EXPERIENCE Marazion & Penzance

Mount’s Bay is home to an ancient, submerged forest, an enchanting phenomenon that is rarely seen, but occasionally uncovered at very low tides. A forest of wooden ‘seeing sticks’ is emerging along the Penzance to Marazion Coast Path. This arts commission by award-winning artist Emma Smith has been made to measure with local people from the area.

The coastal path has been open to the public to allow cyclists and walkers to enjoy the new upgraded route. The art trail is under construction and due to be completed in January.

Over 600 local residents have contributed ideas towards the creation of the sculptures – they were invited to share how they would like to sit or stand whilst imagining the forest along the coastal path. The artworks have been tailor made specifically to their ideas and measurements. In addition, the sculptures draw inspiration from local tree forms found in the surrounding landscape.

Named Gwelen – meaning stick or pole, gwel also means view or vision and gweles is to see – the artwork celebrates the power of collective and shared imagination. Gathered in groups along the path, the artwork creates the impression of clusters of trees, inviting the public to imagine the forest that was lost to the sea. Visitors to the path are able to sit, lean and engage with the sculptures as a place to reflect on the bay, and its geological and ecological importance.

A series of podcasts with interviews and stories from local residents explore the rich significance of the bay. With guest contributions from local and international experts, these uncover the site’s history and the relationships between people and the landscape. You can hear interviews on folklore, marine history, geology, and art and stories of living and working with the sea and land.

This report looks at data collected from the EXPERIENCE Marazion & Penzance Residential Tourism Perception survey.

Its purpose is to better understand how people feel about the social, economic, and wellbeing impacts of seasonal tourism and the COVID-19 pandemic on communities in the Penzance and surrounding areas.

It looks at the winter season 2020 - 2021 and was conducted in collaboration with University of Surrey.

The data collected will be used as a baseline to cross-reference against other similar surveys. It will also be used in contrast against other project partners to understand perceptions across the UK and France.

From these findings, we hope to better understand the current situation in the Penzance and surrounding areas to inform our project outputs and help shape the next steps for sustainable cultural tourism in the area.

Link to EXPERIENCE Marazion & Penzance Residential Perception survey report here.

Media release issued: 29.10.20

Sections of the Mounts Bay Coast Path will close with diversions in place, when work starts on a project to improve its resilience and accessibility for walkers and cyclists.

For more information about the coast path works visit the Cormac project page: www.cormacltd.co.uk/major-projects

Set against the backdrop of St Michael’s Mount and Penzance Railway Station, the multi-use path is popular with residents and visitors, but prone to the elements with storm damage creating uneven surfaces and, at times, forcing the closure of some sections.

The upgrade will provide walkers and cyclists with a new resurfaced path and a new link to take the route away from Longrock car park. There will also be new benches along the path and improved access to the beach for people with mobility issues, as well as plans to develop an arts trail along the route which embraces the assets of the area, creating a unique experience for residents and visitors year-round.

Councillor Tim Dwelly, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for culture, economy and planning, said: “Mounts Bay is one of the jewels in our crown, but the sea has not been kind to the coast path over the years. This investment will not only protect the path for many years to come, but also contribute to the regeneration of the Marazion and Penzance area by encouraging people to visit all year round. It is also a significant step in the realisation of the Bay-to-Bay multi-use trail proposal and support our efforts to get people walking and cycling more – improving their health and helping to cut Cornwall’s carbon emissions.”

Construction will begin during the week of Monday, November 2, with the improvements being carried out in sections. Phase One works will run from the wooden pedestrian bridge at Eastern Green towards Penzance Railway Station. This will be followed by Phase Two which focuses on the section from Longrock car park to the public toilets on the way to Marazion. Weather permitting, these sections should be complete before Christmas. Whilst works are underway, in order to create a safe working environment, these sections will need to be closed to pedestrians whilst work is being carried out.

In the New Year Phase Three begins, again at the wooden pedestrian bridge, going in the opposite direction towards Longrock car park. At the same time Phase Four starts, which is the section from the public toilets to Marazion car park.

Some disruption is inevitable during the project and so we ask everyone to bear with us while this important work is carried out. We will make every effort to maintain access where possible and signpost users to alternative routes. The improvements should be complete by the end of June 2021.

The scheme is part of the EXPERIENCE project – a project involving six areas of the Channel region (Cornwall, Brittany, Pas-de-Calais, Compiègne, Norfolk and Kent) to promote off-season experiential tourism and sustainable economic growth. Cornwall’s funding will support activities which focus on out-of-season visitor experiences (October to March) and sustainable cultural tourism, connecting visitors with the distinct historical, geographical and cultural assets of the local Penzance and Marazion area.

Due to run until June 2023, the project is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg France (Channel) England Programme under the Natural and Cultural Heritage funding category. Of the €16.1m ERDF committed to the total project, €1.9m is allocated to Cornwall Council, which is investing a further €0.9m. Cornwall’s investment is focused in the Penzance pilot area and investment will help improve the Mount’s Bay coastal path and encourage a sustainable year-round visitor economy.