The Cornwall Blog

View from the footbridge at Wadebridge I took the photograph above on my phone a few nights ago, it was a very high tide and there were unique colours in the sky. It prompted me to put some photos of Cornwall on the blog. Spring blossom in Waderbidge Early morning in Padstow Harbour Surfers at Polzeath Beach Waterfowl on the Camel Estuary

Dame Helen Mirren admires a King Protea plucked from the Burncoose stand After months of planning, designing, and growing all of the hard work paid off this morning when Burncoose Nurseries received the news that they had been awarded a well deserved Gold Medal for their climate change garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The garden which is once again supported by Terra Firma, was designed to showcase the different types of plants that are suited to the changing environment. By teaming up with Tresco Abbey Gardens the Burncoose exhibit highlighted plants which thrive in warm, dry and windy conditions, as well as the more familiar shade loving species. The garden illustrated how plants which have historically only been grown in areas with micro climates, like the Isles of Scilly and some parts of Cornwall, can now be tried in other areas of the UK as a result of the changing weather patterns and temperatures. Owner of Burncoose Nurseries, Charles Williams, said “We are delighted to

Rick Stein and his team of chefs from The Seafood Restaurant will be heading to Wadebridge this June to prepare a special dinner in aid of Redruth R.F.C. The event, to be held at the Royal Cornwall Showground Pavillion in Wadebridge on Saturday 27th June, will be an opportunity for guests to enjoy a unique five course menu prepared by Rick and his team of chefs. The evening also promises to be a true ‘Battle of the Ashes’ with talks from sporting stars Rodney Hogg, Australian quick bowling legend, and ex-England spinner Geoff Miller. Dave Penberthy, Director of Rubgy and former player at Redruth R.F.C. said: “This is a wonderful gesture from Rick and his team and it is pleasing to know how much they believe in what we are doing at Redruth. The club strongly believes that its future depends very much on the talent that is currently developed through its youth structures and having support from individuals such as Rick and his team is inspiring. “It will help enormously in our aim to kee

Reservations are now being taken for a special fundraising lunch at Fifteen Cornwall, Watergate Bay, on Thursday 11th June, when Jamie Oliver will be donning his chef whites and getting back in the kitchen. Returning to Fifteen Cornwall for the graduation of the latest apprentices, and to welcome in the new cohort, Jamie will accompany Executive Chef Neil Haydock and the team of professional chefs to create a sublime three course lunch using the finest local seasonal ingredients. Fifteen Cornwall proudly aims to use a minimum of 80% local Cornish produce. In what promises to be a fun and relaxed occasion, Jamie will be chatting to guests to take them through the menu. Dave Meneer, Fifteen Cornwall’s CEO, will be on hand to give guests a chance to put some questions to Jamie over the course of the lunch. Later in the day Jamie will attend a private graduation ceremony for this year’s White Hats (Fifteen Cornwall’s apprentice chefs) after a year of training and experience in the kitche

Fire fears disrupted a Truro concert held to mark 30 years of the city being twinned with Morlaix in France. Organised by the Truro Morlaix Twinning Associaton, the concert was due to start at 3pm on April 18 in the Mayor's Parlour at Truro City Hall. However, just as the conductor stood with baton poised for the music to begin, the hall’s fire alarm sounded. The audience, along with musicians from France and Cornwall, hastily evacuated the building. The concerned crowd then waited for half an hour in Boscawen Street whilst the fire brigade searched the building. Finally the all clear was given and the rest of the concert passed off without a hitch, except for local cellist David Hoskin being temporarily stuck in a lift with one of the more mature French female musicians. The orchestra – composed of members of renowned string group the St Mewan Sinfonia and Morlaix’s L’Orchestre de Patio – played a well received programme of works by Bach, Grieg, Vivaldi and Brahms. The concert, wh

If you are fortunate enough to live near the Camel Trail in Cornwall, no doubt you have had a stroll or bike ride somewhere between Padstow and Bodmin, maybe even ventured the full length. Whatever the case I am sure you would have delighted in the bird life found all along this trail. I wrote previously regarding bird watching on the Camel Estuary, and recently I took the plunge and purchased a scope to enhance my birding. It took me hours of research, visits to optic demonstrations in the field, and advice from other users before I finally made up my mind on which scope to go for. My decision?…Swarovski ATS 80HD with a 20 - 60 Zoom lens (pictured above). No, it was not cheap, but I had been saving for some time and reasoned that I only want to buy once, and so in my research decided to get one of the best on the market. It hasn't let me down. In my opinion the optimum Zoom for clarity is around 35 - 40 times. I am not a Swarovski salesman, nor am I suggesting you go out and buy o

(L to R) Ecoco owner Abigail Billinge and Cornish Mutual Inspector Roger Hawkings viewing some of the products on sale at the new shop in Penryn. An eco-friendly start-up business in Cornwall is set to beat the credit crunch by opening a brand new shop selling organic and fair trade jewellery and clothing supported by South West insurance firm Cornish Mutual. Ecoco, based at Jubilee Wharf in Penryn, is the brainchild of 30 year old Abi Billinge who already runs her own on-line company, Absolution Saves. The shop, which opened earlier this month, is billed as a ‘showcase’ for a number of small, ethical Cornish businesses and products, including clothing made out of recycled plastic bottles from Penzance and recycled copper jewellery. Abi, Ecoco’s Creative Director, says: “Everything we do is about Cornwall and supporting local designer makers and retailers – I’m keen to champion new, different and interesting things happening on our doorstep. I wanted to show everything in one pla