteer at can expect from the Tamar Valley the Tamar Trails. AONB team in terms of providing • Ray and Jean Croft, who have training, safety equipment and help consistently delivered above developing new skills. It also details and beyond expectations. The what we hope the volunteers will couple, from St Ann’s Chapel, get out of their time with us. radiate enthusiasm and a passion for the area. Jean Becki Lumbis, who has been was among those who coordinating the project, said, completed the highest number “We just couldn’t achieve the of surveys as part of the amount we have achieved so far Significant Hedges Survey. without our volunteers. This gives Ray drove the minibus for reassurance to our volunteers of Diarykeepers, a community what is in place, as well as celebration of the past, present highlighting the variety of roles and future of the Tamar Valley. they may like to choose from”. Both stewarded the Discovery Trail Challenge in 2012 and 2013. www.tamarvalley.org.uk 15 The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

With the rising cost of fuel and growing interest in spending time outdoors, increasing numbers of people are coming together to manage community woodlands. The Tamar Valley AONB has published new guidance on just how to do this. How to manage a community woodland Many small woodlands in the Trust has taken on the lease of It is hoped that this guidance will Tamar Valley are no longer Cleave Wood on the Bere Peninsula help new groups to get established economically viable on a commercial for the long-term benefit of local and provide a source of information basis. As a consequence they people – and the woodland. for established groups. Download have become unmanaged, with Following these consultations, a the handbook at www.tamarvalley. a corresponding decline in their handbook has been produced as one org.uk, click on Projects, Cordiale, value for wildlife (many much-loved of the Cordiale ‘toolkits’ (see page then scroll down to find the woodland species, from ground 18), using knowledge gained from Community Woodlands link. flora and butterflies to dormice, these groups. It provides guidance flourished alongside traditional on the key steps to take when Don’t miss BBC4 presenter, Rob management practices over many establishing and managing a wood- Penn’s, inspirational talk at the centuries). However, some of these land community group, including: Tamar Valley Centre on 1st very woods – and hedges too – are • forming the community group February, and visit to local ideal for communities to manage and getting it going woodland on 2nd February. for firewood, green wood products, • identifying a good woodland or See page 11 for details. learning, fun and fresh air, and hedgerow for the project many more reasons. • reaching an agreement with the If you are interested in joining a landowner community woodland group or A number of groups involved in • developing the management plan taking on your local wood, then local woodland management were and understanding the required please let Dave Readman know consulted about their motivations, skills and competencies to - [email protected], interests and aspirations. undertake the work 07792 483669 • undertaking practical work safely For example, the Tamar Community • funding the project.

Uplifting news at Gawton Gravity Hub Gawton Gravity Hub, the service”. Flyup Downhill also runs a sensational Tamar Valley regular uplift service in the Forest downhill mountain bike venue, of Dean. now has a regular uplift service running at their Gawton site Riders challenging themselves on members. They welcome new near Gulworthy. the steep and technical tracks can members who are keen to find now get back to the top quickly out more about this challenging Gawton Gravity Hub is described and efficiently using the minibus and exciting sport. There are in a report on the International and trailer service. FlyUp Downhill’s tracks to suit all, from high Mountain Biking Association UK uplift service is running five days adrenalin, high speed roller- website as the “best permanent a week and can cater for up to 16 coaster-ride challenges to popular downhill mountain bike trails in riders a day. It has provided local intersecting tracks that lace the England, run by a dedicated crew employment for one full-time driver wooded hillsides. To find out of volunteers”. They have now and three part-time staff. about how to get there, the teamed up with Flyup Downhill, tracks, the racing calendar and described in the same report as Gawton Gravity hub is a community more, please visit the website at “the country’s best uplift sports club, run by members for www.gawtongravityhub.co.uk

16 www.tamarvalley.org.uk The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

Group makes headway against invasive plants

In the summer 2013 issue of of seeds waiting to germinate in the summer, there appears The Valley, the Tamar Invasives in the ground is beginning to be to be limited take up by Group reported on efforts to exhausted. landowners treating plants control three non-native plants of • There has been less of a themselves. major concern in the area: giant reduction in numbers of giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed hogweed plants within the The Tamar Invasives Group (with and Himalayan balsam. Detailed tidal section of the river, below representatives from the Tamar surveys have culminated in a Gunnislake, due to flowering Valley AONB, Natural England, report which reveals that progress plants still occurring on one piece the Environment Agency and is being made in the fight against of land near Calstock that we ), hope to the spread of these damaging do not have permission to continue survey and treatment of species. access. Eradication within this invasive plants in 2014, subject to • There has been a sizeable stretch of the river is therefore, funding. The priority for the work decrease in the number of likely to take longer than up will remain the control of giant giant hogweed plants in the stream. hogweed, with control of upper reaches of the Tamar and • Despite the public event held Japanese knotweed limited to Lyd. The hope is that the supply by the Tamar Invasives Group certain key areas of the Valley. Forest school brings woodland to life at Cotehele Cotehele’s Tish Valva describes an inspirational outdoor project for young children. To say that Jackie Eley’s forest through positive outdoor experiences. school in the Danescombe Valley is Learning is play-based and as far as the definition of happiness would be possible, child-led. an understatement. Sibilla Bellucci and her four-year-old After 20 years as a registered daughter Keira attended Jackie’s childminder, Jackie completed the Monday morning toddler group for Level Three Forest School a year, before she started school. Practitioners course and last “Keira really looked forward to autumn, she set up the Little Oaks Mondays, and Jackie’s great!” said Jackie Eley (light blue jacket), parents Forest School & Toddler Group in Sibilla. “All the kids love her.” and children examine a hedgerow for flowers, plants and animals. woodland rented from the National Trust at Cotehele. Jackie runs the toddler group on Mondays from 9:30am to 12:00 “What Jackie is doing is very noon and plans to expand to several exciting,” said Iain Beaumont, days a week. Cost: £7. Groups can Cotehele’s Property Manager. “That hire her school on Fridays and she part of our woods had been empty runs a version for older children for years and she’s made it come alive during the holidays. with children’s voices, a storytelling tent, a balance rope, a fairy circle and To learn more about Little Oaks all sorts of creative learning.” Forest School & Toddler Group, contact Jackie on (01579) 350648 Jackie Eley shows little Ellie how to Forest school philosophy is to or [email protected] make a bee ornament while Ellie’s encourage and inspire individuals Aunt Naomi looks on. www.tamarvalley.org.uk 17 The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

New online toolkit for landscape management The Cordiale project has drawn to a close, but its legacy continues. Schemes and activities run by • feasibility assessment tools for Cordiale, a cross-border partnership woodfuel production and Cordiale Project Officer Simon Bates discussing some of the French for sustainable protected landscape woodfuel boiler installations in woodfuel work with Celia Bresson management, were celebrated hedgerow landscapes from PNR des Marais du Cotentin with a final conference in Brittany in • using community archaeology to et du Bessin in Normandy and Katie June, attended by all nine partners raise awareness about landscape Cruickshanks from Footprint Ecology. from protected landscapes in change south-west England and north-west • community supported woodlands Additionally, we contributed to a France, including four members of and hedgerows. ‘Landscape Map’ and ‘Landscape the Tamar Valley AONB team. Monitoring Framework’ report; the Case studies were also written for latter builds on our own Monitoring Following the conference, an online the Diarykeepers and Harvesting Project, sharing cross-channel ‘toolkit’ was launched, presenting Time projects, local food, and solutions for monitoring protected methods for continuing projects woodfuel. landscapes. developed throughout Cordiale by Cordiale was selected under the European Cross- all the partners. These tools – along with those from border Cooperation Programme INTERREG IV A our partners – are available on the France (Channel) – England, co-funded by the ERDF Tamar Valley AONB provided four Cordiale website www.cordiale tools to the toolkit: project.eu/en/toolkit. They have • significant hedge identification been created for use by anyone, so methodology please take a look and use them. We value your feedback! The benefits of UNESCO membership 3,250ha of the Tamar Valley activities. This sum is six times the World Heritage Site co-ordinator, AONB are within the Cornwall UK’s annual contribution to the ‘This has attracted substantial and West Devon Mining World organisation. external funding enabling the Heritage Site, as inscribed by transformation in the presentation UNESCO – the United Nations’ Being a UNESCO World Heritage and promotion of the Site’. One specialised agency for Site for financial benefit is not an such project here in the Tamar education, culture and the explicit aim or primary benefit of Valley is the recently completed sciences – in 2006. affiliation, although locally it does Mining Heritage Project, which has help with bringing in much-needed included conservation and There are 28 UNESCO World finance and recognition. Since interpretation work at Devon Heritage Sites in the UK and inscription, the Cornwall and West Great Consols. Northern Ireland, and recent Devon Mining World Heritage Site findings have found that this has attracted around £50 million of For more information on membership benefits the UK additional revenue across the entire UNESCO, and to read the report overall by generating £90 million area. ‘Equally important is the of these findings ‘Wider Value of a year through investment, impetus it has given for new tourism UNESCO to the UK 2012-13’, tourism and projects, contributing and commercial partnership please visit www.unesco.org. to regeneration and conservation opportunities’, says Deborah Boden, uk/WiderValue

18 www.tamarvalley.org.uk The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

An apple-lover’s Japanese odyssey

Think of a Bramley apple and you are unlikely to connect it with Japan, but Buckland Monachorum apple enthusiast Celia Steven, great granddaughter of the founder of the Bramley apple, found the Japanese to be passionate about all things Bramley.

Celia recently returned from an fruits and nuts including chestnuts, eye-opening visit to Japan. She grapes, peaches and now also found that the Japanese love British Bramleys. The Mayor of Obuse had food and drink, stocking a huge been looking forward to Celia’s selection of British beer and cider in visit, having heard that the Bramley their equivalent of pubs. They even is still one of Britain’s most popular living in Japan have spread word of enjoy cream teas (the Devon way, apples with an interesting history. the Bramley apple, which has been with cream first, then jam). Two of A young girl, Mary Ann Brailsford, gaining wider popularity in Japan.” the dishes Celia most enjoyed were planted pips in her Nottinghamshire Promotion began in earnest in 2000, Bramley soup and Gorgonzola and garden in 1809, growing the original with the establishment of a Bramley Bramley pizza. Bramleys are also tree (which still bears fruit to this Apple Fan Club. The first Bramley served with fish dishes. day, despite being blown down in harvest in Obuse was in 1994, with 1900). Butcher Matthew Bramley a redder apple than the British In Tokyo, she saw an entire floor of bought the house in 1856 and gave original, due to higher levels of an upmarket department store nurseryman Henry Merryweather sunlight. Celia was delighted when dedicated to the Bramley, even permission to take cuttings and sell children planted a Bramley apple down to intricate Bramley print on the apples, as long as they bore the tree in a garden centre’s garden to the packaging. She also visited an name Bramley. The first recorded commemorate her visit. She learned urban farm, where everything is sale of Bramley Seedling apples the Japanese word for Bramley, grown inside a tall building, using took place in 1862. ‘Burameri’ and apple, ‘ringo’, and artificial lighting and rainwater feels the Bramley to be “a great harvesting. The roof garden is used The success story in Japan is much bringer of friendship”. to grow vegetables and apples, more recent. Obuse’s Mayor told Celia is very grateful to Crispin tomatoes are cultivated indoors, Celia, “We began cultivating the Chambers, teacher of Japanese at an area is dedicated to seeds and a Bramley apple 21 years ago as a Tavistock College, who helped her craft section is inspired by food. result of our relationship with the prepare for the trip, assisting with Royal Horticultural Society. translation and correspondence The agricultural town of Obuse in Japanese citizens returning home beforehand. She describes her visit central Japan is a producer of from the UK and British citizens to Japan as “wonderful”. www.tamarvalley.org.uk 19 The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

The mining heritage of the Valley is one of its key qualities, shaping the landscape and its economic prosperity from medieval times through to the present day with the conservation and reuse of industrial buildings. Its significance is reflected Our watery in the inscription of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. The recently completed Mining Heritage Project heritage has successfully conserved much of the mining area around , and we will continue One of the special qualities that make up the legacy of the Project. However, the Tamar Valley AONB designation is through our recent Management Plan review consultation, other ‘a remarkable heritage’, and this is important yet generally overlooked intrinsically connected to its special aspects of the Valley’s heritage have landscape qualities. started to be identified. The rivers Tamar, Tavy and Lynher AONB Projects Officer, Sam Barnes, are the heart of the Valley landscape. Rivers are a diverse reveals all… archaeological resource, from defining the location of prehistoric settlement and land use to palaeoenvironmental research providing information about how our ancestors lived. Human interaction with those rivers – including through mining activity – has shaped the character and local distinctiveness of the Valley and provided us with much of the infrastructure we use today. River structures are exemplified in the medieval crossings at Horsebridge, Newbridge and Greystone Bridge, and the railway viaducts at Calstock and St Germans; poignantly it was the construction of the railway which forced a decline in river traffic. Monuments to industry are seen in the quays and warehouses related to the river trade, and limekilns and the Tamar Manure Navigation Canal reinforce the historic links to market gardening.

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The rivers have always been better water environment, focusing important for recreation including on ecology and through a boat trips, rowing, swimming, and management planning cycle. fishing. Calstock’s Regatta and May Revels continue to be important The aim of the WFD is to achieve annual community events on the a state of a good status of ‘no Tamar. While many of these deterioration’. Where rivers have a pastimes continue, historic river poor status the Environment Agency trades have dwindled or has put this down to disappeared. Restricted access to obstructions – including historic the river has resulted in popular weirs – which impact on the ecology spots such as Gunnislake Weir being of the river and delay fish passage. relatively inaccessible and ferry Measures to mitigate this impact, passage between Devon and by adapting or rebuilding existing Cornwall impossible. weirs for example, must be WFD compliant and in accordance with Weirs Halton Quay as it is today the catchment management plan. Many weirs on the Tamar were constructed by Tavistock Abbey to For protected river structures, control fishing rights, including for recreation has in recent years English Heritage carries out a threat Gulworthy weir (at the site of become an issue for some river assessment, but for unprotected Newbridge) and Weir Head, about users. Many of the quays along the structures the damage may be three-quarters of a mile down- tidal stretch of the Tamar began as irreversible. This recently occurred stream. These weirs were probably ferry crossings, some of which go in Dartmoor National Park where of timber construction, and there back as far as Saxon times. Those on 134 weirs exist, none of which are are references from 1527 to the Tavy at Weir Quay and Maristow protected. At Huckworthy Weir on Gulworthy weir being served the medieval silver mines on the River Walkham, a sixteenth strengthened and added to until the Bere Peninsula. The best known century weir was removed and it was 16 feet high, much to the quays on the Tamar are probably replaced with a hydro scheme discontent of those living upstream Morwellham and Cotehele, whilst including concrete fish passes; the on the Cornish bank (who made no Calstock is recognised as the most Park’s archaeologist had not been secret of the fact that they often ‘public’ quay on the river. consulted. English Heritage did not helped themselves to salmon and consider it for listing as it had been other fish to pay their rents). They When the Tavistock Canal was altered in the 1880s, and the only argued that salmon could not completed in 1817, Morwellham body to formally contest the now pass upstream, but the abbot had two quays edged with water development was the Council for replied that the weir did not stretch meadows. The discovery of copper British Archaeology. right across the river. An inquiry was at Devon Great Consols in 1844 held, at which it was decided that forced the quay to expand, bringing This example shows that it is vital the complaints were unfounded, but with it the construction of cottages, to identify, understand, record and, the community were determined: a shop and school, limekilns and where possible, protect our river they gathered en masse one night a corn mill. By the end of the heritage. This does not mean that and destroyed the weir. In 1535 nineteenth century £3.5 million of change cannot happen, just that Henry VIII ordered the destruction copper ore and arsenic had been through understanding we can of all weirs, and Gunnislake shipped through Morwellham. provide informed management Newbridge was built shortly for both the historic and natural afterwards. European Water environment. Framework Directive Quays The European Water Framework For more information on the Quays remain an important part of Directive (WFD) became part of UK WFD visit: www.environment the infrastructure of the Valley’s law in December 2003. It provides agency.gov.uk/research/plan rivers, although restricted access an opportunity to plan and deliver a ning/33362.aspx www.tamarvalley.org.uk 21 The free newsletter of the Tamar Valley AONB

The 2012–2013 Annual Review for the Tamar Valley AONB was published in the autumn, and for the first time there is an online version only. Annual Review available at the click of a button “The AONB budget has been Challenge raised £2,500 for the opened and launched. diminishing, and so this measure Devon Air Ambulance Trust. Sixty • An enormous amount of work has been taken to save printing people walked the 30-mile route. was achieved through the and distribution costs,” explains • New branded signage was Cordiale project, encompassing Information & Communications installed at three gateway railway woodfuel, hedges, landscape and Officer, Charlotte Dancer. “This stations – Calstock, Gunnislake art, archaeology and the much- online option provides the best and Bere Alston, raising loved Diarykeepers project. solution to being fully accountable, awareness of the AONB with a professional and accessible designation and World Heritage To see the range of activities report. It also shows the team how Site status of the area. undertaken by the AONB team and many copies are downloaded, to • A new downhill track for mountain its partners throughout the year of help with monitoring”. bikers was built at Gawton Gravity 2012–2013, please visit www.tamar Hub, which hosted the South valley.org.uk, click on Care, AONB Here are just a few highlights of West Championships in August. Management Plan, and follow what was achieved: • New Tamar Trails Centre the link. • The first ever Discovery Trail building at Gulworthy was

If you are interested in advertising opportunities within The Valley, please contact Charlotte Dancer for details - [email protected], 01822 835030. A very happy and prosperous new year to our advertisers in this issue.

Valley Homes & Gardens Professional Tradesman for all your Home, Garden & Pool Maintenance Requirements Contact: Ian Lindsay on 01822 840924 or 07908 916138

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www.tamarvalley.org.uk 23 About Us Make time for

The Tamar Valley AONB Partnership yourself this helps to conserve and enhance the New Year! natural beauty of the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, This New Year, why not make a by offering advice and assistance to resolution to enjoy your time in community groups, landowners, farmers, residents and visitors. the Tamar Valley to the full, courtesy of the Tamar Valley - Turner in the Tamar Valley There are 38 AONBs in England and Centre near Gunnislake, open by Dorothy Kirk and Diana Cook, Wales. The Tamar Valley itself covers an area of 75 square miles (195 sq weekdays from 11:00am to celebrating the Valley’s industrial km) and is the youngest of all AONBs, 3:30pm. history as witnessed by the artist designated in 1995. Turner. • Workshops, activities and We also stock current and back Tamar Valley AONB Tamar Valley Centre exhibitions take place at the copies of the Tamar Journal, for Cemetery Road, Drakewalls Centre. See pages 11-13 for all those with an interest in the Gunnislake details. Valley’s industrial past. Cornwall PL18 9FE • Visit the Centre to find • The Centre is a collection point T: 01822 835030 publications full of ideas for for the Tamar Valley Food Hub, E: [email protected] exploring the Valley – the at 4:30pm to 5:00pm on Fridays. W: www.tamarvalley.org.uk Seriously NOT Boring Tamar Place your local food order via Trails Book, the East Cornwall www.tamarvalleyfoodhubs.org.uk Help Us Keep the AONB Special Trails Pack, leaflets and guided • The Centre is available to hire for We hope you enjoy exploring the walk details are just a few on meetings, exhibitions and get- Tamar Valley. Please follow The Countryside Code when you’re out offer. togethers. For charges, please and about, to keep this living, working • For those cosy Valley evenings, email bookings@tamarvalley. landscape special. books for sale at the Centre org.uk. Visit www.tamarvalley. include: org.uk for further information Your Valley, Your News Silver River, the Tamar diaries of and a location map. If you have a story that you would like - Virginia Spiers, illustrated by to be considered for the next issue of The Valley (summer 2014, or are Mary Martin Special Offer – interested in advertising), please send - Sovereigns, Madams & Double Sovereigns, Madams & Double details to Charlotte Dancer, Information Whites – Fruit & Flower Pioneers Whites and Silver River. & Communications Officer for the of the Tamar Valley by Jo Lewis, Slightly damaged stock – Tamar Valley AONB – about the local market gardening available for only £5. [email protected] industry 01822 835030. If you would like this newsletter in other formats, please call 01822 National News - 835030 to discuss your requirements. Here’s the latest news from the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NAAONB). Keep In Touch Recent ministerial appointment The Value of AONB Partnerships Sign up to receive monthly e-bulletins The new Parliamentary Under The NAAONB was delighted with from the Tamar Valley AONB – a great Secretary of State for Resource the positive findings of ‘The Value way to keep up-to-date with progress of projects and calls for volunteers in Management, the Local of AONB Partnerships’, an between issues of The Valley Environment and Environmental independent report published newsletter. Please visit Science is the Conservative Lord in July by Land Use Consultants www.tamarvalley.org.uk and click on de Mauley. He is responsible for (LUC). The report can be viewed ‘News’ to sign up Defra business in the House of at http://www.aonb.org.uk Lords. The NAAONB is working Follow us: TVAONB with Defra to schedule meetings @TVAONB with the Minister.

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