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HEATH project claims successes at conference in Cornwall

The controversial HEATH Project held a conference at St Ives to 'celebrate' its successes.



This is from Natural 'England'.

The HEATH Project celebrated it’s successes at it’s final conference last week. HEATH project partners attended from Holland, France, Wales and Cornwall to exchange information and best practice gained over the four year HEATH project.

During the first day, hosted at the Tregenna Castle Hotel in St Ives, over seventy delegates heard presentations from Herbert Diemont and Wim Geraedts from Holland, French partner Louis-Marie Guillon, Jean Snell from Sense of Place in Cornwall and Graeme Kirkham, from the Historic Environment Service at Cornwall County Council.

Herbert Diemont explained, “Heathland must be conserved or it will disappear like it has in Spain and Portugal. To do this it must be managed. The HEATH project has helped this management take place in Holland.”

Wim Geraedts highlighted some of the products that are being trialed in Holland such as heathland cheeses, beef sausages, tinned goulash and fuel pellets made from cut vegetation.

Rose Nankervis, a farmer from Zennor commented, “Sometimes when I’m out on the cliff with my cattle I’m encouraged and heartened that there are many farmers thinking about how best to manage heathland. It’s really good to come to this conference and hear that all over European people are doing the same.”

Steven Bone, who farms Lanyon Farm added, “It’s interesting to see that projects such as Sense of Place are reaching out to future generations and trying to educate children how and why heathland should be managed.”

“It’s also good to hear how much heathlands were managed in the past and how ancient monuments may be destroyed if they are not managed well into the future. We need to reach out further to the public so the projects skeptics can appreciate the HEATH projects work.”

On the second day delegates visited Cornish HEATH project sites in West Penwith and on the Lizard.

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Please find enclosed three photographs:

Conference delegates: Conference delegates at Tregenna castle Hotel

Bosigran Cliff: Graeme Kirkham, from the Historic Environment Service at Cornwall County Council looking at the archeological features on Bosigran Cliff.

Carnyorth & farmer by Brian Williams: delegates crossing Carnyorth being led by farmer Brain Williams
For further information please contact Alison Elvey de Rios, Communications and Community Manager, The HEATH project, Tel direct line: 01872 245066 / Tel Office: 01872 245045. alison.elvey@naturalengland.org.uk <mailto:alison.elvey@naturalengland.org.uk> www.theheathproject.org.uk <file://www.theheathproject.org.uk>

Note to editors:

The HEATH project is a partnership including local farmers, commoners, Natural England, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, The National Trust, Eden project, Cornwall County Council - Historic Environment Service and Penwith District Council.

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings. For more information visit www.naturalengland.org.uk <http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/>



Alison Elvey de Rios
Communications and Community Manager
The HEATH Project
Natural England
Pydar House, Pydar Street
Truro
Cornwall TR1 1XU
Tel direct line: 01872 245066
Tel Office: 01872 245045
alison.elvey@naturalengland.org.uk
www.theheathproject.org.uk <file://www.theheathproject.org.uk>

"Restoring Cornwall's disappearing heathlands."
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