In a significant move to enhance community engagement and promote well-being through nature, Tehidy Country Park, one of Cornwall’s largest woodlands, is set to receive a substantial funding boost. Managed by Cornwall Council, the park will soon feature a new creative, community, and wellness hub, thanks to a £151,000 grant from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Shared Prosperity Fund, supported by the UK government.
The funding will facilitate the renovation of two former estate workers’ cottages at the park’s Kennels Hill, repurposing them as centres for creative and nature-based activities. These initiatives are aimed at harnessing the therapeutic benefits of nature and the arts, aligning with the growing emphasis on social prescribing in health and wellness communities.
One of the cottages is slated for transformation into an artist residency program, offering artists the chance to base themselves at Tehidy free of charge until March 2025. This initiative, in partnership with Creative Kernow, aims to foster creativity and provide a serene backdrop for artistic endeavours. Further details regarding the application process and residency specifics are expected to be announced by Cornwall Council.
The second cottage will be revamped into a community wellness center, featuring a therapy room, spaces for community events, and rentable office areas. A highlight of this transformation is the commissioning of an immersive art project, Poetry Privy, which seeks to creatively repurpose a derelict Victorian outside toilet building.
Additionally, from this summer, the hub will offer an extensive program of activities delivered by various organisations in the creative and wellness sector, further establishing Tehidy as a vibrant community asset.
These new ventures are an extension of the ongoing success of Tehidy-based initiatives such as the award-winning Rogue Theatre and the Remembering Our Roots project, which already contribute to the park’s reputation as a haven for community engagement and environmental wellness.
Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall’s cabinet member for environment and climate change, expressed optimism about the project’s potential impact, stating, “This funding award will kickstart exciting new ventures to help bring new audiences to Tehidy and encourage many more people to get out into nature at this historic site.” He highlighted the project’s heritage-led approach to sustainable regeneration, emphasising its contribution to the long-term sustainability and vibrancy of Tehidy as a cherished community asset.
The Tehidy creative and wellness hub project represents a forward-thinking approach to community health and engagement, leveraging the natural beauty and historical significance of Tehidy Country Park to foster a thriving, regenerative business community focused on creativity, wellness, and environmental sustainability.
To find out more see: Tehidy creative and wellness hub project
