One of Cornwall’s biggest woodlands is receiving a funding boost to get more people out in nature with the launch of a new creative, community and wellness hub.
Tehidy Country Park, managed by Cornwall Council, will see two former estate workers’ cottages renovated so it can house new activities to be run by creative and nature-based social prescribing practitioners.
The heritage and regeneration project is being funded by the Government through a £151k award from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Shared Prosperity Fund.
Located at the park’s Kennels Hill, one of the cottages will be transformed later this year into an artists’ residency with opportunities for artists to apply to base themselves at the cottage for free up until March 2025.
Cornwall Council is partnering with Creative Kernow to run the residency with further details to be publicised.
The other cottage is being transformed to become a community wellness centre including a therapy room, space for community events and rentable office areas. It includes a commission for artists to reimagine a derelict Victorian outside toilet building as part of an immersive art project called Poetry Privy.
There will also be a range of opportunities for organisations in the creative and wellness sector to deliver an extensive activities programme from this summer.
It includes a commission for artists to reimagine a derelict Victorian outside toilet building as part of an immersive art project called Poetry Privy.
The latest initiatives build on the work of two successful Tehidy-based organisations. The award-winning company Rogue Theatre performs regular shows at the woods and the Remembering Our Roots project offers one-to-one support in the therapeutic nature setting.
Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall’s cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: “This funding award will kickstart exciting new ventures to help bring new audiences to Tehidy and encourage many more people to get out into nature at this historic site.”
