A Visit To Trelowarren
At the end of June, members visited the Trelowarren Estate to see the new self-catering and timeshare eco houses. We were joined by members of Penzance and Truro Civic Societies, and the visit was hosted by the owner Sir Ferrers Vyvyan.
The Estate is a shining example of green development. Sir Ferrers explained how the houses were built using natural materials with low embodied energy, high levels of insulation (recycled paper of course), and how the heating was entirely run by renewable energy. Timber grown at Trelowarren was coppiced and chipped, and used to fuel a single bio-mass boiler which fed the district heating scheme with 5 miles of underground pipes. There is a 15 year cycle where trees are cut down and replanted, giving a continuous supply. Care for the environment was evident in all they were doing, for example, most of the tap water came from springs on the Estate. There is also a restaurant in the Estate’s courtyard, which serves the development, as well as visitors, and every effort was made to use locally sourced food. Indeed, after the visit, members enjoyed a sumptuous cream tea there, before making their way home!
It was an enjoyable and successful afternoon, and also one that is helpful to the Society. Through its committee, the Society has been supportive of planning applications that have sustainability credentials, provided they are well designed and fit in to their environment. Trelowarren is an inspiration for us to show a way in which sensitive design and planning can achieve carbon neutral development.
In addition to afternoon talks with a cream tea, we are planning evening talks, and also to arrange other half day visits. On 9 th November at 3.00pm, Mike Bradley will be giving a talk on the Prince of Wales Pier and other Falmouth Landing Points. Also, in October, date to be arranged, we plan an early evening visit to the Pendennis Superyacht Yard.
Sir Ferrers Vyvyan hosted the Civic Society visit to Trelowarren
The houseswere built using natural materials with low embodied energy, high level of insulation.
Looking Forwards
Falmouth by Design , a report strongly supported by the Civic Society, was published in 2004. It showed how the central part of Falmouth could be sensitively planned and designed, and how any developments could be sympathetic to the surroundings, and enhance the scene. With the abandonment of Cornwall’s spatial planning strategy, and political moves towards more local considerations, there is a clear gap in looking at development in a coherent and integrated way. There is little overall design strategy against which individual proposals for development can be judged. This is no help to the Civic Society when it considers and comments on planning applications – there is no yardstick against which to decide how best to respond. Maybe 2011/12 is time to update and revive Falmouth by Design – to involve members and others locally in a report that can set out desirable plans and design ideas for the future of Falmouth, as a very special place?
Maybe 2011/12 is time to update and revive "Falmouth by Design?"
"On the Water" Photos by Terry Outing 
"The World" by Terry Outing
The fountain that lost its head ( does anyone know where the head might be?)
In 1962 arriving in Falmouth and settling in Greenbank, we noticed that the that the fountain in Greenbank gardens was not functioning because it had lost its moving parts. About 10 years later council workman carried out maintenance in the gardens and made a few minor changes, one of which was, inexplicably, the removal of yet more of the fountain. The two very heavy parts could be seen abandoned on the beach below. There they stayed for almost a year, washed by many tides but far too heavy for the regular beach comber.
However, one August holiday when our house was full of energetic young men, keen for a challenge, chains were found and the two neglected hunks of granite were somehow dragged up steep steps, across the road and established handsomely in our garden. Apart from a neighbour who told us shortly after the event, we had irritatingly just beaten him to it, the only person who has mentioned the fountain and its fate after 40 years, is mR Howard Haywood.
He is very interested in the history of the gardens and noticed the fountain in pristine condition in old prints, not far from a cannon pointing menacingly at Flushing. That must have another story. Howard said that he would like the fountain to be restored. We assured him that it would give us great pleasure to have the pieces we had, returned to their true home. Howard is organising the arrangements for the daunting task, so we hope in the next newsletter we shall have a photo of Howard with a partially restored fountain. Does anyone know where the head might be?
Myra Morris