The Tamar Valley is a gem, but how will the landscape and the people fare in future?
The Cordiale project will inform the management of the AONB, which can only be done effectively by understanding how the landscape of the valley has evolved and changed (for both good and bad) and recognising what is important about it.
The project will work towards making the landscape and livelihoods more resilient, considering the challenges of climate change, dwindling fossil fuels and globalisation.
We are doing this by working with communities across four parishes: Calstock, St Dominic, Buckland Monachorum and Bere Ferrers, and local knowledge and input is key to much of what we are doing.
How can I get involved?
Easy! Read on and click the links for more information.
- Write a diary in June 2012
- Discover the Tamar Valley’s historic landscapes and Survey a hedge!
- Explore land use change in Calstock on our interactive map at heritage.tamarvalley.org.uk and add your special places to it.
- Look out for interactive maps for your parish later this year.
- Be the next David Attenborough at our BioBlitz 13th – 14th July.
- Dig for silver in your back garden during Bere Alston Festival of British Archaeology 21st – 22nd July.
- Join the ‘limekilns canter’ of Calstock parish at the end of September.
- Sign up for a free farm wildlife and wood fuel audit.
- Support local food. Buy locally-sourced fresh produce or tell us about your local food heroes – a collaboration with Tamar Grow Local www.tamargrowlocal.org
- “Harvesting Time” – an artistic challenge! Create a contemporary piece of art that celebrates the community and heritage of the valley – a collaboration with Drawn to the Valley www.drawntothevalley.co.uk
Tell me more about Cordiale
It’s a collaboration between the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and teams from other protected landscapes in southwest England and northwest France. www.cordialeproject.eu
What are the objectives of the project?
We are running four ‘field trials’ in the Valley. They have the following goals.
➢ To restore orchards and market gardens to the Tamar Valley landscape by re-establishing local supply chains
➢ To increase public understanding of landscape evolution and produce spatial plans for two parishes for the conservation of the natural and historic environment
➢ Work with people in two parishes to define the changes in land use and management that would make us more resilient to climate change and rising fuel and food prices
➢ To secure the characteristic landscape of hedges and woods by creating a viable new market for wood fuel
More details from Simon Bates - CORDIALE Project Officer
Tamar Valley Centre, Cemetery Road, Drakewalls, Gunnislake, PL18 9FE
t: 01822 835030 m: 07792 484049 e: sbates@tamarvalley.org.uk
