April 2024
In this newsletter:
- Funding success
- New Tenant
- Community Garden
- April Work Party
- Ecological Survey
- Ongoing Learning
- Willow Plant Support Course
- Public Tours
- Dying Matters event at Pentiddy
Upcoming dates for your diaries:
- Next work party – Friday May 24th, 10am – 3pm.
- Midsummer Picnic and Bioblitz – Saturday June 22nd. Timings TBC
- Public tours – Sunday July 14th, 3 – 5pm , Saturday August 10th.10 – 12am
- Dying Matters (at Pentiddy Natural Burials) – Sunday May 12th, 1:30 – 4:30pm.
Spring is in full swing! The much-loved swallows have returned and bring real joy and life to the land here. Beltane, or May Day, marks the beginning of the most active time of the year which definitely seems to be the case with Tregovenek as with the rest of nature. Energy is bursting forth with a strong sense of promise for the year ahead.
Funding Success
The first piece of really good news is that our application to the Cornwall Community Capacity Fund has been successful! This will enable us to bring together a team of expert advisors to test the need for and seek out current and potential small local businesses aligned to our vision for Tregovenek for input into our business plan. They will also explore the practical feasibility for the development of small scale workshop units and our proposed hub, including planning advice. We will keep everyone updated through the newsletter and kernel Circle.
It’s a big step forward for Tregovenek. Massive congratulations to all those on the board of directors and the finance circle who helped to put the application together.
New Tenant
The second great piece of news is that we are very soon to be joined by Hayley Rogers who is coming on board as a passionate permaculture designer with the bonus of project management experience and of generally being an awesome (and very useful!) human! She will be helping out in the garden circle and the community engagement circle as well as taking on specific roles such as launching a crowdfunder for the garden. She will be part-exchanging her skills for use of the flat which the maintenance circle have been busy preparing for her arrival.
Community Garden
There are some large elements in the garden design such as felling the spruce trees to enable us to return the roadside boundary to a native hedge, building a disabled-access compost toilet and substantial landscaping. Hayley is super excited to be taking the lead on the funding for this as her first major contribution to Tregovenek – exciting times!
St Cleer Parish Council are also showing their support for our work with the garden and have supplied funds for more wheelbarrows and some staging for the small polytunnel. Thank you St Cleer!
April Work Party
The work parties are such a highlight as we bring people together on the land and get our hands in the soil (or on tools and paintbrushes!) April’s work party was no exception. The weather was superb and what we managed to achieve together in just a few hours was staggering as always! The next work party is on Friday the 24th May to which everyone is welcome.
Ecological Survey
With assistance from the University of Plymouth and Jordan Daines (a local woman who has generously offered to share her survey experience), the Voice of the Land circle are organising a base-line ecological survey of the field starting in May to show how its ecological value changes over time as we introduce regenerative farming methods and improve the soils and habitat value.
This ties in with our less formal Bioblitz which will be part of our Midsummer picnic and celebration on June 22nd. With support from the University we’re on a mission to document all the critters and plants calling this place home. Everyone is invited to come along, bring a picnic, and revel in a day of bug hunts, bird watching, and plant discoveries. More details to follow….
Ongoing Learning
The Ways of Working circle are putting together a training programme to include another Introduction to Sociocracy course for our latest new members, followed by Non-Violent Communication and Conflict Resolution later in the year. This learning will help to ensure that Tregovenek thrives by keeping our communication, relationships and personal well-being healthy – an essential part of our foundations.
Willow plant support course
On April 27th, Pensilva’s own Jessie Carr ran a wonderful willow workshop for us. At the end of the day there were 9 very happy people trying to fit their beautiful plant supports into their cars after a full and enjoyable day. There is already talk about more workshops from Jessie in the future as she has so many willow skills to share. Watch this space!
Public tours
As in the previous few years, we will be joining forces with neighbouring Pentiddy Woods to offer public tours. As well as having a tour of Tregovenek, there will be the chance to take a look at a whole host of ‘green living’ examples at Pentiddy to include natural burials, the community woodland, coppice, off-grid living, natural building, no-dig and forest gardening… Please spread the word to anyone who you think might be interested. Donations will be going to Tregovenek’s community garden. Sunday 14th July, 3 – 5pm and Saturday August 10th, 10 – 12am .
Dying Matters at Pentiddy
Finally, there is a Dying Matters event at Pentiddy Natural Burial Site next door on May 12th.
There are so many ways to help out and get involved at Tregovenek. Please get in touch if you’re interested to find out more. We’d love to hear from you!
Email: outreach@tregovenek.org.uk.
With thanks to Sara, Vicki and Hayley in the Community Engagement Circle, you can also follow us these days on Facebook and Instagram.