Blog 2021 (Environment)

Transforming an acre of bare agricultural land into a productive, organic, no-dig growing space is no mean feat. But that’s exactly what Community Roots have set out to do. Set above the coastal town of Porthtowan, the site has splendid 360o views of the Cornish countryside. Its exposed location does mean that the team have to...

Hidden in a secluded corner of Bodmin, a community garden is about to undergo a fantastic transformation this winter. intoBodmin is an inspirational community outreach company whose whole purpose is to spark creativity, fun and learning in Bodmin. Fin Irwin and the other founders help bring the community together through cultural...

Put in the spotlight in 2020 when it hosted the G7 Summit, the much-loved seaside resort of St. Ives is a sought-after holiday destination. It’s beautiful beaches, oldy-woldy streets and rich history make it a beautiful location. But the way the town has grown and expanded has left very little to no room for private gardens. Like a...

Sometimes when you’re in the middle of the countryside, it’s hard to imagine that climate change is a real problem. With so much greenery, wildlife and a bright blue sky above you, carbon emissions, plastic pollution and melting icecaps seem distant and not applicable to the area, or to you.

Lovingly known as the ‘million-dollar plots’ because of their view overlooking the Exe Estuary, the Heathfield Allotments have been bringing the community of Lympstone together since 1879. But these allotments held a dark secret.

For the people who live on the Isles of Scilly, water scarcity is part and parcel of their everyday lives. This is because the islands’ water supply depends mainly on rainfall. The water gets soaked up and stored within rocks as ‘groundwater’ and harvested through boreholes. Unlike on the South West Peninsula, there are no surface...

Imagine you had a 3-acre site to water and only two watering cans to do it with. On top of that, whenever you use your tap, 52 allotments who share your water supply, can’t use theirs. This was the frustrating reality for Buckland Food Growers before we helped them out with our Water-Saving Community Fund.

  A glimpse at what happens behind the scenes once a blockage has been reported. The sewerage system is an extremely important part of our lives whether we think about it or not. Usually, the complex maze of pipework flows no problem. But sometimes, the unimaginable happens. Suddenly, you step outside and the manhole you normally...

Lockdown has meant we’ve all had the needle over the last year – but for craft group the Lyonesse Quilters and Stitchers there’s finally something to celebrate.  

For the locals of East Cornwall, the road out of lockdown includes looking forward to an improved village hall when it reopens. The heart of the community; Gunnislake Village Hall has received part of our £100,000 Neighbourhood Fund.    

A community hall in Devon has received funding to improve its outdoor facilities for local families. Our new Neighbourhood Fund is helping Sparkwell Parish Hall and Playground Trust to accommodate more families in a Covid-secure manner, thanks to a generous grant.

Members of a Plymouth boxing club will be as pleased as punch to get back in the ring when lockdown ends ­– and they’ll be doing it in smart new kit.