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Penwith: PREPARATIONS WELL UNDER WAY FOR ‘ON THE EDGE’ FESTIVAL

Organisers have been busy putting the details together for the upcoming ‘On the Edge’ Festival - a packed week of walks, talks and events celebrating the distinctive scenery and wildlife, arts and culture, history, geology and atmosphere of West Cornwall’s mining coast.

Running from the 1st – 8th October, ‘On the Edge’ forms part of the SeaBritain 2005 celebrations. Throughout the week there will be boat trips around the West Penwith coast, special guided walks, events at Levant and Geevor Tin Mines, discounted scenic flights and flying lessons at Land’s End Aerodrome, a special photographic exhibition depicting the landscape of the area at the Botallack Count House workshop, displays at Cape Cornwall Country Club, art exhibitions at Yew Tree Art Gallery, Morvah Schoolhouse and other galleries in and around St Just, as well as guided tours of Cape Cornwall’s Coast Watch Look Out and Zennor Folk Museum.
Daily highlights include rock pool searches, writing and crafts workshops, illustrated talks and films by artists and mining experts, guided walks and tours with naturalists, archaeologists and geologists, food and fun.
Lucia Crothall of the St Just Heritage Area Regeneration Project which has subsidised the Festival said, ‘Probably for the first time, the festival links local businesses in a joint promotional initiative, and many local people are generously donating time, venues and skills to enable it to take place.’
The festival will be opened at 2 pm by West Country TV presenter Sarah Lillicrap, at Geevor Tin Mine, who will also open an exhibition of photographs from the �Spirit of St Just� photography competition. Sarah will present certificates and cheques to competition prize winners and be handed a copy of a new book, “Nine Walks around St Just and St Ives�, launched as part of the Festival.

Written by Robin Bates and Bill Scolding of Serpentine Design and published by the St Just Heritage Area Regeneration Project, the book is priced at £4.50 and will soon to be available from Cornish bookshops and a number of other local retail outlets. It incorporates over 170 illustrations – including maps, archive pictures and wildlife photography, and is packed full of information about local heritage sites and attractions, folklore, archaeology and natural history as well as giving detailed step by step information on the nine circular walking routes ranging from three to seven miles.

As part of the festival launch, on Saturday 1st October, Geevor Tin Mine’s museum, shop and surface buildings will be especially opened from 2 – 4 pm at a discounted price of £2 for adults and £1 for children (ticket available from the shop). The popular Penzamba group will also be performing throughout the site until 4 pm when the café will be the venue for a free preview reading of a new play based on local mining heritage.

Renowned local playwright and Cornish Bard Pauline Sheppard will introduce her play and actors will offer a taste of what may next year result in an exciting full-blown community production in St Just’s Plen-An-Gwary.

A full festival programme is available at www.landsendarea.co.uk or from the St. Just Library/Information Centre and many other venues. Booking is essential and places are limited. Booking and further information is available by calling the St Just Tourist Information Centre on 01736 788669. All outside events are subject to cancellation in the event of extreme weather conditions. Any profits and donations will to be given to the Marine Conservation Society.
In conjunction with the Festival a flurry of activity has been undertaken including the launch of a new website www.landsendarea.co.uk and a new St Just Heritage Area Guide & Map to highlight the special character of the St Just heritage area on the far western tip of Cornwall.
The project is scheduled for completion by December 2005 and has been managed and part-funded by the Countryside Service of Cornwall County Council, in partnership with the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Government Office for the South West, Penwith District.

NOTES TO EDITORS:
The programme so far includes:
Throughout the week (Daily events unless indicated otherwise)

Heritage from the sea - Three hour Elemental Tours RIB boat trips round the dramatic West Penwith coast with expert guides Rory Goodall and Paul Semmens Daily except Thursday. Meet Albert Dock, Penzance 2pm (Sat 1st and Sun 2nd); 10am (all other days). £30 adults; £25 under 15s.

Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen - the UK’s largest and most complete tin mine Guided underground tour, museum, shop and café with great coastal views. Adults £7, students £4.50, seniors £6.50. Closed Saturday.

Levant Mine and Beam Engine, Pendeen - Cornwall’s only working steam engine set in a spectacular situation:
9.30-11.30am - Engine drivers wanted! A unique opportunity to steam and maintain the Levant Beam winding engine. £5 - one person at a time only.