Probus Environment Action Teams

Many

thanks to Mike Taylor and Greg Stanton for helping the PEAT team to assist Probus Primaryu School children planting tree saplings on the allotment site opposite the school. This event had to be cancelled in March due to very bad weather so we were glad to get them in the ground before they started sprouting too many leaves. The teachers and assistants were very organised and enabled around 200 pupils to enjoy the session.

It is so important for youngsters to be able to participate in this kind of environmental action and we hope this is the start of many such activities with the school.

Work on the churchyard is going well. We had an excellent turnout for the King’s Big Help Out volunteer day after the coronation and used the morning to sow seeds and create a large compost area near the dilapidated sexton’s building. This was constructed using many of the branches that have been collected after essential pruning and will provide an excellent area for our compostable material. It was an enjoyable session and we agree with the description of volunteering that the King once made - ‘quite simply good for the soul.’

We were also delighted to have a visit by Flight Sergeant Poppy and Corporal Russell from 1225 Sqn RAF Air Cadets St Austell who cleaned and honoured three war graves.

Regarding the sexton’s building – this has been neglected for a long time and we are determined to restore it to its former condition. We are setting up a Crowdfunding project in conjunction with Cornwall Council’s climate and nature recovery programme with the renovated building being used as a community hub for volunteers and others to utilise. It is a listed building in a conservation area so there are many hurdles to overcome as we quantify the effort and cost needed. Watch this space!

Please try and come to our churchyard open day on Saturday 10th June and meet the team. We would be delighted to explain our plans to create a superb Living Churchyard and answer any questions you may have. This event is especially important if you maintain a grave there – the rules and guidelines for safe and sustainable use of the area and adornment of graves have not been enforced for some time. This is the opportunity to come and discuss with the curate and others how this may affect you.