Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site to receive major European funding

09 March 2010

The Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site has been awarded almost £2m in European grant aid through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).

The Cornish Mining WHS has won the funding for its “Discover the Extraordinary” project - a three-year series of investments designed to enhance the visitor experience in the World Heritage Site and at partner attractions.

It also aims to increase the number of tourists interested in culture and heritage who visit the Heritage Site areas from outside the region.

Among the initiatives included in the project are;

New interpretation of the fascinating stories behind the World Heritage landscapes and attractions, including new displays, trails and audio tours for use with mobile phones
A new web portal which will focus on information and interpretation for visitors to the WHS, with a link to the regional destination management systems to allow people to plan their holiday and book accommodation
Touchscreen kiosks for visitor information on all the South West’s World Heritage Sites, including public transport information
Business events for the tourism sector in and around the WHS, (including accommodation providers, retail and catering businesses), to help them develop new products and services linked to the area’s World Heritage Site status
A major promotional campaign targeting potential visitors from the UK and overseas

The project has been in development for almost two years and involved consultation with a wide range of partner organisations such as Visit Devon, Visit Cornwall and the Cornish Mining Attractions Marketing Association (CMAMA).

The Chairman of CMAMA, Richard Cox, said: “Since its formation in 2006, CMAMA has been working with the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site team to ensure that our members both support and benefit from Cornwall and west Devon’s World Heritage status. It gives us a valuable tool for marketing tourism businesses within both counties to an increasingly discerning customer base.

“The funding for Discover the Extraordinary will enable us to improve the service we offer and reach a much greater audience, with substantial benefits to the local economy.”

The RDPE funding has been awarded through the Sustainable Rural Tourism theme, managed by the South West RDA, which aims to assist the growth of environmentally sustainable tourism in rural areas.

Mike Johns, of the South West RDA, said: “This initiative is just one project in a far-reaching suite of interlinked investments that are being made through Sustainable Rural Tourism which will have a really significant impact across the whole region.

“The funding is designed to have a lasting impact on the tourism industry in rural areas through investing in improved access to, and understanding of, the key features and rural heritage of the South West.

“Discover the Extraordinary also offers a tremendous opportunity for businesses in the area to become involved and maximise the benefits for the local economy.”

A new team has been appointed to co-ordinate the programme. Gary Jago, Project Manager, has extensive experience of mining heritage related initiatives, having worked on both the Mineral Tramways and Geevor Tin Mine investment programmes during the last 4 years.

Working with him are Interpretation Officer Mary Olszewska, previously with Exmoor National Park, and Marketing and Visitor Information Officer Samantha Snow, who was formerly with Tewksbury Borough Council.

Funding partners in Discover the Extraordinary include Cornwall Council, Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council.

Cllr Neil Burden, Heritage cabinet member for Cornwall Council, commented:

“The RDPE investment will enable the WHS partners to realise some of the economic potential which research for the World Heritage Site bid had identified.

“Much of the WHS falls within the more rural areas of Cornwall and west Devon, and the businesses based here will now have a chance to benefit from the project’s aim of increasing sustainable growth in high spending, cultural tourism markets.

“It will also provide a valuable opportunity to enhance our appeal to overseas tourists, many of whom are looking for high quality, authenticity and local distinctiveness in their holiday destinations. All these values are features of a World Heritage Site, and the project will enable us to vigorously promote them.”

Other partners in the project include;

Cornish Mines & Engines
Geevor Tin Mine
Godolphin House
Gwennap Pit
King Edward Mine
Morwellham Quay
Poldark Mine
St Agnes Museum
Tavistock Museum
Trevarno House and Garden
Minions Heritage Centre
China Clay Country Park (Wheal Martyn)

The Discover the Extraordinary programme is due to be completed in December 2013.

Ends

Editor’s notes

RDPE

The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) runs from 2007 to 2013. It is the 2nd pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy and aims to support the creation of genuinely sustainable farming, forestry and food sectors, whilst also bringing wider benefits for the economy, the environment and rural communities. It provides the major financial vehicle for protecting and enhancing the environment and securing a range of public benefits for society. Defra is the Managing Authority.

The RDPE has three priorities for rural development:

1. Improving competitiveness of the agriculture and forestry sectors
2. Improving the environment and the countryside
3. Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity

In this region, the South West RDA will deliver priorities 1and 3 with a budget of £156.8 million over the seven years. The RDA is also responsible for ensuring that five per cent of the RDPE funding is spent on enabling community involvement in rural development. The delivery partners in the South West aim to ensure that investment in each of the three priorities will help support investment in the others.

The RDPE priority for improving the environment and the countryside is being delivered nationally by the Forestry Commission’s Woodland Grant Scheme and Natural England’s Environmental Stewardship Scheme. In addition, a minimum of 5% of the programme will be delivered through a local community-led approach.

The aims, objectives and priorities for delivering RDPE in South West England were agreed for the socio-economic investments with regional partners and these are set out in the Regional Implementation Plan. On the basis of a thorough analysis of South West England’s rural characteristics and economy, the Plan sets out eight themes:

i. Skills development
ii. Social enterprise
iii. Business support
iv. Supply chain and adding value
v. Resource management (soil, water, energy, waste)
vi. Sustainable rural tourism
vii. Biodiversity and landscape
viii. Community-led development

Further more information on the RDPE and the schemes see www.sw-ruralgateway.info.

Organisations involved in delivering RDPE

The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It works in partnership with public, private and social purpose organisations to drive up the region's productivity by giving people the skills they need, encouraging enterprise, improving infrastructure, regenerating places and promoting the strengths of the region.

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. It conserves and enhances the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings. For more information see www.naturalengland.org.uk Environmental Stewardship (ES) was launched in 2005, builds on the very best practice already evident in British farming. During the period 2007-13 the national budget for ES will be £2.9 billion. The objectives of ES are to:

Conserve wildlife (biodiversity).
Maintain and enhance landscape quality and character.
Protect the historic environment and natural resources.
Promote public access and understanding of the countryside.
Natural resource protection.

The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. It supports woodland owners with grants, tree felling licences, regulation and advice; promotes the benefits of forests and forestry; and advises Government on forestry policy. For further information, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/southwestengland.