Truro Together January and February 2024

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TRURO 

Together 

NEWS AND VIEWS 

News from Truro BID 

Read about Cornish Hedges 

News from Truro City Council 

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with copies available from Visit Truro, Waitrose, Tesco & throughout the City. 

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WINTER EDITION 

January/February 2024 Issue 11

OPEN 

SIX 

DAYS 

A WEEK 

THE HIDDEN GEM 

OF TRURO 

Lemon St, Truro TR1 2QD

tea 

square 

on 

the 

Join us for traditional table service 

on the first floor of Mallett’s Home Hardware for 

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tin miner’s 

saver menu 

Have you tried our Tin Miner’s Saver Menu yet? The best value for 

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assayer’s Tea 

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To advertise please call 07786 735 711 or email marketing@trurotogether.co.uk 

Malletts - 6 and 7 Victoria Square, Truro TR1 2RT 

3

TRURO 


Useful Numbers 

Age UK helpline (Cornwall): 01872 266 383 

Services include iTea & biscuits, exercise 

classes & social clubs. 

Alcoholics Anonymous: 0800 9177 650 

Citizens Advice Cornwall: 0800 144 8848 

For a call back (exc weekends) 

Text: ADVICE to 78866 or DEBT to 78866 

Samaritans - if you need someone to talk to, 

they listen. They won’t judge or tell you what to 

do. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org 

(24 hr response) 

With you in Truro - confidential treatment to 

those with alcohol & drug issues or close to 

them. Western House in Truro. 

Open 9-5pm Mon - Fri 10-4pm Sat 

Referral line: 01872 263 001 

Hello & welcome! 

We’d like to wish you a very happy New Year! Let’s 

hope 2024 brings many positive changes, brings 

more love and kindness to all and a collective 

collaboration to bring the community closer together. 

It’s important to put aside any differences, pride, 

emotions that don’t help discussions and to remain 

open to other people’s ideas, visions and experience. 

It’s good to work together and generally most are 

coming from a place of kindness. 

We are fortunate to live in a beautiful place, if you are 

feeling the stress, then a walk in nature is a perfect 

way to unwind. Showing gratitude for our life and 

recognizing others are in a far worse place than we - 

even if things feel rock bottom, there will always be 

someone else worse off than you. If you need help, 

there are places that can help. Reach out if you need 

me to find out for you. 

Take care over these colder months and we look 

forward to seeing you in Spring! 

With love, 

The Community Gateway - support & help for 

yourself or family members. 

Open 7 days week 8am - 8pm 

t: 01872 266 383 

e: gateway@ageukcornwall.org.uk 

Volunteer Cornwall 

WANTED! Volunteer Drivers, call 01872 265 300 

Meet the Team 

Publisher, Editor & Sales 

Therese Cooklin - 07786 735711 

Magazine Designer 

Mathew Peet, Digital Bear Design - 01949 839206 

Content is accurate to the best of our knowledge, however Truro 

Together part of Abstract Niche Ltd cannot be held liable for loss or 

damage, caused by errors or omissions. Inclusion of advertisers does 

not indicate our endorsement of their products or services. 

Therese 

NEXT COPY DEADLINES! 

March / April 2024 

Editorials: 1st Feb 

Advertisers: 2nd Feb 

t: 07786 735 711 

e: therese@trurotogether.co.uk 

w: www.trurotogether.co.uk 

Get your business noticed 

for as little as £36 

Royal Mail door-to-door delivery and 

drop-off sites to 8,300 homes in Truro, 

Cornwall area. 

e: sales@trurotogether.co.uk

Fizz and chips 

Every Friday lunchtime, enjoy a glass of fizz with 

your fresh local fish fillet and hand cut chips. 

£14.95 per person. 

THEALVERTON.CO.UK 

TREGOLLS ROAD TRURO CORNWALL 

stay@thealverton.co.uk | 01872 276 633 

Truro’s Visitor 

Centre, Shop and 

Community Website 

Visit our Boscawen Street Visitor Centre or find 

us online for all you need in our Great Little 

City. Buy tickets for attractions and events, get 

tips on where to eat, drink, stay, and shop. 

You can now book local 

events online and in store 

visittruro.org.uk 

01872 274555 

@visittruro 

Boscawen Street 

Visitor Centre: 

Open Monday - Saturday 

9.30am - 4.30pm 


5

6 Truro Together is part of Community Together

CITY MOT'S 

All mechanical repairs 

Cars, motorhomes and vans 

• Services 

• Exhausts 

• Engines 

• MOT's (Class IV and VII) 

T: 01872 272559 

E: citymotsoftruro@gmail.com 

JDS 

Roofing & Property 

Maintenance 

Local, friendly company providing 

all roofing & property work. 

• New Roofs 

• Slate & Tile Roofs 

• Flat & Fibre Glass Roofs 

• Chimney Work 

• UPVc Fascias & Soffits 

• Fully insured & work guaranteed 

Call freephone: 0800 3032 533 

or mobile: 07551 538 845 

e: jims78442@gmail.com 

w: www.jdsroofing.net 

Over 30 years’ experience, Wear-House 

is an established retailer of: 

CARPETS | FLOORING | CURTAINS | BLINDS 

01872 222 900 

sales@wear-house.co.uk 

www.wear-house.co.uk 

Wear House, 10A New Bridge Street, 

Truro, TR1 2AA 


7

COMMUNITY NEWS 

Cornwall Wildlife 

Trust News 

England’s only resident population of 

bottlenose dolphins is under serious threat 

from a combination of human activity, 

environmental pollution and difficulties in 

rearing young that survive into adulthood, 

according to new research. 

For almost a decade, scientists and conservation 

groups based along the English Channel coast 

have been working together with citizen scientists 

to monitor the movements and distribution of this 

population. 

This has enabled them to establish the most detailed 

picture yet of this population, their movements and 

social interactions, and the challenges they face on a 

daily basis. 

Writing in the journal Animal Conservation, the 

researchers report that as a result of their ongoing 

research they estimate the pod currently consists of 

just 48 individual dolphins. 

Winter weather 

made way for annual 

Golf Day Fundraiser 

Friday 10th November saw the annual 

Cornwall Cricket Board golf day at St Austell 

golf club. 

(C) Bottlenose dolphin in Falmouth Bay by Ben Porter 

That is less than half the size of most coastal 

bottlenose dolphin populations, and around 10 

times smaller than a pod known to inhabit the 

Channel coast of France. 

Their fight for survival is made even more challenging 

by the fact they inhabit some of the busiest shipping 

lanes in the world and also coastal waters known 

to suffer from repeated and prolonged spells of 

pollution and fishing pressure. 

These findings have led the researchers to call for 

urgent measures to protect the population and its 

habitats, or risk the possibility that this group of 

animals may not survive. 

For full news updates visit: 

www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/news 

Despite the severe weather of the week and again 

overnight into Friday, the course was open. 14 teams 

took part in the Texas Scramble event and were lucky 

to escape with just a few sharp showers. Although the 

wind looked to be problematic some good scores 

came in throughout the day. The top 3 were: 

1st Colin Weeks, Simon Thomas, Jonny Smeaden 

and Mick Wheeler 

2nd Nigel Hambly, Shane Richards, Matt Hart and 

Darren Kinsman 

3rd Russell Milsom, Tim Pollard, Joel Matthews 

and Kev Briley 

Kev Briley also took the award for the longest drive 

and Simon Johnson took nearest the pin. 

Huge thank you to the golf club for their hospitality, 

for all the donations for raffle prizes and for all our 

hole sponsors: 

The Logan Rock Inn 

Peter George Transport 

Newell Travel 

Symons Construction 

Horizon Home Improvements 

Next year could see 2 golf days pre and post season 

at hopefully 2 new venues. 

Cornwall Cricket Board would like to thank everyone 

for their support on a day that could easily have been 

a washout resulting in a closed course. 


Wishing 

all Readers a 

Happy New Year! 

Duchy Foot Care 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRURO HOMELESS ACTION GROUP 

Providing free hot cooked breakfasts to local homeless and vulnerable 

people every day of the year – except Christmas Day when we cook a 

Christmas lunch and on Boxing Day there will be a brunch instead. 

If you would like to make a donation, please contact 

thag@trurotogether.co.uk for the THAG bank details. 


9


Cornish hedges – 

icons of our 

landscape 

One of CPRE Cornwall’s most important 

current campaigns is for the protection 

and preservation of Cornish hedges. Their 

solid strength and the wonderful wealth of 

vegetation they support are an unmistakeable 

feature of our countryside. As hedge historian 

John Wright says: “Cornish hedges seem to 

belong in the landscape; they seem to be 

the landscape.” 

Cornwall’s AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural 

Beauty) warns us: “Despite surviving thousands 

of years on some of the most exposed landscapes, 

conservationists and specialists are warning that 

Cornish hedges are under more threat than ever 

before.” Farmers and landowners can get subsidies 

for their upkeep and repair under environmental 

stewardship schemes but these seldom make 

enough of a contribution to the work. Specialist 

Cornish hedge repairs, if they are going to meet the 

right conservation standards, are very expensive. 

tremendous variety of flowering plants sustained on 

a Cornish hedge. The first to appear are always the 

snowdrops and the yellow celandine. 

Perhaps the very first walks of the year are the most 

invigorating – but also rewarding. 

To plan a walk out into the countryside, consult 

Cornwall Council’s excellent interactive map online 

and choose footpaths. This map gives you the 

footpaths in any given area: type in the location you 

want and footpaths appear in pink with bridleways 

in green. 

Our Cornish hedges vary in construction from 

place to place according to local materials and 

styles but they all have an earth core faced with 

stone on both sides. Some have stone tops but 

most have vegetation growing in the top and often 

masking the sides as well. They support a wealth of 

wildflowers, rock plants and mature trees, as well 

as being a habitat for fungi, invertebrates, insects, 

birds and mammals. Anyone who has walked along 

a Cornish lane in Spring knows the breathtaking 

abundance of primroses, blossom, bluebells, cow 

parsley, stitch wort, sedum, foxgloves, honeysuckle 

and bryony – to name just a very few of the 



Step into your 

spotlight at The 

Pauline Quirke 

Academy, Truro 

PQA Truro is a weekend performing arts 

academy for children aged 4-18, offering a 

whole range of opportunities in theatre, music, 

dance and film making, through which they 

can develop and thrive. They are holding a 

free open day on Saturday 10th February 2024 

to show you some of the amazing activities 

they have on offer. 

At PQA Truro, children take part in performing 

projects that are inspiring, fun and help to build 

confidence. Through a mixture of Comedy & 

Drama, Musical Theatre and Film & Television, 

our professional performing arts teachers share 

a range of technical skills in weekly sessions. 

Highlights at PQA Truro also include in-house 

productions and showcases to family and friends, 

plus the chance to see our film projects at a local 

cinema, where we get to walk down the red-carpet 

just like Hollywood stars! We want all our students to 

share in as many unique performing experiences as 

possible, including taking the stage at His Majesty’s 

Theatre in London’s West End! 

If you’d like to find out more about PQA Truro, please join 

us at our free open day on Saturday 10th February from 

9:45am ~ 1pm at Truro High School for Girls, TR1 2HU. 

If you can’t make this session, please contact us to 

book a free taster session at a time that suits you by 

visiting: www.pqacademy.com or you can email 

Principal Sam at samuel.pomeroy@pqacademy.com 

or call him on 07957 109 305. 

FREE OPEN 

DAY 10TH 

FEBRUARY 

2024 


11


News from 

Truro BID 

Truro BID delivers events, projects 

and services for Truro, Truro’s 

businesses & everyone working in 

the city centre. They are business 

led & not for profit. 

Happy New Year! We hope that everyone had 

an enjoyable Christmas and all businesses 

experienced good trading over the festive 

period. 

It was great to witness the city being in full 

swing in the lead up to Christmas. 

and Truro City Council who provided and put 

up the stage. 

The lights were turned on to a great 

audience who joined in and sang ‘Let it snow’ 

with Johnny and Lucy! 

To coincide with the first Wednesday Late 

Night Shopping, we organised the Father 

Christmas Parade, which was inspired by Peter 

Pan. So along with Father Christmas and his 

elves, Peter Pans, pirate clans and Tinker Bells 

paraded around the city. 

We deliver the Christmas Lights each year, 

made possible due to the 375 or so businesses 

who pay the Truro BID Levy, so we hope 

everyone enjoyed the lights whilst they 

shopped and worked throughout the festive 

season. 

Truro BID kicked off the city’s Christmas 

celebrations with Festive Friday on 24th 

November, which featured Truro’s Christmas 

Lights Switch-on and live music. It was brilliant 

to work with Pirate FM’s Johnny Cowling and 

Lucy Start on the event, along with the Hall for 

Cornwall, who organised the entertainment 


with other businesses, the police and Truro 

BID. 

The Shopwatch meetings are a helpful forum 

where Truro employees can feel supported 

and find out about the ongoing work behind 

the scenes to tackle crime and anti-social 

behaviour. For details see our website: 

www.trurobid.co.uk 

We were also delighted to work with 

Coppice Theatre to bring back Finding Father 

Christmas to Truro. This time the unique grotto 

and storytelling experience ran for seven dates 

in December at the Royal Cornwall Museum. 

Thank you to everyone who worked with us 

on the Christmas events and to everyone who 

came along, and thanks to Coodes Solicitors 

who sponsored Festive Friday and the Father 

Christmas Parade. 

As well as events, we provide services for Truro 

and Truro’s businesses. Since last April we have 

provided the city with a security resource. We 

have been working with our current provider 

since October 2023, and now call this resource 

the Truro Rangers. The team provide 55 hours 

of foot patrols a week and are a highly visible 

deterrent against low level crime and help 

in gathering evidence to support potential 

prosecutions. 

The Turro Rangers, who have been working 

well alongside Truro’s businesses, and Truro’s 

Anti-social Behaviour Officer, will soon have 

Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) 

powers so can stop individuals and take down 

names and addresses. 

Finally, with the Christmas Lights coming 

down and signifying the end of the festivities, 

we really do urge everyone to please 

continue to support Truro’s shops, eateries, 

and service businesses during the winter 

and beyond. 

We appreciate that it’s a difficult time for many, 

although please support the high street as 

much as you can. You can do this by shopping 

in person, getting a coffee whilst out, having 

your haircut in Truro or using the local legal, 

financial and property firms. 

Truro businesses please feel free to contact us 

on 01872 273 999. 

Alun Jones, Truro BID Manager 

We’d like to reach out to those working in 

Truro City Centre, to invite you to monthly 

Shopwatch meetings, where you can share 

local crime related issues and knowledge 


13

LEGAL NEWS 

Human Rights 

Human (relating to or characteristic 

of humankind) Rights (moral or legal 

entitlement to have or do something) 

Human rights are a fundamental element of our 

existence as a nation of people. 

Furthermore, these rights are not simply privileges, 

they are unequivocally yours to exert and express, no 

matter who or where you are in the world. 

History shows that human rights laws have been built 

by the hands and minds of those courageous enough 

to address inequality and exploitation; and yet, even 

today, we still read of the Modern Slavery Act when 

shopping online. 

The painful truth is that the unlawful deprivation of 

human rights remains undiminished in a world of 

global technocracy; which is why those who can, 

must become the voice of victims unable to stand up 

to such intolerable abuses alone. 

In the United Kingdom we are fortunate to have The 

Human Rights Act 1998; a statute that goes to the 

very heart of legal justice and remains one of the 

single most important acts of law this country has 

ever known. Perhaps the best definition of human 

rights was given by the High Commissioner of UN 

Human Rights Navanethem Pillay, who stressed that: 

“The protective canvas of human rights jurisprudence 

and implementing mechanisms recognises the 

natural and social bonds of human destiny 

everywhere, that is, our kinship in rights. It empowers 

all of us to claim our entitlement to a life of dignity, 

our right to count and be counted, irrespective of 

our ancestry, gender, colour, status and creed.” 

If you’re one of the many trampled underfoot by 

contracts, policies or words that somehow bind your 

civil rights and freedoms, then Black Letter Law ® 

will apply the law and uphold an Act made for the 

people by those appointed to serve them, so call us 

today on 01872 709172 as to do nothing is to deny 

yourself everything that’s already yours. 

Legal Peace 

of Mind 

FREE 

30-min 

chat 

Navigating the law shouldn’t feel 

overwhelming. Don’t keep struggling alone. 

We’re here to come alongside you with the 

legal advice and support you need. 

EXPERTS IN… 

Wills, Trusts, 

LPA’s & Probate 

Disputes 

Employment 

Divorce 

Landlord & Tenant 

Negligence 

Contracts 

Personal Injury 

It all starts with a 

conversation… 

01872 709172 

blackletterlaw.uk 

14 Truro Together is part of Community Together 

BLL-Truro-Together-Magazine-Ad-Jun23 FINAL.indd 1 28/06/2023 21:19

Are You Gamble Aware? 

People who come to Citizens Advice for 

support with gambling often need help 

with other problems including debts, 

housing (such as paying the rent or 

mortgage), mental health, employment 

or education issues and family or 

relationship problems. 

Nationally, Britain is one of the biggest 

gambling markets in world, worth around 

£14bn-a-year and around 2 million people 

experience the effects of gambling harm. 

Around 55,000 children as considered 

problem gamblers. 

A gambling problem can mean there isn’t 

enough money to pay rent, bills and food 

shopping. It can mean running-up credit card 

bills and other debts. It can mean relationships 

breaking down, job losses and homelessness. 

These problems don’t just affect the person 

who is gambling – they can also affect family, 

friends and people they work with. 


Citizens Advice Cornwall can help with free, 

confidential and independent advice. You 

can find support for gambling problems at 

citizensadvice.org.uk 

We can also give advice on debts and housing 

issues at the same time. There’s advice for 

anyone worried about their partner’s gambling 

and for anyone under 18 years who shouldn’t 

have been allowed to gamble. 

For advice on how to stop gambling, visit: 

gambleaware.org.uk or gamcare.co.uk 

You can also speak to a GamCare adviser on 

the National Gambling Helpline 24-hours-aday 

by calling freephone 0808-802-0133 or 

livechat at gamcare.co.uk 


15

News from 

Truro City Council 

The last few weeks have very busy for the 

Council and our great little city. 

Welcome back.. 

October saw the 

officially unveiling 

of our iconic clock 

tower. 

The project to 

rebuild the clock 

tower and 

refurbish the 

bells was led by Cornwall Council and 

the City Council, with additional funding 

provided by Town Crier Lionel Knight and 

his wife Carole. 

It is great to hear the bells chiming across 

the city again – and a huge well done 

and thank you to everyone who has been 

involved. 

These included the official launch of 

the Poppy Appeal and the Field of 

Remembrance dedication ceremony, the 

Poppies to Paddington event, the two 

minute silence on Armistice Day and the 

wreath laying and civic procession to the 

Service of Remembrance at Truro Cathedral. 

Tackling climate change 

The Mayor was delighted to officially open 

Cornwall’s first Eco-Hub aimed at bringing 

local communities together to tackle 

climate, nature and cost of living crises. 

Truro Remembers 

We were honoured to work alongside 

the Truro Branch of the Royal British 

Legion to organise and assist with 

events that took place in the city to mark 

Remembrance. 


Receiving Gold Awards for Truro in Bloom 

We declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 

and since then have been working with 

partners and local communities to develop 

effective and practical actions to respond to 

the climate and ecological emergencies we 

are all facing. 

Last month councillors voted unanimously 

to support the Climate and Ecology Bill 

which seeks to address the challenges 

that this situation poses by creating a 

whole-of-government approach to deliver 

a net zero and nature positive future. 

Blooming great 

It was great to have the opportunity to 

host this year’s South West in Bloom 

competition in Truro Cathedral – and even 

more fantastic when the city was presented 

with a Gold Medal. There were even 

more celebrations when Truro was also 

presented with a Gold Medal at the 

national Britain in Bloom competition. 

A huge well done to everyone involved. 

(continued on p18) 


17

Changing Places toilet – the first public 

facility to be provided in the city centre. 

The scheme is due to be completed and the 

toilets re-opened to the public in March. A 

big thank you to everyone for their patience 

while the works are being carried out. 

Providing a ‘Warm Welcome’ 

Getting festive 

This year’s festive events have certainly been 

incredible. 

As well as the amazing Festive Friday 

celebration and the Father Christmas 

Parade, there were four late night shopping 

Wednesdays and the BIG Christmas Market 

on Lemon Quay for people to enjoy. 

A big thank you to Truro BID and other 

partners for bringing such festive cheer 

to the city. 

Revamping Green Street 

toilets 

Work to improve the public toilets in Green 

Street officially began in November. 

The refurbishment scheme, which is being 

delivered through a partnership between 

the City Council, Cornwall Council and 

Truro Town Deal Board, also includes 

the construction of a new fully accessible 

A year ago today our community team 

started the Warm Welcome project to 

support people through the cost of living 

concerns and we’re still going! 

This is just a small part of our community 

development work but an important one. 

We continue to be funded by NHS Cornwall 

and Isles of Scilly but under a new name, 

the Sunshine Cafe. The team are at Malabar 

Community Centre on Wednesdays and the 

Moresk Centre on Fridays. 

And finally 

Other activities included the launch of a new 

community group at Newbridge Park and the 

opportunity for the public to have their say on 

four of the projects being developed through 

the Truro Town Deal. The City Council is 

leading the development of two more projects 

– the Boscawen Sport and Recreation Hub 

and New Life for City Buildings. More info on 

these projects coming soon. 

We also took part in the annual Legal 

Service to pray for all involved in the 

judiciary: judges, magistrates, lawyers, 

juries and all who work in the courts. 


A big “Thank 

You” from 

the Mayor 

words by Carol Swain 

I want to pay tribute to all the people who 

work so hard to make the various events in 

Truro go so smoothly. 

During the year, the Mayor attends a few 

events in full regalia, which requires the 

accompanying Mace-bearers to dress in 

their own splendid livery and then help me 

into my robe. Thank you to Barry, Adrian 

and Matt for making sure I always looked 

proper. 

The team at the Cathedral recently worked 

hard on two successive Sundays, first at 

the Service of Remembrance and then at 

the Legal Service, putting on a magnificent 

spectacle and, of course, leading our 

collective acts of worship. As well as the 

clergy and the splendid choir, there were so 

many people working behind the schemes, 

such as the vergers who guided us to our 

seats and the people who had such a long 

wait, up in the tower, until they dropped the 

poppy petals during the 2 minutes silence 

within the Remembrance service. 

Then there are the other people who go 

above and beyond to solve problems, 

like the team at GWR who arranged for a 

splendid bus to drive up from Penzance 

to Plymouth, making sure that Cornwall’s 

wreaths were at Paddington Station as usual 

on Armistice Day, despite no trains running 

all week. 

Truro’s Town Crier, Lionel, accompanied 

by his consort Carole, voluntarily attends 

a large number of events in the city, often 

ringing his huge handbell and uttering his 

cry of O Yea to make sure that nobody 

misses a thing. 

The local branch of the Royal British 

Legion did Truro proud over Remembrance 

fortnight, ensuring that at the going down 

of the sun, and in the morning, we did 

remember all those who have lost their lives 

in conflict in the service of our country. 

Finally, thank you to the whole team 

involved in Festive Friday. You all did a 

magnificent job, including the BID and 

Visit Truro, the dancers, the cast of 

Peter Pan, Pirate FM, sponsors Coode’s 

Solicitors, the Parks staff who put up the 

stage and the police and stewards who 

kept us all safe. 

I thank you one and all for everything that 

you do to make Truro such a wonderful 

vibrant City for residents and visitors alike 

to enjoy. 

Keep up the good work in 2024. 


19


Sit still and listen 

to nature 

Anna Cormie BSc(Hons) MSc 

As we start the New Year, you may 

decide on the new resolution of 

spending more time outside with the 

local wildlife. While it may be too cold 

for the reptiles to venture far, it can be a 

good time to spot some of our smaller 

mammals and birds. 

finding food, they tend to tolerate each other 

and live in greater densities than usually found 

during the rest of the year. 

If you sit silent and still in the woodlands 

for long enough, you might just hear some 

rustling in the leaves signalling a bank vole 

(Myodes glareolus) going about its daily 

business, they can also be spotted visiting bird 

tables and found in hedgerows and fields. If 

you part some of the long tussocky grass, you 

may come across the runs that make up their 

territory. In the breeding season, the resident 

pair will be extremely territorial towards other 

voles, but during winter when their focus is on 

Jumper day fun 

at Falmouth 

Residents and staff at Falmouth Court 

Care Home in Falmouth are helping 

to make the world a better place by 

wearing a festival jumper on Friday 8th 

December in aid of Save the Children’s 

annual fundraising event, Christmas 

Jumper Day. 

All residents and staff at Falmouth Court 

have been encouraged to buy, borrow or 

decorate their own special Christmas jumpers 

and donate to Save the Children. Some of 

the residents have been very creative and 

decorated their own glitzy knitwear with tinsel, 

stars, baubles and snowflakes. A fun way to 

raise money towards this worthy cause. 

While the weather remains cold in February, 

spring is on the horizon and heralded by the 

tapping of greater spotted woodpeckers 

(Dendrocopos major). Hammering trees at up 

to 16 taps per minute, these woodpeckers 

declare their territory and attract mates, ready 

to lay eggs during March and April. Listen 

out for their tapping and you may just be 

lucky enough to spot their nest or a flash 

of black, white and red speeding through 

the trees. 

have ever seen! This event has really 

showcased the creativity and fun-loving spirit 

of all our residents and staff. We are proud to 

take part in Christmas Jumper Day and show 

our support for Save the Children.” 

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps 

residents active, and provides a daily choice of 

engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities 

tailored to residents’ interests and abilities. 

Falmouth Court is run by Barchester 

Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care 

providers, which is committed to delivering 

high-quality care across its care homes and 

hospitals. Falmouth Court provides residential 

care, dementia care and respite care. 

Haley Reeve-Larson, General Manager, said: 

“Today has been a whole lot of fun with some 

of the most outlandish Christmas jumpers I 


Road, Truro 

Moresk 

- Sat 9am - 5pm 

Mon 

BEDS TABLES WARDROBES 

SOFAS 

STORAGE SOFT FURNISHINGS 

KITCHENWARE 


Parking 

onsite! 

for 

Looking 

furniture? 

Cornwall 

Visit 

Care, 

Hospice 

Sun 10am - 4pm 

Shop sustainably and support 

your local adult hospices 


21

LOCAL BUSINESS 

Storage Solutions: The Ottoman 

With modern housing, one thing 

most people agree on is there is not 

enough storage for all the things we 

want and need to put away. 

In bedrooms many people use drawer 

divan sets but the drawers are small and 

cannot hold things like bed linen. 

This is where ottoman beds come into 

their own! 

These beds offer huge storage space, 

but again the front opening models 

can be quite difficult to open and 

close and require a lot of upper body 

strength. 

Fortunately there are two new ottoman 

beds on the market. 

The first is a half opener, still a lot 

more storage than a drawer set, more 

room for all those items you only need 

once or twice a year and as you are 


LOCAL BUSINESS 

Many people do have a lack of 

storage space and in particular elderly 

or disabled who have physical restraints 

may find it easier to use an ottoman 

than conventional storage methods. 

If you are lacking in mobility then 

bending down to access things in a 

draw is tricky. These options found 

at Three Rivers Furniture could be 

an ideal solution for all your storage 

needs. 

only lifting part of the mattress they are 

much easier to use. 

The other solution is an electric 

ottoman where at the press of a button 

the mattress is lifted and then closed 

with no effort at all. 

If you would like to see their range 

of Ottomans, beds and other home 

furniture why not pop down to their 

showroom and Matthew would be 

delighted to explain the ranges 

to you. 

Three Rivers Furniture 

98 Kenwyn Street, Truro, TR1 3BX 

Tel: 01872 271 535 

96 Kenwyn Street 

Truro TR1 3BX 

01872 271535 

www.threeriversfurniture.co.uk 

Beds 

Bedroom 

Dining 

Living 

Seating 

Truro’s Specialist in British made beds & furniture 

Lots of mattresses & bedframes always in stock for fast delivery! 


23


Community 

Emergency Plan 

Truro 

Truro City Council and Cornwall Community 

Flood Forum have drafted a community plan 

to cover the city in the event of a non-life 

threatening emergency, such as a flood event. 

Truro is obviously at risk of flooding, lying on the 

confluence of three rivers which merge to form the 

Truro River, at the head of the Fal Estuary and also, 

surrounded by significant slopes on three sides. 

We have engineered flood defences and the 

Environment Agency is looking at nature based 

solutions, which are less disruptive and have benefits 

for wildlife and landscape. 

Should an extreme weather event hit Cornwall, 

the coastal communities may be hardest hit and 

emergency services will prioritise the worst affected 

areas, whilst maintaining a strategic overview of the 

whole area. Our draft plan covers safe evacuation 

points for vulnerable people and those who have to 

leave their homes for safety reasons; flood wardens, 

who become the eyes and ears of the emergency 

services; river monitors who ‘keep an eye’ on their 

local river, eg whilst dog walking, and report any 

obstructions etc; a ‘coordinating room; and warm 

shelters with catering facilities. 

There is much people can do to prevent water 

entering their homes eg flood doors, air brick covers, 

keeping drains clear, having a porous surface around 

their home. We recommend that people in high 

risk areas sign up to Environment Agency Flood 

Warnings on their phones. 

https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/alertsand-warnings?q=cornwall%20and%20devon. 

There are now local companies who supply advice 

and sell protective equipment (sandbags are no 

longer recommended). 

Metoffice.gov.uk offer advice on minimising flood 

risk and damage to your home, and on individual 

flood plans, such as moving electrical items to upper 

floors and taking up rugs etc. If you think you make 

have to leave your property you will need to consider 

your pets, so have a carrier handy, plus some food; 

if you are on medication, gather enough for your 

immediate needs; toiletries and a change of clothing; 

charging device for your phone; any medical devices 

you may need. 

Remember that you are unlikely to be away from your 

home for long and, in any case, further supplies of 

food, pet food etc can be sourced for you. Prioritise 

personal items and medications. 

We will be seeking volunteers for the following roles :- 

- Flood wardens - full training and protective 

equipment provided. It cannot be stressed enough 

that no volunteer must put themselves in danger, 

that includes entering water. Flood wardens 

communicate with the residents and the emergency 

services and provide feedback to both. They are 

crucial in the event of evacuation from homes. 

- River monitors - flood wardens can perform this task 

if they wish. It involves keeping an eye on the state 

of the river and alerting the Environment Agency, via 

their helpline, to any potential or actual obstruction or 

pollution incident. We presently have several people 

in Truro doing River testing for Westcountry Rivers Trust 

who perform that role, but you can never have too 

many eyes, especially during wet weather. 

- Welfare - people at evacuation centres to aid 

the key holder in settling people in, providing tea, 

blankets, a listening ear etc. 

- Admin - setting up communication groups etc. 

It cannot be emphasised enough that no volunteer 

is expected to put themselves in harm’s way and, if 

they are not available for some reason, they are not 

expected to find someone to cover for them. 

There will be practice exercises from time to time, 

to keep people up to date and in touch. 

We are holding a volunteer event on Tuesday 

16th January 2024. Details tbc. 

For further details contact lindsay@headweb.co.uk 

07880 745 961or sarah@truro.gov.uk 


What’s On 

This January and February 

Reverse Garbage Workshop Ages 5 - 12 - 

Padstow 

Join the team at the Padstow Library and 

Knowledge Centre for an inspiring craft 

session that promotes the concept of reusing. 

This hands-on workshop is perfect for children 

aged 5-12 and encourages them to choose 

eco-friendly options. Tickets will go on sale 

on January 12 at 9:30 am. Be part of this 

enriching experience and discover the endless 

possibilities of reusing. 

art be political and what is the relationship 

between food and our mental health? 

Truro Nourish Hub hosting a talk with 

Cornwall Wildlife Trust - Saturday 10th 

February 7pm at Hendra Hall in Truro 

Discussion with Cornwall Wildlife Trust and 

two Guest speakers Liam Shoesmith and Sue 

Allen. Talk framed around how can we make a 

difference to our community. 

Water User Survey Training - St Austell Bay 

Saturday 13 January - 9:00am - 4:00pm 

Dodman Point, St Austell, St Austell, Cornwall 

Become a surveyor to help us get a better 

understanding of how our coastal waters 

are being used? For more info: 

www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events 

Come along to the Eden Project from 27-28 

January 2024 for a weekend of talks, events 

and happenings, curated to support mental 

and planetary wellbeing. 

Exclusively for this weekend we’ll be offering free 

entry for 17-25-year olds and students. 

A packed program of talks by experts, 

influencers and artists exploring the big 

questions: can football save the world, should 


February Half Term 10th - 18th February 

9.30am - 6pm 

Eden Project will be exploring the weird 

and wonderful worlds of science and 

technology, and how they can help us 

build a better future. Packed with explosive 

science shows, amazing experiments and 

genius inventions. What’s more, kids go free* 

for the week! 

Booking essential. www.edenproject.com/visit/ 

whats-on/february-half-term 

Seaweed ID Evening 

Wednesday 13 March - 7:30pm - 9:30pm 

Want to discover more about the diversity of 

seaweed? Join us to learn about the different 

species we find on the Cornish coast.For more 

info: www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events 

25


Calling all Akoostikampers - News and Dates 

The New Year Akoostica will be kicking 

off for the New Year on Thursday 

January 25th at 8pm. 

This is a fun night of open mic entertainment 

starting at 8pm sharp -this is everything an 

open mic should be - tuneful - eccentric 

- rhythmic - a good drop of what you fancy - 

good cheer and happy vibes! 

All thanks to Baz for his unstinting support 

to get us back up and running. He’s going 

to step back from the sound at the end of 

January and get back to playing those 

sinuous meditative solos that wind the Ale 

House round their swaying finger! 

Congratulations to long-standing 

Akkoosticadian for publishing her new book 

- ‘Flower Finders in Cornwall’, and to Sue 

Farmer for providing the campaign song 

which defeated the closure of ticket offices 

on the railway - and, a lingering thought for 

Akoosticadians no longer with us - Viv Hendra 

and Toots Lamond. 

You can also get a copy of ‘Memory or 

Dream’, the new Brainiac Five album from 

Pygtrack Records (vinyl only limited edition) - 

if you like that sort of thing! 

Truro Library Borrowbox 

Don’t always have time to visit the 

Library? fancy listening to a book? Then 

why not try Borrowbox, a free service 

offered by Cornwall Libraries. 

Borrowbox has a wide range of e-books and 

e-audio books available for you to download 

onto your computer or most mobile devices to 

read and to listen to. There is a large selection 

of fiction and non-fiction, and books for adults 

and children. 

STEP ONE Join your local public library; 

STEP TWO Install the BorrowBox app on 

your device; STEP THREE Select your library 

service; STEP FOUR Activate with your library 

membership; STEP FIVE Borrow free eBooks 

and eAudiobooks READ/LISTEN 24/7 

Also, keep an eye on our Facebook page 

for details of an exciting event for Children, 

during February half-term in partnership with 

Coppice 

words 

Theatre! 

by Bert Biscoe 

email: bertbiscoe@btinternet.com 


All of our Jewellery is designed & 

handmade here in Cornwall. 

Visit our shop on Truro’s high street 

or shop online. You can find us on 

Etsy and Facebook! 

22 St Mary’s Street | Truro TR1 2AF 

01872 242266 

COULD YOU 

HELP YOUR 

COMMUNITY? 

Volunteer to play a 

key role in Truro’s 

Community Emergency/ 

Flood Plan. 

There are many different ways you can help 

out from becoming a Flood Warden, a welfare 

volunteer, or to helping with communications. 

• Electric Bike Specialists Cornwall 

• Bicycle Servicing 

• Retül Bike Fit • Cycle Scheme 

• Finance • Polaris Bike Pod Hire 

9am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday 

Closed Sundays 

We are delighted that Dead Sailor BMX 

have moved into Clive Mitchell 

Cycles Shop. 

6 Calenick Street, Truro, TR1 2SF 

Tel: 01872 276930 

www.clivemitchellcycles.co.uk 


27

Truro Together Competition! 

T O L E C O O R A G N A K E C 

N A R W H A L E R R I U Q S H 

R H E D G E H O G H B I P I I 

E P P A N G O L I N Y E M O C 

E K O B G N I R P S B P Z P K 

D N L R E T A E T N A M P R E 

N U E A C L E O P L B A K O N 

I M T X R U E N A E H R R P M 

E P N O I M P P E L S M A L O 

R I A T M V A I H G U O V A N 

A H T O O C I D N A B S D T G 

S C O R P I O N I E N E R Y O 

M S B U T T E R F L Y T A P O 

E U S C H I N C H I L L A U S 

O L A F F U B D O R M O U S E 

To celebrate the beginning of 2024 why not 

win a fab Fire HD8 32GB Amazon Tablet. 

Complete the Creature Feature puzzle 

and find out what the answer is. Go to 

www.trurotogether.co.uk/competition to enter 

FIND THE CREATURE 

TO WIN AN 

AMAZON FIRE HD 

32 GB 

Can you find all of these creatures 

hidden in the grid? The words 

may run backwards as well as 

forwards, in either a horizontal, 

vertical or diagonal direction, but 

always in a straight, uninterrupted 

line. When finished, the remaining 

letters spell out another creature, 

the answer to the competition. 

AARDVARK 

ANTEATER 

ANTELOPE 

ARMADILLO 

BANDICOOT 

BUFFALO 

BUSHBABY 

BUTTERFLY 

CHICKEN 

CHINCHILLA 

CHIPMUNK 

DORMOUSE 

EAGLE 

ELEPHANT 

GENET 

HEDGEHOG 

IMPALA 

KANGAROO 

MARMOSET 

MONGOOSE 

MOOSE 

NARWHAL 

OCELOT 

PANGOLIN 

PLATYPUS 

PORCUPINE 

PORPOISE 

REINDEER 

SCORPION 

SPRINGBOK 

SQUIRREL 

VIXEN 

WHALE 

ZEBRA 

Closing date is March 6th. Good luck! 

M 

E B A 

R H R E U 

W R R A A A E 

N R D A B M O R M 

R H Y E U U G B A A A 

E N R D O Y H U Y A R H Y 

E U W G M R W H E N R 

O N A G E R O R H 

Y H E W G B E 

D A E N R 

D O B 

M 

UNIQUE SPECIMENS 

The names of these three plants each 

appear once only in the grid below. 

Can you locate them? 

MAYWEED 

OREGANO 

RHUBARB 

28 Truro Together is part of Community Together 

(answers on p30)

DOOR-TO-DOOR 

DELIVERY 

Need help with 

your mental 

wellbeing? 

Book a FREE Confidential 

15 minute appointment. 

www.pranichealingcornwall. 

co.uk/booking 

Text or Call: 07786 735711 

PUZZLE 

SOLUTIONS 

UNIQUE SPECIMENS 

M 

E B A 

R H R E U 

W R R A A A E 

N R D A B M O R M 

R H Y E U U G B A A A 

E N R D O Y H U Y A R H Y 

E U W G M R W H E N R 

O N A G E R O R H 

Y H E W G B E 

D A E N R 

D O B 

M 

Professional sales person 

wanted to work for 

Community Together 

Publications. 

Would suit working part time from home. 

Skills required: 

* Sales experience 

* Organised and personable 

* Computer skills essential 

* Excellent telephone manner 

TRURO 

Do something amazing 

Donate now 

01637 889 926 


NEWS AND VIEWS 

News from Truro BID 

Read about Cornish Hedges 

News from Truro City Council 

Win a fabulous Amazon Fire HD 32GB 

8,300 community magazines printed and hand delivered by Royal Mail in the Truro area 

with copies available from Visit Truro, Waitrose, Tesco & throughout the City. 

Online: www.trurotogether.co.uk 

Supported by: 

Truro Homeless 

Action Group 

We Need Funding ! 

To help please email: 

e: thag@trurotogether.co.uk 

WINTER EDITION 

January/February 2024 Issue 11 

FREE 

You must be keen to work in an organisation that supports the community and have a 

kind heart and helpful to others. 

Salary will be commission based. Great job for at home mums or dads. Hours to suit. 

Email with your CV and covering note to: sales@communitytogether.co.uk 



31

Life Insurance 

Critical Illness Cover 

Income Protection 

Pensions 

Investments 

Mortgages 

Equity Release 

Whether you are looking to borrow money, save money, plan your 

retirement or protect your familys’ financial future, when you.. 

THINK MONEY….THINK HARRIS BEGLEY! 

Give us a call for an initial chat with no fee or OBLIGATION 

TRURO OFFICE: 

18a Old Bridge Street | Truro | Cornwall | TR1 2AH 

T: 01872 888 400 

E: enquiries@harrisbegley.co.uk 

PENZANCE OFFICE: 

Savoy Court | Causewayhead | Penzance | TR18 2SP 

T: 01736 366550 

E: enquiries@harrisbegley.co.uk 

harrisbegley.co.uk 

FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR GENERATIONS 

Approver Quilter Financial Services Limited & Quilter Mortgage Planning Limited 27.07.2023

Truro Together January and February 2024

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