Welcome

to a place where people learn about Cornwall’s mining past and green energy future. This is the Meadow Barns Centre, perched high on a hill, with St Austell Bay ahead and Luxulyan Valley woods below – one of the best sea views in Cornwall.

The views may be what you notice first, but our location is special for other reasons. We are right at the centre of an area of mining history and hydro (water energy) systems. This is where people love to come to read or listen to stories, play with water wheels and then go walking through historic landscapes.

We see restoration of historic energy-generating structures – such as wind and water mills, reservoirs, mines and tramways – as a wonderful opportunity for communities to come together and make a difference. For this reason, early in 2022, we propose to set up a new organisation of Heritage and Hydro Restore.

Come and park at Meadow Barns, and enhance your walk with a few ‘extras’. Read on for a short summary of what is coming .. online booking facility will be available by January 12th. In the meantime, please text your enquiry to 07967 653346

VISITS 2022

D.I.Y. visit – this is where people want the minimum attention, just parking for one vehicle, a look around the displays, use of the loos and the open-fronted, covid-safe ‘Cafe/Shed’ for eating their own picnic, and loan of a pack containing snippets of stories/ information and maps to take with them as they navigate this eastern side of the valley. The special locals price starts at £5 for 3 hours, either 10 a.m. to 1, or 1 to 4 p.m. bookable in advance. There is a refundable deposit of £10 (CASH please) when you borrow the walk pack.

STORY visit – this is the option that adds a set of stories, chosen to match the interests of the group. They are a great way to bring the history and the green energy systems (especially the hydro) to life, either around Meadow Barns displays and activities, or on a walk. On a nice spring day, you could make a whole day out, with stories on site in the morning and a guided walk after lunch.

Up to Easter, story sessions at the centre start at £12 minimum (for the first hour), then £6 each half hour on top. At least 50p will be donated to restoration funds. If told on a walk to the valley, due to insurance and licence costs, the amounts go up to £16 (for the first hour) and £10 each half hour on top.

A little later in the year, it is intended to offer stories and walks starting from Luxulyan, down to the viaduct. These will include all the most up to date news on restoration of the tramway track.

A few of the stories and walks are already described under ‘Day Visit’ and ‘Green Hero’, but a full list (25 stories and 12 walks of Mr. J.T. Austen Treffry), will be uploaded soon. In the meantime, it may whet your appetite to see how a 3rd type of visit has operated in the past.

SCHOOLS visit, working in 3 teams: –

Team 1 ROCKS, ORES, MINES & QUARRIES

You will identify the local mines, learn about rocks and ores, go prospecting for tin, copper and lithium – the mineral of great potential today. Here is a short film of the ‘Red Team’ from Gorran School, engaged in these mine explorations.

Team 2 WATER, WHEELS & TURBINES (HYDRO)

Next you will view a miniature landscape, featuring local hydro systems (leats and a canal). This gives you an overview of how water and wheels were used to generate power 200 years ago, all invented by our Green Hero, Mr. JT Austen Treffry. We also explain how wheels or turbines can help make green energy today. The Gorran ‘Blue Team’ demonstrate for us, here.

Team 3 WARM HOUSE, GREEN ENERGY & BUILDING

GUIDED WALKS in LUXULYAN VALLEY

After a snack break, (in Cornwall we call it ‘Crib Time’) we undertake a little safety training and set off to explore. Find more about this walk & others locally here https://themeadowbarns.co.uk/walks/.

REVIEWS

ACCOMMODATION – more information, see Overnight

A review of a camping stay on Fig Tree lawn.

Finally, if you cannot visit in person we have loads of other things to offer at a click of the mouse, in the ‘Do More!’ download area. There you will find Green Campaigns and the weekly Green Fridays Blog http://www.betterways2learn.co.uk/green-campaigns-blog/

Also at ‘Betterways2learn’ you can find an archive of free films, download PDF publications, and from Easter 2022, will be able to purchase some Treffry Tramway Trails packs, of maps, images and history – these link with Green Hero, Mr. JT Austen Treffry of Fowey.

Key Features of The Meadow Barns

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