News and Views April 2018

Keeping you in the loop

The sky’s the limit as the UK’s next astronaut visits Truro High School

Top space scientist Dr Suzie Imber inspired a new generation of space travellers on a recent visit to Cornwall’s highest ranked school, Truro High.

Winner of BBC2’s ‘Astronauts: Do you have what it takes?’, Suzie led talks and workshops for girls aged 9 to 18, encouraging them to follow their dreams and reach for the stars.

Truro High is the first school on mainland UK to host a solar observatory and pupils are encouraged to take up astronomy through an after-school club.

An associate professor of space physics at the University of Leicester, Dr Imber will return to Truro High in May to lead a series of workshops using the university’s planetarium. Visitors to the school’s open morning on 12th May will also get the chance to meet her.

For more information call 01872 272830 or visit www.trurohigh.co.uk

Dust off your trainers for the 3:10 to St Ives

Get off the sofa and onto the coast path with this stunning, scenic 5k run, organised by Bys Vyken on Saturday 12th May. The event starts from Dynamite Quay, Lelant, overlooking Hayle Bar, along the South West Coast Path, following one of Europe’s most prepossessing branch lines into St Ives.

You’ll ascend up dunes from a beach start to track the historic line in all its beauty over bridges, steps and wooded trail. You’ll pass Hawkes Point, offering an incomparable gaze at the coves of the St Ives bay coastline and beyond. The 5k finishes below St Ives station, making for an epic journey back on the tracks to where it all began.

Bys Vyken Events has recently been awarded ‘Plastic Free Coastlines Status’ by Surfers Against Sewage and Plastic Free Penzance.

For more information and to enter visit www.bysvykenevents.vpweb.co.uk

Calling all hot tub owners!

Having won Spa Retailer of the Year Gold Standard Award 2017, OC Spas has something to offer anyone who owns a hot tub.

The best part is that it doesn’t matter where you bought your spa – from servicing and maintenance to premium chemical sales, your needs are covered. OC Spas offers hot tub servicing, valeting and maintenance to all brands of hot tubs and spas, as well as hot tub repairs, should something go wrong.What’s more, OC members receive 24-hour water treatment advice and support, chemical training, as well as invitations to exclusive OC events. All of this, plus hot tub relocation and water quality diagnostics makes the OC service extremely comprehensive, so whether you’re already a proud owner of your own spa or
are aspiring to be one, be sure to give the team a call.

For more information call 01872 575333 or visit www.ocspas.co.uk

Make your pharmacist Your first port of call

The Royal College of General Practitioners recently suggested that the burden on GP practices would be reduced if patients consulted their pharmacists for health advice. Graham and Gillian Brack of Reeds Pharmacy, Truro are happy to advise where they can. They offer a few pointers that will help make the discussion better for both parties.

Graham explains: “It’s much easier if you consult the pharmacy that normally prepares your prescriptions. They will have access to your medicines history, and can obtain it if you haven’t opted out of the NHS Summary Care Record.”

Gillian adds: “There are some occasions when we need to see the patient, and it helps if you have the answers to the following ready: what are the symptoms? How long have you had the problem? What have you already tried? What other medicines do you take?”

For more information call 01872 272106 or visit www.reedspharmacy.co.uk

Beavering away for Cornwall Hospice Care

Youngsters from the 1st Truro Beavers have raised a record amount for Cornish charity, Cornwall Hospice Care.

In a project that involved making and selling festive items they collected £863.58. The Beavers produced a range of goods from cards to gifts, wreaths and stockings and sold them at a Christmas Fayre and at Sainsbury’s in Truro. 

The final total came as a shock to their leader Belinda Gough, “I was gobsmacked by how much we raised.  We collected £309 last year so we knew we had to beat that, but this was amazing!”

Clare Bray is a Community Fundraiser for Cornwall Hospice Care. “This is a superb total and it was lovely to have the presentation of the money take place at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell where the Beavers could see how their money helps others.”

For more information visit www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk

Forget spring cleaning, now’s the time to refresh your home décor!

If you’re looking to refresh your home this spring, the Up Memory Lane Interiors team has just relocated to 72 Trelowarren St Camborne. Due to the success of the business, Up Memory Lane is now offering a larger range of furniture, home décor products and interior solutions. Specialising in vintage, rustic, industrial, antique and farmhouse styles, Up Memory Lane is an official stockist of Frenchic Paint, offering the full range of 55 colours!

This fantastic business will also be launching the six new shades of its very own ‘Al Fresco’ range in April! This beautiful range of paint is designed for outdoor projects, but can be well used indoors too, so it’s well worth checking out!

There’s also a painting commission service available, and the team holds regular workshops, meaning you can boost your home décor skills then reap the rewards!!

For more information call 07771 395551 or visit Facebook@upmemorylane

Specialist advice for grade listed homeowners

As specialist surveyors of historic and listed buildings, Court Design has a close working relationship with the local authority conservation officers. This means that when a client needs advice and design work for alterations, refurbishments, conversions or extensions to their property, the team is in the best place to assist them through the processes required, including gaining the appropriate permissions. Court Design uses a collective experience of over 20 years working with historic buildings, ensuring the most appropriate materials are used to enhance and maintain these historic assets, encompassing conservation philosophies for the long term protection and maintenance of the buildings.

Andrew Hayes tells us: “From our two offices in Cornwall and Somerset we cover the entire Westcountry. We also recently won the Somerset building excellence award for design and conversion of a Grade II listed barn into a home!”

For more information call 01326 376000 or visit www.courtdesign.co.uk

Changing your hair need not mean changing your cut!

There are so many ways to play with your style without having to go for the chop or change your colour. Giving advice on how to style your hair at home is something Zeb Gethen, founder of Zebrafinch Hair feels is incredibly important.

“There are so many ways to create a more finished look in the morning without having to spend lots of time doing it. “I like to always talk through how you can get the best from your hair using the easiest and quickest styling tricks, most of which I learned doing photo shoots and fashion shows over the years.”

It’s surprisingly easy to smooth your hair within a really short space of time given the right guidance, so why not get booked in and see how quick and easy Zeb can make your hair routine!

For more information call 07548 539267 or visit www.zebrafinchhair.co.uk

Interiora brings bathroom technology to Cornwall!

After attending one of the biggest bathroom and kitchen shows in Europe, the KBB Show, the Interiora team feel that clients should be aware of just how vast and extensive technology has become within the bathroom industry.

Director and Interior Designer, Megan Dack explains: “From TVs in your LED lit mirror, to whirlpool baths with colour changing LED lights; even electric underfloor heating and de-misting mirrors, all are designed and developed to make your bathroom experience more comfortable and relaxing.

“Here at Interiora we work hard to bring the most current bathroom technology to Cornwall and our clients. We believe every- one should have the option to indulge in these technologies, making their bathroom experiences as luxurious as they want.” 

For more information call 01736 802100 or visit www.interiora.co.uk

Colourfence – low maintenance and built to last

If you, like many others, have succumbed to low price wooden fencing that simply refuses to last, especially in the kind of rough weather that we’ve had over the last few months, perhaps Colourfence Cornwall can help.

With a stunning range of pre-coloured steel fencing that’s guaranteed to last for 25 years, Colourfence has installed more than 400 fences across the region. The feedback is pretty good too, as one such customer from Truro enthuses on their Checkatrade page: “I love my new fence, it’s stylish and fits well within a conservation village. Most of all I love not worrying every time we have stormy weather that my fence will blow down!”

Based in Tintagel, Colourfence Cornwall director Olly and his team cover the whole of Cornwall with the average installation time being only one day, so if your fence is looking a little shabby, why not give them a call to book in a free quote?

For more information call 01840 537547 or visit www.colourfencecornwall.co.uk

Get in early and book your table for the spring at Tregairewoon Farm Kitchen!

After enjoying a well-deserved winter break, the team at Tregairewoon Farm Kitchen is gearing up for Easter, with the café being open at weekends serving Saturday Farmhouse Breakfasts and the ever-popular Sunday carvery. With everything cooked from scratch on the premises using fresh, local produce (even the roast pork is reared on the farm!), you couldn’t be surer of the menu’s provenance.

If you’re planning on getting out and into Cornwall’s rich foodie scene this spring, be sure to give the Tregairewoon team a call and book a table!

For more information call  07967 826405 or visit  www.tregairewoonfarmkitchen.co.uk

Welcome to the Summerhouse Gallery

The Summerhouse Gallery is a beautiful, welcoming space showcasing the very best of Cornish art. Located just across the water from the iconic St Michaels Mount, Summerhouse Gallery aims to create the perfect place to discover paintings, jewellery, sculpture and glass in a relaxed manner. The team showcases a variety of Cornwall’s most loved artists, celebrating both the established and the up and coming.

Senior Gallery Consultant Ellie Samuels tells us: “The beauty of art is in its ability to connect, which is the ethos that sits at the core of the Summerhouse.”

The gallery is both child and dog friendly, so why not pop in and meet the team next time you’re in Marazion?

For more information call 01736 711400 or visit www.summerhousegallery.co.uk

Holiday home tips

George at Cornish Traditional Cottages talks us through the factors worth considering when buying a Cornish holiday home.

First up is location. It pays to invest in a location that guests will want to visit; it needs to work well as a base for their exploration of Cornwall. Is an area popular or undiscovered? Coastal or rural? You’ll be tempted by honeypot locations like St Ives, Bude and Newquay, but just because another location isn’t teeming with tourists, it doesn’t make it an unviable investment opportunity. Again, considering proximity to local attractions can really help you decide whether it’s worth your while.

George also stresses some property attributes that can really help make your investment a fruitful one. “Between basic amenities and well-considered provisions, you can create a holiday home perfect for the audience you’re trying to attract. For instance, these days, connectivity is king and while it was once a USP, it’s become an expectation that WiFi and broadband of a decent speed will be available, and free of charge, too!

“Real USPs need to demonstrate a unique offering that guests won’t find anywhere else. Even a hot tub, these days, isn’t unique, but if it complements a series of other luxurious attributes, it’s definitely worth a mention. Other considerations include whether you can offer family or baby friendly accommodation, a swimming pool, or a beach front positioning, for example.”

You’ll also want to consider being dog friendly. Pet owners are a great source of low season bookings, and it’s “a bit of a no-brainer for rural properties or those close to the coast path.”

For more information call 01208 893980 or visit www.corncott.com

New products at Inspiration

The recently added Reuzal range of gents’ hair pomades (pictured) originated in Schorem, a barbershop in Rotterdam that has specialised in traditional barbering techniques and hot towel razor shaves for over 50 years. Influenced by Rock and
Roll and its subcultures, Schorem barbers developed the Reuzal range to meet
their exacting standards and the needs
of their clientele.

Formulated in Italy, Affinage describe their products as ‘unique and technology driven’. Affinage’s newly introduced products are embraced by consumers and professionals alike, making them one of the fastest growing hair care brands in the world.  Steph Jones, Inspiration Salon Manager, rates the Affinage Vintage Collection as one of her favourites in the salon. “Affinage hairspray has become a must have for all of us here. Even clients who don’t normally like hairspray love this one!”

Pop into Inspiration Professional in Truro to try these products for yourself!

For more information call 01872 245623 or email inspiration@truro-penwith.ac.uk

Art Exhibition to open in Gorran Haven this May

Over the early May Bank Holiday, Cornish artist Sheila Pearce will be holding her first exhibition in more than ten years of painting, at Gorran Haven Village Memorial Hall.

The idea, Sheila tells us, “is that it will show the story of my progression as a painter. My paintings are of the Cornish landscape and coastal villages. Paintings, prints and cards will all be for sale.”

Sheila’s work is described as atmospheric. “One of the things I like is when the viewer gets the atmosphere and the emotion that I’m trying to put over in the painting, as well as just recognising locations.”

Sheila will also be placing painted rocks around the village as part of the children’s hide and seek game, Cornwall Rocks, as well as displaying a life size painting of Captain Poldark, in which visitors can have their face photographed!

For more information email sheila.pearce.art@gmail.com or visit www.sheilapearce.co.uk

Transform your kitchen and bathroom this spring

Cornish kitchens and bathrooms is an independent retailer based in the Old Brewery on the outskirts of Penryn. Its recently upgraded showroom coupled with the high-end range of kitchens and bathrooms on display makes this a must visit outlet for anyone looking for inspiration for their dream kitchen or bathroom.

Offering an extensive range of suites and high quality kitchens, Cornish Kitchens and Bathrooms really does have a large selection to suit all projects.

Owner Nick Ellis tells us: ‘We are building on our ability to provide quality products coupled with quality installation. We aim to make the process of achieving your desired kitchen, bathroom or bedroom as enjoyable as possible, an experience that we want to begin as soon as people walk through the door of our showroom. Now, our showroom is set up to inspire customers as soon as they walk through the door, with a range of colours, designs and styles so vast, you’ll be spoiled for choice!”

For more information call 01326 376788 or visit www.cornishkitchensandbathrooms.co.uk

Family fun for days at Polurrian Bay Hotel

For the little ones, free Kids Club activities include scratch art, pebble painting, loom bands, hama beads and face painting, while the Outdoor Play Zone gives adults and kids alike the chance to enjoy giant chess, giant snakes and ladders, hop scotch, and a host of other outdoor games, all against the stunning backdrop of Mounts Bay.

Children love the hotel’s Piskie Village Garden; piskies are fairy-like creatures that can only be found in Cornwall and according to the hotel staff, the piskies built their secret village in the hotel gardens!

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, the superb Cornish cuisine is one of Polurrian’s chief highlights, with the team of highly skilled chefs ensuring that only the finest, freshest ingredients are used. They even grow their own herbs!

For more information call 01326 240421 or visit www.polurrianbayhotel.com

Big plans ahead for Philps Pasties

The word on the grapevine is that Philps Pasties is planning a big move to popular foodie village and home of Cornwall Living, Porthleven.

Philps is a family-owned and run business with family values at its core. These have helped shape the team’s commitment to hard work, enabling it to keep founder Sammy Philps’ original vision alive – to delight people across the world with the delicious taste of the Philps Cornish pasty. Indeed, Philps’ Pasties by Post delivery service does exactly this, across the UK, and with the help of ex-pats and social media, Philps’ distinct flavour has become renowned across the globe.

So, if you want to give the gift of flavour to somebody you know that loves a Cornish pasty, be sure to head to the website. If you’d like to know more about Philps’ plans for Porthleven, all we can say for now is watch this space…

For more information call 01736 755661 or visit www.philpspasties.co.uk

Don’t miss the family fun at Bodmin & Wenford Steam

Up first this spring is an extended opportunity to ‘eggsplore’ and follow the trail by rail with the annual Easter Egg Hunt, running from Tuesday 27th March until Sunday 15tth April.

May will see the railway taken over by bears, when you can meet Paddington as he stops at Bodmin General Station for a unique visit on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May.

Visitors can meet the very special bear at intervals on each day, plus there’ll be steam trains, stories, music and more, so don’t miss it! Then, from Sunday 26th until Tuesday 28th May, Bodmin & Wenford will host a Teddy Bear’s Picnic, so if you go down to the railway, be sure to take teddy along for the ride!

For more information call 01208 73555 or visit www.bodminrailway.co.uk

Get a new-style painted kitchen without the fuss

Just launched by The Kitchen Facelift Company is Painted Kitchens & Co – a stunning new range of on-trend renovation styles featuring painted wood, mono or contrast colour kitchens in soft pastel shades, solid work surfaces, open shelving and copper accessories.

Cleverly avoiding the need to replace your existing kitchen, this fantastic Cornish company will expertly replace and upgrade all visible surfaces with new painted doors, drawers, pelmets, plinths, panels, insets, shelving, tiling and worktops, creating a completely new look without mess, fuss or disruption. Or, with a specialist painting process, they can turn your dark, tired kitchen into a light and bright modern space, ideal where the quality of your existing panels is still good!

With an unlimited choice of colours and a great range of styles from a leading UK manufacturer, top quality wood doors are supplied within just three weeks, with low direct sale prices.

For more information call 01326 240207 or visit www.kitchenfaceliftcornwall.co.uk

Isn’t it time you treated yourself?

The Spa at St Enodoc Hotel offers a relaxing and enjoyable day spa experience. The friendly, fully qualified team always goes the extra mile to ensure you leave feeling invigorated and pampered.

As well as luxury signature treatments, you’ll find express treatments on offer, as well as exclusive hire of The Spa and inclusive packages with lunch in the hotel restaurant.

St Enodoc cares about the purity of its skincare products, so has teamed up with eco-luxury brand Pinks Boutique. Hand-blended with care and accredited by the Soil Association, the products from Pinks Boutique are made entirely from natural and organic ingredients that can be traced right back to source. So if you’re looking for a pampering this spring, why not book yourself in to The Spa at St Enodoc Hotel?

For more information call 01208 862858 or visit www.enodoc-hotel.co.uk

Something to smile about

Taking better care of our health is often high on many of our to-do lists, yet dental care is all-too often overlooked. Fortunately, even if you suddenly find yourself in pain but aren’t registered anywhere, Wadebridge Dental offers emergency appointments for unregistered patients.

As a registered patient, you can make the most of evening appointments on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with Practice Principle Andrew Taylor and associate dentist Kate Rowe.

What’s more, the team also offers free teeth whitening when you’re having your teeth straightened, making the transformation you’ve been dreaming of a reality, at a fraction of the cost!

Facial aesthetic treatments are also available, including botox and fillers, and there are even vouchers available, perfect for anyone who you know has been meaning to book an appointment.

For more information call 01208 813816 or visit www.wadebridgedentalcare.co.uk

Cardinham Woods brings The Highway Rat to life!

The Highway Rat is the latest Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book to be brought to life on the forest trail at Cardinham Woods. Follow the panels, complete activities and interact with the forest as you head on a journey with The Highway Rat and all the characters from the story.

Cardinham is a beautiful mixed woodland, popular with cyclists, dog walkers, horse riders and indeed anybody who loves the great outdoors. Waymarked trails lead deep into the woods, with viewpoints and a fascinating history to be discovered.

This particular adventure is one that the whole family can enjoy, so be sure to pick up an activity pack for just £3 from Woods Café before embarking on your highway adventure!

For more information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/cardinham

Get in the seasonal spirit with Curio!

With spring and summer around the corner, Curio Spirits Company is excited to announce a new spiced rum, which is currently having the finishing touches adding to it.

The team is also looking forward to running more in-store gin tastings, with Curio Spirits being stocked in iconic stores such as Harvey Nichols and John Lewis. They’ll also be exhibiting at various events, including Imbibe Live London and, of course, Porthleven Food Festival in April, where they’ll have their
own bar.

Curio had an impressive 2017, winning two golds, three silvers and more awards in regional, national and international competitions. The Mullion based distiller was also nominated for Gin Producer UK 2017 by the International Wine and Spirits Competition, which is quite an achievement! Co-founder Rubina tells us: “We’re hoping to improve upon last year by entering more competitions with our new Fly Navy Gin and other new spirits, so watch this space!”

For more information visit www.curiospiritscompany.co.uk

Beautiful coastal collections now in at the Cornwall Homestore

Make sure you visit the Cornwall Homestore showroom on Kernick Road in Penryn, where you can find fantastic new coastal dining and bedroom collections.

Traditional in style yet with a contemporary feel, the St Ives dining collection is a timeless range that offers elegance and practicality for any home. Creating a truly stunning look, this range is guaranteed to give a lasting appear, ideal for both formal and casual dining.

Other coastal collections include the Godrevy bedroom range and the Fowey dining collection. Alongside these, the Cornwall Homestore also has a huge selection of beds, mattresses, carpet, rugs, sofas, indeed everything you’ll need to make your dream home a reality! So stop putting it off and pay a visit to the expansive showroom in Penryn!

For more information call 01326 377485

Introducing Big Tree @ Crasken to this year’s Cornish festival scene!

Working in partnership with Crasken Farm to produce a family friendly bijoux festival with a strong musical backbone, Big Tree CIC has drawn on contacts from Manchester, London and Bristol to put together a line up that would be equally welcome at some of the UK’s most well-renowned festivals!

Big Tree @ Crasken, which opens at 12pm on Saturday 28th April, also welcomes a strong Cornish contingent, with Falmouth-based favourites The Roustabouts performing, as well as local act The Outerclass, who’ll show that Cornwall too can do hip hop! There’ll also be a host of family friendly workshops in the daytime, including upcycling and jewellery making.

Being a community interest company, Big Tree has put a lot of care into ensuring the event has the utmost creative integrity, as well as ensuring that as much good comes out of the festival as possible, which is why any left over camping equipment has been promised to nearby homeless groups.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/bigtreesocial

Grand charity auction to support National Coastwatch Institution at Nare Point

The National Coastwatch Institution has more than 50 stations around the coast of England and Wales, keeping watch over our rugged and often dangerous coastlines.

On Saturday 14th April the institution will be holding a Grand Charity Auction at Porthleven Public Hall in a bid to raise funds for the voluntary work done at Nare Point between Porthallow and Gillan.

While technology has improved vastly over the last few decades, nothing beats a watchful pair of eyes, so the funds raised at this event will go a long way towards supporting the invaluable service provided at this small, unassuming lookout.

There are over 75 lots to be auctioned by celebrity auctioneer David Lay, including a flying lesson, sailing and boat trips, cream teas, local art works, Cornish hampers, Vineyard tours and much, much more!

For more information visit www.facebook.com/NarePointNCI