November - December 2023
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Council News
St Agnes Parish Community Emergency Plan
Councillors recently held a ‘table-top’ exercise to understand better the revamped St Agnes Community Emergency Plan (CEP). A general discussion first highlighted the activities that might be undertaken by councilors and parish staff in response to an emergency within the Parish. Such calamities discussed included flooding, storm damage, loss of power across swathes of the Parish and large-scale mining subsidence. This list is not exhaustive! This was followed by ‘acting out’ a number of scenarios that might be faced.
The CEP was written with the very real presumption that in a local emergency the community would respond, ‘mucking in’ to support and aid family, neighbours and friends. The plan outlines what the Parish Council (PC) might do to enhance this support as well as providing – if needed – a point of liaison with blue-light emergency response assets.
Within each Parish Ward, buildings have been identified that might provide shelter for individuals, families or larger numbers of people who have been forced to leave their homes, say, due to flooding. These are schools, institutes and village halls which on a short-term basis can provide shelter, warmth, snacks and beverages and a place of reasonable comfort until it is safe to return home or other solutions found. Nominated members of the PC and staff along with any volunteers would be able to coordinate and provide help where needed to those caught in such a predicament.
If there is a major incident within the Parish then national emergency assets would take the lead; the CEP also covers what the PC and volunteers might do until their arrival and ongoing support if needed.
The public are reminded that in every incident, emergencies must first be reported to the relevant Emergency Service on 999.
If after calling the emergency services it is felt that PC support might be helpful, especially outside of the normal working day, the Council offices can be called on 01872 553801, option 6 chosen which will inform the caller how to reach the PC in an emergency.
Minutes and Agendas - October 2023
Full council, 02/10/23
Environment and property, 09/10/23
Planning, 16/10/23
Future Meetings:
November
Full council - 6/11/23
Environment and property - 13/11/23
Planning - 20/11/23
December
Full council - 4/12/23
Environment and property - 11/12/23
Planning - 18/12/23
What’s Been Happening in the Parish?
Mount Hawke Millennium Green
Mount Hawke Millennium Green had a lot going on in October with several events and fundraisers running simultaneously.
Residents could “sponsor a bat box” for Halloween. Seven “Glamis” bat boxes have been fully funded and will be fixed in appropriate places. A quiz hosted at Mount Hawke TRA raised just under £150 (a big thank you to Jackie Tregellis and resident quiz master Marilyn West), and last, but certainly not least, a “buy a bulb” fundraiser for Mount Hawke VCA by Cllr Andrew Blight raised £200 to plant daffodils, muscari, native bluebells, snowdrops and crocuses in the green and around the village.
Sunday 22nd October held an impromptu work session in the green, where a head start on bulb planting, a refresh of the smaller goal post and recovery of some of the paths overgrown by foliage happened.
Mount Hawke Millennium Green Trust hosted a “work and hotdog” day on Friday 27th October, where members of the public and their families were encouraged to come and help plant some bulbs.
Thank you to everyone who showed up and did a couple of hours of work!
Shout out to Chris and Kate at Borders and Cuts who kindly donated their time to help, and to Sam at Corner Cafe for dishing out the food. Everyone left feeling accomplished and with full tummies.
St Agnes Library
A representative from Cornwall Healthwatch was at St Agnes Library on Tuesday 3rd October to listen to feedback and experiences of health services in Cornwall.
On the evening of Tuesday 3rd October, Pete Mitchell hosted one of his regular quiz nights at the St Agnes Hotel, this time, raising over £300 for the Friends of St Agnes Library Group which will be used for activities and events at the library.
On Thursday 5th October, the library hosted a group from Blackwater School to attend a production of “The Book Witch” by Coppice Theatre. The children really enjoyed the performance.
St Agnes Library celebrated National Libraries Week with a Witches Brew Coffee Morning on Saturday 7th October. Children enjoyed a witch-themed story and craft session and enjoyed some spooky-themed snacks.
Local author Claire Bond attended a special storytime session on Wednesday 11th October and read her books “My Pet Elephant” and “My Pet Zebra”. The children enjoyed listening to the stories and colouring in activity sheets linked to the books.
On Friday 20th October the library hosted a performance of “The Mermaid of Padstow” by storyteller Gareth Cooper. The new adaptation of the classic Cornish folk tale featured 5 folk songs and the audience were encouraged to join in.
On Friday 27th October the library held a Peter Pan theme activity session in association with the Hall for Cornwall. The children enjoyed storytelling, songs and craft activities at this fun and lively session.
Porthtowan Village Hall Gardeners
Porthtowan Village Hall Gardeners meet on the first Tuesday of every month.
Brilliant team work and a generous donation from Porthtowan Duck Race to buy locally sourced plants from Julie's Plants.
Anyone is welcome to join!
Hedluv & Passman Gig at Porthtowan Village Hall
This sell-out community event organised by the volunteer team at the village hall was a huge success both for bringing people together as well as raising funds to keep the village hall up and running.
Everyone pulled together to create an epic night!
The evening started with local band-Funk,Soul,Other- getting things going with their up-tempo mix of well -know songs.
The bar and BBQ were bustling as everyone got ready for the main act.
Well they didn’t disappoint!
These local boys from the ‘druth brought fun, laughter and audience participation as they rapped and sang. Normally used to performing at festivals and smaller venues, they came along to help us raise much needed funds for both the hall and playpark.
Look out for everyone in the village wearing “doing it ‘dreckly” T shirts!
We are so lucky to have such an amazing performance space in our local area- and it’s brilliant to see if full of life and being used to its full extent.
Mount Hawke TRA Halloween Party
The Kid's Halloween party at TRA Social Club was a huge success. There were approximately 35 children. Mandy made wooden pumpkins, which the children decorated. We had 1st and 2nd prizes for the best decorated pumpkin, the best fancy dress and best dancer plus sweets for all. Thank you all for your support it really was a great Halloween party.
Porthtowan Village Hall Halloween Party
The Halloween party at Porthtowan Village Hall was an amazing success, raising £640 for the hall and play park for vital repairs and maintenance. We would like to thank all the people who volunteered at the event helping with the fun and games.
We would also like to thank Porthtowan Village stores for the donation of the sweets tray that was given to one of our lucky partygoers for their guess of 114 sweets.
We are now looking forward to the next big event at the hall, which will be the film festival on 11th November.
Maintainance Crew Photos
Have you heard about the Community Co-Design project in Mount Hawke?
The community engagement project is being delivered by the committees of both the MHMGT and MHVCA (Mount Hawke Village Community Association)
As we head towards the important milestone of 2025 - 25 years since the opening of the Mount Hawke Millennium Green, the committee and trustees are seeking considerable funding for improvements of the green and hoping to consider possible future use of the Mount Hawke Methodist Chapel building.
Before we can seek outside funding, we want to understand whats important to our community and how we can help shape the future of the green ONLY in line with the needs, expectations and desires of the community that the green serves.
The mission of the MHMGT - is to maintain and improve the protected open space in the heart of the village for use by the entire Mount Hawke community. This September marked the 25 year anniversary of the MHMG Trust being formed that in turn made the Millennium Green a reality in 2000. And as we head towards 2025 the committee and trustees want to engage with the community to find out what they want the green to look like in 2025 and beyond.
This project is geared towards the community of Mount Hawke and neighbouring villages. As Trustees of the charity we want to seek large scale funding from the likes of the National Lottery Community Fund, Cornwall Council Community Chest, St Agnes Parish Council, Police & Crime Commissioner Devon & Cornwall Community Grant Scheme, CIOS, The Rotary Foundation, Good Growth Fund, Levelling Up Fund and the Shared Prosperity Fund and many more!
As a committee we want to help define the problems and potential in our community that the development of the Millennium Green and Chapel building can address and help provide a solution for.
Community co-design ensures we can actively involve our stakeholders - YOU - in the design and planning process and also allows us another avenue to communicate the work carried out by our small team of volunteers on behalf of the wider community with the hope that more individuals will step forward, offer their time and most importantly skills in continuing to deliver the aims of the MHMGT and the MHVCA, especially as we head towards the momentous milestone in 2025!
If you would like to have your say please get in touch. You can email us, follow us on Facebook & Instagram or use our online form to share your ideas about the future of MH community services.
Environmentally Friendly Initiatives in the Parish
An article by our roving reporter, Ellie Boyden
With the increasing emphasis on climate change as a global security risk, the need to generate innovative, sustainable development and environmentally friendly solutions is becoming an ever-growing political issue. However, making incremental adjustments in our everyday lives is just as important in tackling our carbon footprints, such as by critically examining where our food comes from and the impact our daily actions have.
There are many creative initiatives in the St Agnes Parish that encourage these changes, and this October I visited three sites that operate in different ways, but all promote environmentally conscious principles through their various projects, with a focus on increasing involvement, education and bringing the local community together. I spoke to teams from Mount Pleasant Ecological Park, an active events and community venue run under an environmentally friendly ethos, the volunteer-led Goonown Growers who supply veg boxes and markets from their homegrown sustainable produce, and the Williams family who manage Presingoll Farm and The Grower businesses by focussing on soil health and carbon sequestration.
On the rainy Friday that I conduct my interviews, I first arrive at the Eco Park, just outside of Porthtowan. I shelter in the office to speak with Claire Marshall, the General Manager, and Jess Owen, the Marketing Manager. The weather has not quelled activities at the park however, and occasional snippets of music drift up to the window, overlooking the barn. They explain that a cosmic yoga session is currently taking place, one of the many events, activities and workshops that are held all year round.
Jess explains that a crucial motivation for running many of the Eco Park events is making them accessible to the local community, and the team is constantly striving to increase local involvement across the parish. The current grip of the ‘cost of living crisis’, with interest rates and mortgage payments increasing without a comparative rise in wages, has unfortunately tightened the purse strings of many families who feel they have no choice except to cut out the optional, fun activities that incur extra expense. However, Jess emphasises that it is these days out that are important in maintaining mental health and wellbeing; for this reason many of the Eco Park’s countless events are free or operate on a ‘pay what you can’ basis. For example, the Eco Park regularly holds markets with no entry fee, where visitors are free to attend and absorb the atmosphere, with no pressure to buy anything. A recent highlight for the team was the kite festival, in which lots of local children and families were able to create their own kites in a free workshop. Jess describes how a gust of wind rose through the previously quiet sky just in time to lift everybody’s kites up in the air together, in a special family event that generated a lot of positive feedback.
The Eco Park team consciously endeavours to find new and effective ways to involve the public. The venue is incredibly active during the summer months, supporting local artists and musicians in regular folk nights and open mic sessions (with a free pint for participation!), as well as holding the iconic Tropical Pressure festival each year in July, one of its resounding successes. However, the social scene is not abandoned when the tourists return home, and the weather closes in. The Eco Park remains jampacked throughout the year with music, theatre and entertainment, with a consistently busy run up to Christmas.
My subsequent site tour with Claire highlights how the forty-two acre venue's ambition to be a lively community hub is closely interconnected with its eco-friendly ethos. As well as the barn, that is used for weddings, music and theatre events, there is the amphitheatre, storytelling area, campsite, open area bar, small stages for gigs and entertainment, and sunset deck with an impressive vista rolling over the Beacon and down to the sea. Despite its increasing versatility and scope as a venue, the Eco Park does not neglect its sustainable roots, and each building is constructed in an environmentally conscious way. Tim Stirrup, the Park’s founding director, also runs Pioneer EBC, an environmentally friendly building company that created the Eco Park units from rammed earth. These house several small businesses, including the ‘Roots Press’ sustainable printing services, who design and create the Eco Park’s promotional content, as well as the grassroots initiative ‘Roots Zine’ that encourages contributions from the community.
The eco-friendly vision extends to ethical eating, with its on-site restaurant ‘Canteen’ incorporating purely plant-based and seasonal produce within their menus, that is principally supplied by ‘Community Roots’, a community support agricultural project also based at the park. Claire claims these principles have challenged people’s perceptions about what meals are possible to create within a plant-based framework and aims to spark conversations about alternative lifestyles that can reduce our carbon footprints. Other on-site initiatives, such as the local supply of veg boxes by Community Roots, and voluntary participation in the Community Garden allotments, also encourage the community to engage with ‘farm to fork’ produce and organic horticulture. The team eventually aims to run the site totally sustainably, to live by the principles they espouse. The Eco Park currently generates its own renewable energy, including a wind turbine and solar panels, as well as sourcing its mains electricity responsibly. There is a bore hole constituting most of its water supplies, the rammed earth buildings are naturally insulated, and there is a biomass boiler to provide additional heating. The land also has organic status, and there are many tree planting schemes and efforts to promote its biodiversity. The team highlights that the Eco Park’s different projects and events are constantly expanding and evolving, and they want the public to visit, learn about its ethos and freely enjoy what it has to offer, even if it is just to walk their dogs around the fields.
My next stop is the Goonown Growers, a community market garden based in St Agnes. A good old Cornish mizzle has well and truly settled in, but it does not dampen the convivial and sociable atmosphere within the main polytunnel, where I am promptly invited to the lunch the volunteers are assembling, using produce they’ve grown on the land. Even just observing the collective effort to prepare the meal demonstrates the centrality of community and collaboration in propelling the Goonown Growers’ sustainable efforts.
The polytunnel we are in houses French beans and many seedlings that are being prepared for planting out, but the organically certified land also consists of three further smaller polytunnels and two fields that are run in accordance with stringent environmental standards. I am given a brief tour by Steve, one of the volunteers, who shows me the large variety of produce they are growing, such as tomatoes, fruit trees, cucumber, pak choi, chard, kale and cavolo nero, as well as the recently harvested squash. Planting is carefully planned to provide different seasonal foodstuffs around as much of the year as possible, and much of the fruit and vegetables produced are packed into veg boxes that are supplied to local people - these can either be picked up or delivered for a small fee. The Goonown Growers also supply markets, such as the Truro Farmers Market held each Saturday. Ed Sweetman, a founding member, explains how their small-scale business model and future direction are governed by both environmentally and economically conscious principles. They are reluctant to expand the initiative in a way that would necessitate relying on subsidies or grants, or risk compromising the sustainable ethos and essence that is central to their enterprise.
This does not affect the Goonown Growers’ constant aspiration to increase community involvement. Another founder, Sally Westaway describes how the project originated in lockdown from a desire to create a reliable and nutritious source of food amidst the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only was this an insightful response to the reminder that even ostensibly stable global supply chains are subject to external shocks, it was also a way to maintain human connection despite the limitations on face-to-face interaction. The team found that safely volunteering outside helped maintain an important sense of purpose and community during these difficult times. Since then, the Goonown Growers have held numerous open days and regular Friday volunteering sessions to encourage more people to get involved, on whatever basis suits them. Kathy, the Social Prescribing and Volunteer Facilitator, reasons that volunteering on the land positively benefits both physical and mental health, with a unique opportunity to appreciate the finished product grown from a seedling that you have nurtured. This is a sentiment I can readily believe when a delicious autumnal stew made from homegrown squash and vegetables is served, along with a fresh salad. The only food item not grown on the land is the rice, which seems fair enough!
We head over to eat in the newly constructed barn on the land, which is intended to become an improved community space, as well as providing more room for veg packing operations. The group, consisting of all different ages, sit around a long table and contentedly chat with each other whilst enjoying their food. This communal ritual seems to bolster a happy and cohesive team, further proved when discussion arises about furnishing the barn interior, a conversation that encourages and genuinely values everybody’s contributions, including the younger members.
The Goonown Growers’ principles of sustainable growing and living are intrinsically linked to community involvement, fostering its friendly and collaborative environment. As Kathy asserts, this form of volunteering is a small-scale but practical way of supporting climate change resilience and reducing your carbon footprint, as part of a welcoming team.
The final visit I make is to Presingoll farm, which has been run by five generations of the Williams family, who have also created ‘The Grower’ nursery, supplying and planting trees. The farm has faced the challenge of reducing its carbon footprint in larger scale food production, whilst establishing a business and farming model that will remain viable in the future. The Williams family have farmed at Presingoll for over 120 years, but twenty five years ago they had the foresight to adopt regenerative principles, becoming the first farm of its size in Cornwall to do so. The farm’s management practice focuses on promoting fertility through enhancing soil organic matter, which in turn has generated increased biodiversity and environmental diversification, as well as gradually higher yields. In 2018 they made the difficult decision to switch from a cattle-based regime to a primarily plant-based one. However, this allowed Inez Williams-King, a landscape architect and the fifth-generation in her family to work the farm, to co-found The Grower in 2020 with her partner Christopher King, who studied commercial horticulture and forestry. It was through discussions about taking action to ensure the quality of trees and promoting climate initiatives, that the idea for The Grower was born out of their combined specialities.
Tree growing integrates well into production planning as a vital part of its rotation, which is meticulously designed to best preserve the soil and its necessary nutrients. Mark and Andy Williams, brothers from the family’s fourth generation on the farm, have been responsible for making many of Presingoll’s structural changes to improve its sustainability, and they emphasise the importance of soil as a finite resource. Each year 30 percent of UK topsoil is lost due to erosion and run off as a result of adverse weather conditions and unsustainable practices. Presingoll has therefore adopted a rotation which incorporates tree growing for a few years, followed by cover crops, cereals and brassicas. Keeping ‘roots in the ground’ allows the soil to remain structurally compact and resistant to run off, as well as replenishing its different organic materials and nutrients. Planting flowering field margins allows them to attract ladybirds, as well as other beneficial species, as a form of natural pest management for aphids, which is still a very unusual method within tree production. Critically, it removes the need for pesticides and reduces the need for herbicides. They also avoid the use of chemical sterilisation of the soil which kills all soil flora and fauna, and other essential matter, including fungi communication networks that are crucial for the mobilisation and release of nutrients, therefore compromising its overall health. By maintaining grass cover and no longer ploughing their land (using a system called minimum to no-till cultivation), the farm creates carbon sinks that increase by 5 percent annually, sequestering carbon in the soil and preventing it from being released into the atmosphere to contribute to further global warming.
The family’s creative and environmentally conscious farming methods clearly reflect their approach of ‘balancing with nature’. This strategy involves carefully planning woodland creation in ways that have positive spillover effects. For example, the team has committed to planting over 20,000 metres of trees next to their existing hedgerows to enhance their growth and biodiversity, in a symbiotic relationship that also shelters younger trees from the unruly Cornish elements. They also grow crops in between shelterbelts of trees, improving their weather resistance, water retention and the soil quality, as well as encouraging a variety of wildlife. Presingoll has also pledged to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and their measures have seen net gains in biodiversity, encouraging owls, cuckoos, bats, polecats, buzzards, dormice and more birdlife.
Meanwhile, ‘The Grower’ business has been progressing from strength to strength, growing over two million trees. They’ve sent trees as far as Scotland, Wales and even Richmond Park in London. It is the largest tree nursery in the Southwest and the main grower of beech trees in the UK, a member of the Woodland Trust’s Sourced and Grown Assurance Scheme, and a 2023 sponsor of the inaugural Agroforestry Show. Inez asserts that they take a sustainable and collaborative ‘grow well’ approach, cooperating rather than competing with other growers to work optimally within diverse UK soil types. In Cornwall, the business has proved a great success, providing specialist knowledge in tree-supplying and offering a service which has successfully planted 46,000 trees with an 85 to 95 percent survival rate across the county, as opposed to the 40 percent industry standard. As well as preserving healthy trees, The Grower strives to promote robust biosecurity standards to save them from contagious pests and diseases, including through projects to plant trees that are resistant to Dutch Elm disease. Initiatives such as these are crucial to protect vulnerable native trees from diseases that can be transmitted in deceptively simple ways, such as from water droplets on people’s walking boots. Damage from diseases, such as ash dieback, could cause potentially vast costs for the economy, not to mention local ecosystems. The supply and replanting of trees is therefore a vital service, especially when considering areas such as the Tamar Valley, which consists of 95 percent ash trees and therefore is susceptible to dieback. It is these types of issues that the teams at The Grower and Presingoll want to educate and involve the local public with, to assist in the campaign to protect trees and the wider environment.
The farm has found that previous open community events they’ve held, such as sunflower fields, pumpkin picking and the ‘Paws at Presingoll Farm’ dog walking field that opened during the pandemic, have helped raise public awareness of their ethos and projects, and they hope to hold more activities in the future. They have been advised by numerous users of the significant mental health and wellbeing outcomes they have experienced since the field opened. By allowing the community to get out in nature, witness the benefits of the initiatives at Presingoll and engage with where their food comes from, the team hopes to increase positive rhetoric around farming. Andy points out that larger scale farm structures cannot adopt the same methods that smallholdings do to create sustainable produce, and often receive bad press around their environmental impact. However, the innovations at Presingoll show how regenerative farming techniques are capable of generating carbon absorption. The farm works closely with Riviera Produce, a Cornish based business that in turn supplies several major UK supermarkets with fresh vegetables, grown through environmentally friendly techniques. In terms of sustainably powering their operations, Presingoll has invested in renewable solar energy for their campsite and farm, and also supplies 75 percent of the neighbouring railway park’s electricity at a lower price than the National Grid.
The team affirms that their drive for sustainable development will continue to influence the future direction of their business and farming models. Although their transfer to a regenerative planting regime has significantly reduced Presingoll’s carbon footprint and gradually increased yields, Andy underlines that it will be necessary to utilise emerging technology to make further environmental changes. Another important aspect of increasing public involvement and education about farming is attracting a younger demographic into agricultural careers, which are shifting from traditional labour towards managerial and tech-oriented roles. Artificial intelligence (AI) may prove instrumental as a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly tool in the future of farming. For example, laser weeding tools or AI hoes that use cameras to distinguish between trees and weeds would further reduce the need for chemical herbicides. GPS self-steering tractors (used at Presingoll) are more efficient than conventional ones, and in the future could be powered through solar energy. People with innovative ideas about effectively using technology to increase farming efficiency will become essential in sustainably producing food for the country’s growing future population. Inez also plans to establish an apprenticeship scheme for The Grower, focussing on expanding its tree maintenance and consultancy areas. The Williams family has so far adopted a flexible and insightful approach in adapting their farming techniques to sustainably and successfully modernise their business, and want to engage and educate local people in their future efforts to build upon this.
All the teams I spoke to were genuinely committed to involving and educating the local community about their various schemes and initiatives, designed to combat the negative effects of climate change in innovative ways. They aim to engage the public with the origins and ethics of their food, in an age where it is easy to buy items from supermarkets with little idea of where they come from, as well as starting valuable conversations about how we can adapt our lifestyles to protect our future environment. These enterprises also place a concerted focus on bringing people in the parish together as an important objective in its own right, whether by volunteering, attending events or simply enjoying a day outside. I certainly learnt a lot from my conversations with the teams at the Eco Park, Goonown Growers, and Presingoll Farm and The Grower, and would encourage anybody else who is interested to visit these sites and learn more about their valuable projects, as well as investigating the many other initiatives around the parish.
Credits for all photos used are to the Mount Pleasant Ecological Park, the Goonown Growers and The Grower and Presingoll Farm respectively.
Nancecuke Cuckoo Valley
As I look out over the orchard I am overwhelmed by the whirlwind of a year it has been. It's been a year of toil, abundance, and heartfelt connections within our tight-knit community. The story of our cider farm is one of dreams, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability.
Over the past nine years, we've embarked on an ambitious endeavor – planting over 1500 apple and Perry pear trees, with plans to add another thousand to our orchards next year.
This year's harvest was nothing short of spectacular, and I find myself extending my deepest gratitude to the friends and volunteers who rallied to help us pick apples. It was more than just a harvest; it was a testament to the strength of community spirit and the lovely people we have met this year.
With the pressing process in full swing, we look forward with great anticipation to the year ahead, exciting new ciders, including a delightful Kingston Black single variety cider.
In our ongoing commitment to enhance the ecological richness of the land, we planted an additional 3000 trees, establishing a vital wildlife corridor featuring hawthorn, holly, elderberry, holme oak, cherry, and blackthorn. This commitment to preserving nature forms the bedrock of our mission.
Our aim is to make our cider farm as ecologically friendly and off-grid as possible. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our neighbours and friends who have become an integral part of this inspiring journey.
Cllr Paul Kimberley’s Defibrillator News
St Agnes Parish Community Defibrillator Network
Cllr Paul Kimberley, the Defibrillator Liaison Officer for the St Agnes Parish Council has provided and update of the St Agnes Parish Council Community Defibrillator Network.
Paul says:
“We are extremely pleased that the whole community has been really pulling together over the last few months to develop and expand a tremendous network of Community Access Defibrillators (CAD’s) across our whole Parish.
These are some of the new locations where defibrillators are funded for and currently being or have been installed:
Mount Pleasant Eco Park (self-funded) full CAD package. Purchased by them, installed and live
Finisterre (self-funded) full CAD package. Purchased by them, installed and live
St Agnes Boxing Club (Parish Council funded cabinet ) weatherproof cabinet – purchased and installed, making their defibrillator a live CAD
Goonvrea Road (funded by Geoff Perry, in memory of his wife, Hazel) full CAD package - purchased, installed and live
St Agnes School (funded by St Agnes Local Improvement Committee) weatherproof cabinet. Purchased and delivered, awaiting install
St Agnes Hotel (funded by St Agnes Local Improvement Committee) full CAD package. Neal and Tammy Mather are kindly arranging the install on the building. Purchased, delivered, awaiting install. Covering Churchtown area
The Tap House (funded by St Agnes Local Improvement Committee) full CAD package – Tim Bawden is kindly arranging install on the building. Purchased and delivered, awaiting install. Covering Peterville area
Lee Shine, of ‘Shiney Electrical’, based is St Agnes has been extremely kind with his time and expertise as an electrician, he has been installing several of these CAD’s free of charge to help us develop the network. Massive thanks to Lee.
All four schools in the Parish have been approached to ask if they would facilitate their Government funded defibrillators to be enabled as Public CAD’s. To this end St Agnes School has kindly agreed and now has a brand-new weatherproof cabinet, kindly supplied by the St Agnes Local Improvement Committee. The Mithian School is currently reviewing placement and install of a weatherproof cabinet, funded from the Cornwall Councillors Community Chest, via Cornwall Councillor Steve Arthur.
We are actively speaking to Mount Hawke School and Blackwater School with the proposal of undertaking the same with them. If you are connected to either of these schools, would you be kind enough to highlight your support to them direct?
In addition to these the Mount Hawke Cricket Club, Victory Inn are looking for funds to purchase and install a full CAD, so if you can assist them with any funds or fundraising, they would be very grateful. Contact them direct.
We would like to site a CAD in Trevellas Cove and are actively liaising with someone in that area, but we are still looking for a suitable location in the Goonbell area of St Agnes to site a defibrillator, so if you have any ideas, let us know.
We would like to site a CAD in Trevellas Cove and are actively liaising with someone in that area, but we are still looking for a suitable location in the Goonbell area of St Agnes to site a defibrillator, so if you have any ideas, let us know.
If there are any other ‘Blackspots’ or suggestions for siting a CAD, please contact us with suggestions.
We are absolutely on target to increase of Community Access Defibrillator coverage for the whole Parish by 75%, by the end of 2023. This is with enormous thanks and testament to the collaboration of so may people and organisations within our wonderful Parish.
Thank You all, so much for your continued support and generous contributions.
There is no mandatory requirement or funding for our Parish to have Community Access Defibrillators, so this project is purely supported and developed by local collaboration.
To support and sustain this community project the Parish Council have now established ringfenced ‘St Agnes Parish Community Defibrillator Fund’, where donations and fundraising money can be held. The idea behind this fund is to support the purchase of replacement consumables, such as defibrillator pads, batteries and eventually the replacement of the defibrillator units, as and when they require replacement.
If there is anyone in the Parish who could offer some time in applying for Grant Funds or would like to undertake any fundraising to support this vital fund, please get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
If you have any enquires, suggestions or offers of help, please email paul.kimberley@stagnes-pc.gov.uk
Funding From St Agnes Local Improvements Committee for Additional Defibrillators in St Agnes Village
Cllr Paul Kimberley has more good news relating to our community’s defibrillator network and has made this statement:
Thanks to a wonderful donation of funds from the 'St Agnes Local Improvements Committee', we now have two, brand new Community Access Defibrillators in St Agnes Village, with more news to come later.
This has not only been achieved due to the tremendous generosity of the 'St Agnes LIC', but the wonderful support and collaboration of Tammy & Neal Mather, from the St Agnes Hotel and Tim Bawden of the 'The Tap House.
Paul is very pleased to say that this means Churchtown and Peterville areas now have direct coverage of these potentially lifesaving devices.
He added that both of these businesses have arranged the install at their own expense, to help facilitate the placement of these lifesaving devices in “Village Hub” areas that have never had direct coverage of a defibrillator.
On behalf of the St.Agnes Parish Council and our village community, I would like the say my tremendous thanks for the support and provision for the whole community and our visitors by the three contributors/facilitators.
The Council would like to remind everyone “REMEMBER: Access is ALWAYS via 999, please do not ask for access to the defibrillators from either of these businesses.
If you have any questions, inquiries, offers of funding or donations to keep these vital units operational and fully functional, please email Paul directly at paul.kimberley@stagnes-pc.gov.uk.
Updated Defibrillator Map
The Christmas Lights 2023 Switch-On
The last weekend in October, and the Christmas Lights have started going up. It may seem early but it all depends on the weather. If we have a decent November it won’t be a problem but more often than not we’re struggling to get them finished by the date of the switch-on. The Lights will be switched on on Sunday 3rd December at about 4:45pm. The roads through the village will be closed from 4:30pm so that Bolster can progress through the village to the Town Square to perform the switch-on. The Village Silver Band will also be performing Christmas Music and The Gig Rowing Club will be selling refreshments. The lights going on starts the beginning of Christmas in the village and I do hope you will come and enjoy the event.
Ensuring that the strings of Christmas lights stay up involves hooks, in wooden fascias, and gutter clips - hundreds of each. There is though another type of CLIP which ensures that the Lights stay up and on. Christmas LIghts PatronS. There are now over 80 folk in the village who are CLIPs, each of whom has made a commitment to donate an annual contribution to our funds. Without their help the lights would be very different. Our initial aim was to have a 100 CLIPs bringing in £2,000 each year to support the lights. After two years of starting the scheme we are three quarters of the way to our target. Since the October Community Newsletter another ten have come forward but we haven’t yet reached our target - 20 to go.
Would you be willing to take out a Direct Debit of £20 a year so that the Christmas Lights have a reliable source of income? This allows the team to plan ahead, maintain the lights (including ensuring that they are environmentally friendly), replace equipment as necessary and pay insurance and road closure costs. We also have ambitions to extend the lights - if we can raise sufficient funds. Fortunately, we already have some local sponsors who donate the cost of the electricity for the lights plugged into their home, a very generous business that meets the cost of the Christmas Tree each year and the Local Improvement Committee which assists with infrastructure aspects. If you would like to be a CLIP please contact me: richard.tufnell@btinternet.com - and I will give you further details, thank you.
The team also raises money via a number of events and Pete Mitchell has agreed that the Charity Quiz in the St Agnes Hotel on Tuesday December 5th will be in aid of the Christmas Lights and by then, fingers crossed, the lights will be on! Please put the date in your diary and come along. Any business which would like to help can donate a raffle prize or something which could be auctioned on the night please contact Richard on 07564228804.
Richard, on behalf of the Christmas Lights Team
Mount Hawke VCA and MHMGT Noticeboards
As we start out with our Co-Design project here in Mount Hawke, we know how important it is to effectively communicate, demonstrate and display our aims and needs in finding out what our community wants to see happen - so we set about planning a series of community events.
We would like to share our gratitude for our successful grant application to St Agnes Parish Council, they kindly funded a much-needed, functional and most importantly portable display board system so that we are able to easily share our message with the village community at a number of community events over the coming months.
Ideas and suggestions from our first Co-Design meeting in August.
The sign writing and branding of the boards was offered free of charge by by one of our volunteers at no cost to either charity for the materials or their time.
The benefit of these boards paid for by the Parish Council will be quickly realised by our small community during our co-design project - but better still, we can share these portable notice boards with other community groups around the parish. They are not a one-use asset!
We are offering them to any community or charitable group in the Parish to use at their one off events or longer term community engagement projects similar to our own.
The boards are double sided, so while this allows us to use the boards for all future events, it also allows the boards to be used by any group as the reverse whiteboards are all blank.
We hope there are countless community groups, charities, not for profit groups and even individuals who would benefit from the loan of our new portable display boards for one off events, community engagement projects and all the usual boring reasons that a display/noticeboard is used and made use of.
So if your group would benefit from these display boards at your next event, please get in touch with us. You can email the Millennium Green Trust team or message us on Facebook & Instagram.
The Grower Receives Prestigious Plant Healthy Certification - The First In Cornwall!
The Grower, a bareroot hedging and tree nursery, based outside of St Agnes today announced it had received its Plant Healthy Certification. The first grower in Cornwall to receive this accreditation.
The voluntary Plant Healthy Certification Scheme enables businesses and organisations to be independently audited as a means of formally demonstrating that they comply with the nationally recognised Plant Health Management Standard.
Introduced with the aims to:
Reduce the risk of introducing/spreading destructive plant pests via plant supply chains (trade)
Protect the horticulture industry, other cultivated plants and natural habitats
To easily identify businesses or organisations that grow, trade and manage plants to high standards of plant health and biosecurity
Chris of The Grower said:
It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to achieve our Plant Health Certification this year. It’s a massive achievement for the team and shows the hard work they’ve put in over the last 12 months. In 2022 we became accredited with the Woodland Trust UKISG scheme and have aspired to become accredited with Plant Health since. We couldn’t have done it without the support of the Forest for Cornwall team and Tree Nursery Health Fund which allowed us to consult with Martin Glynn FICFor CEnv, Chartered Forester and rural development advisor as well as purchase key capital items vital to ensuring our compliance with the scheme. The Plant Health certificate allows us to demonstrate to our customers we are producing plants to the highest plant health and environmental standard. We are incredibly proud.
Porthtowan Blue Flag
Just like that, another Blue Flag season is over. It is often a common misconception that the Blue Flag is awarded for the whole year but it is actually just for the “bathing season” as defined by the Environment Agency.
During the season (May to September) we are able to offer seasonal activities with Surfers Against Sewage Beach cleans, dunes planting and maintenance alongside CORMAC, Seawatch and Rockpool Rambles with St Agnes Marine Conservation group and an all-week lifeguard service. These along with more mundane things, such as loos and bins, feed into the award. Water quality is also a key element and is tested and results are posted here.
The award is given based on the community activities and the previous year's water quality so any spills this summer would impact our chances next year.
To apply for the Blue Flag takes a huge amount of Community effort; Porthtowan Surf Life Saving Club (Porthtowan SLSC), Surfers Against Sewage, The Dunes Group, Two Minute Beach Clean and St Agnes Marine Conservation Group all submit reports on their previous year's activities to Porthtowan Beach Association (PBA). These initiatives underpin the award. The reports are collated and sent off to Cornwall Council (CC) Beach Rangers who apply for the award. Costs are split between CC and the PBA.
It's always top secret until the last minute and then Porthtowan SLSC and the RNLI support the PBA by putting on a sterling show bringing the flag in. Blue Bar kindly maintains the flagpole and hosts the celebrations.
The PBA is made up of village residents from many walks of life, local business owners, marine biologists, founder members of Surfers Against Sewage, an outdoor educator and a rock star too!
More detailed information is here: http://porthtowanbeach.com/awards/
Bathing water profile for Porthtowan: https://environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles/profile.html?site=ukk3102-31600
The Flag….and why bother??
Here are some positive reasons why we bother to apply:
Public toilets must be available on a blue flag beach.
Water testing during the bathing season helps monitor the summer seas.
Environmental studies and reports carried out by local groups who are not government funded.
The pictures show how this event brings the community together to look after our own beach environment and surrounding area. (WEBSITE Blue Flag pics taken by Porthtowan Surf Photos)
The local groups involved keep an eye on the dunes, signage and report to the government and council agencies where problems arise. All for the benefit of our beach users.
Niki Willows, on behalf of Chair of Porthtowan Beach Association
The Perranporth and St Agnes Probus Club
A bit about us…
Our club exists solely to provide an opportunity for semi-retired and older men living in our area, to socialise and make new friends.
We have no religious or political leanings and few obligations; some of us help run the club.
We meet monthly to enjoy each other’s company over a set lunch or a morning coffee at local venues. At some we have pre-arranged talks, given on a wide range of subjects. We also entertain our wives and partners to six lunches in the year.
For fun days out, we organise events, ranging from skittles to spectating at sporting events, from wine tasting to walks; all include our wives and partners. Events are usually those suggested by members, with costs kept to a minimum.
Have we sparked your interest? If so, contact John Wilson on 07814 928037 or email john@telenetworks.co.uk with your query.
A visit to Bodmin Jail
There were 15 of us on the St. Agnes Mini Bus, comprising Probus members and their wives. After the short journey to view the wonders of the upgrading of the A30, we finally arrived at the Bodmin Jail complex ( 1779-1927), sitting down to have a well-earned cup of coffee.
After a short break, we made our way into what can only be described as the beginning of an amazing day. It is referred to as “The Dark Experience” and uses theatrical effects and technology to transport the visitor back to an almost first-hand experience of being confined in Bodmin Jail in the 18th to 19th century.
It covers stories of smuggling, mining and the hardships faced by Cornwall’s poorest and infamous prisoners. We had the chance to examine the grimy cells and the daily conditions under which the prisoners lived and died. More than 50 prisoners ended their lives at the jail, some for what we would consider to be minor crimes.
If the opportunity arises, make the trip to the Jail, you won’t be disappointed.
St Agnes Gardening Club
St Agnes Gardening Club is an active, thriving gardening club with a strong membership. We welcomed several new members this year but always have room for more.
We meet as a group on the fourth Tuesday of the month, between September and April, in The Methodist Chapel, British Road.
We have a guest speaker at each meeting, often with projections to illustrate the talk. Our first talk this season was on ‘Trees’ and our October meeting was on ‘No Dig vegetable growing’. Our next talk will be Cornwall Wildlife Trust Cornwall Wildlife Trust by Charlie David. on 28th November at 7.30pm
The Garden Club also runs the Bulb Sale every October and the Spring Show usually every March. Then we also work with the St Agnes W.I. to present the St Agnes Summer Show, in July.
Non-members are very welcome to attend any meeting at a cost of £5.00. However, membership is only £10 per year, which gives free entry to all six talks and also the monthly Garden Club Newsletter, plus each new year an annual discount card from Goonhavern and Chacewater garden centres for 10% off plants.
St Agnes MMI
Mount Hawke Makers Market
After the booming success of the last “Mount Hawke Makers Market,” there will now be another one, just in time for Christmas shopping! Ceramics, stained glass, prints, plants, clothing and much more! A bit of something for everyone - all created by the talented people in our community.
Porthtowan Village Hall
Cornwall Family Wellbeing Fare
Mount Hawke VCA Christmas Dinner
Community Calendar
3rd November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 4PM - 6PM
A family-friendly afternoon of music and dances with the Aggie Folk Band. Free Entry. Cafe doing kids dinners.
3rd November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 6PM - 10PM
BEASTRO - Opening Night! Pop-up restaurant residency with big flavours and super local produce from local chef Adam Vassey. Book online.
4th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 8PM
Truro Community Refugee Support quiz night! £3 per person on the door, no max number on a team.
4th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 6PM - 10PM
BEASTRO - Opening Night! Pop-up restaurant residency with big flavours and super local produce from local chef Adam Vassey. Book online.
7th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 7PM - 10PM
Pool Party! Weekly Games Night with pool, table tennis, and darts in a fun and friendly atmosphere, £3 donation.
8th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 7:30PM
Passmore Edwards Talks Presents: “After Pinochet - The Healing of a Country’s Wounded Heart,” film by local filmmaker Annabel Aguirre followed by a talk by Dr. Struan Gray - lecturer at Falmouth University specialising in Latin American culture. £2 on the door.
10th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 6PM - 10PM
BEASTRO - Opening Night! Pop-up restaurant residency with big flavours and super local produce from local chef Adam Vassey. Book online.
11th November 2023
Porthtowan Village Hall, 1PM - 10PM
Porthtowan Local Film Festival.
11th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 6PM - 10PM
BEASTRO - Opening Night! Pop-up restaurant residency with big flavours and super local produce from local chef Adam Vassey. Book online.
13th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 7:30PM
Community cinema night showing: “Another Year” directed by Mike Leigh and starring Lesley Manville, Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen. £4 donation.
14th November 2023
Blackwater, Passmore Edward's Institute
Quiz.
14th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 7PM - 10PM
Pool Party! Weekly Games Night with pool, table tennis, and darts in a fun and friendly atmosphere, £3 donation.
15th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 7:30PM
St Agnes Writers reading evening. Stories, poems and anecdotes. £3 on the door.
16th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 7:30PM
People’s Assembly. Local discussion on important issues. All welcome. More info on website.
17th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 6PM - 10PM
BEASTRO - Opening Night! Pop-up restaurant residency with big flavours and super local produce from local chef Adam Vassey. Book online.
18th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 2PM - 5PM
Happy Planet event - sharing sustainable and helpful ways to live with climate care films and stallholders. Free with donations collected for the transitions CPR (Camborne, Pool, Redruth) food bank.
18th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 8PM - 10PM
Pingers! Ping pong and dance music in the MMI Bar.
19th November 2023
Mount Pleasant Ecological Park, 10AM - 4PM
Family well-being fair.
18th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 6PM - 10PM
BEASTRO - Opening Night! Pop-up restaurant residency with big flavours and super local produce from local chef Adam Vassey. Book online.
21st November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 7PM - 10PM
Pool Party! Weekly Games Night with pool, table tennis, and darts in a fun and friendly atmosphere, £3 donation.
23rd November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 7:30PM
HorrorFi Film Night screening: “Enys Men” by Mark Jenkin and Q&A with the filmmaker! £5 - £7. Book online.
24th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 6PM - 10PM
BEASTRO - Opening Night! Pop-up restaurant residency with big flavours and super local produce from local chef Adam Vassey. Book online.
25th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 6PM - 10PM
BEASTRO - Opening Night! Pop-up restaurant residency with big flavours and super local produce from local chef Adam Vassey. Book online.
26th November 2023
St John’s Church, Mount Hawke, 11AM - 3PM
Serendipity sale and coffee morning with raffle
28th November 2023
Blackwater, Passmore Edward's Institute
Singer songwriter and member of the Oggymen, Will Keating, together with world renowned Banjo player John Dowling, will be playing at the Passmore Edwards Institute.
28th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 7PM - 10PM
Pool Party! Weekly Games Night with pool, table tennis, and darts in a fun and friendly atmosphere, £3 donation.
29th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 7:30
Community cinema night showing: “The Fableman,” A semi-autobiographical story loosely based on Spielberg’s adolescence and first years as a filmmaker. £4 donation.
30th November 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 7PM - 10PM
Power to the Meeple - St Agnes’ board game night. £4 donation.
1st Dec 2023
Miners & Mechanics’ St Agnes, 5PM - 9PM
Christmas Market Mingle and Jingle! Food and craft markets in the MMI and parish church. Mulled wine, mince pies and more TBA.
1st December 2023
Mount Hawke Methodist Chapel, 6:15PM - 8:15PM
Wreath making course and festive buffet. Booking only.
4th December 2023
Mount Hawke Methodist Chapel, 6PM - 8PM
Christmas makers market with local artists and makers selling handmade goods. Ceramics, stained glass, clothing, prints, jewellery and much more.
9th December 2023
Porthtowan Village Hall
Christmas bazaar with over 30 stalls, Santa’s grotto, etc.
16th December 2023
Mount Hawke Methodist Chapel, 1PM
A free Christmas dinner for those in the community. £5 fully refundable deposit. Booking only.
Submission Tips
If you have something to submit, whether it be an event, poster, write-up or some photographs, there are a couple of things that make it easier and more streamlined for the editor:
Some text lightly formatted in an email with photos attached is brilliant - images can be saved and uploaded, and text can be copied and pasted.
If you have an event for the calendar, please make sure it has location, time and date, with a brief description of what it is.
If you have an event poster, it is easiest uploaded if it is a PNG. PDFs are okay, but PNG is a lot quicker.
Rather than reply to last months email, please send a new email with a different subject title than the last.
Remember - not everyone has social media, and some will be reading printed copies of this newsletter.
Useful resources
St Agnes Parish Council website
St Agnes Parish Council Facebook
St Agnes Parish Community Calendar Facebook
Cornwall Council list of community minibuses
Mount Hawke Millennium Green Trust Facebook