Engine starting to take a shine thanks to volunteers

Work on restoring the engine is well underway thanks to a group of 15 volunteers.

Volunteers are working alongside engine restorer Geoff Wallace to clean and polish the engine which sits in the engine house at the centre of Heartlands. Geoff is working to get the beam engine moving which will become one of the main attractions within the Heartlands exhibition.

Seams and Veins art commission finds its home!

It was a wonderful moment to see the first of the seven art installations arriving on site.

David Mackie's 'Seams and Veins' commission comprises of twelve Cornish granite boulders inlaid with bronze symbols and motifs representing where the Cornish emigrated to around the world. The boulders are positioned around Heartlands' five Diaspora gardens of North America, South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Local poet Bob Devereux wrote an exclusive poem for Heartlands that has been etched on the granite, telling the story of miners who took their skills abroad.

The boulders are lifted in to position within the Diaspora Gardens.

Artist David, casts a watchful eye on his work as it is carefully positioned to follow the mineral lodes underground.

Emblems in bronze representing Cornish emigration to South America.

Bronze emblems in the Australian gardens.

Remembering Cornish traditions such as the Stargazy Pie originating from Mousehole.

Cornish travels to South Africa are remembered.

Bob Devereux's poem is etched in the Cornish granite.

David putting the finish touches to the boulders in the South African garden with Robinson's Shaft in the background.

New view for webcam!

We have repositioned one of our webcams to capture all the happenings in the park area of Heartlands.

The view above shows the red river water feature zig-zagging its way down to the main water feature on the bottom left of the photo. The water water feature will be surrounded by the Diaspora Gardens, which are 5 gardens which tell the story in planting of where the Cornish travelled around the world. The top right of the photo shows the space where the playground will be built.

Keep your eyes glued on the webcam updates as things will really start progressing quickly now trees and top soil have started to arrive!

Headgear and Engine House look in great shape

As you drive past Heartlands you may notice the scaffolding is slowly being removed from the headgear to unveil the newly painted structure.

Also, all works to the exterior of the engine house has been completed and scaffolding has been removed from this building, uncovering beautifully re-pointed stone work and arched windows that were previously covered up.

Remember you can take a closer look by attending one of our regular guided tour. Please call Kirsty on 01209 722323 to book your space.

Introducing the new Heartlands Trust team........

We are pleased to announce that the Heartlands Trust's roles of Chief Executive and Marketing Manager are now in post.

Chief Executive, Vicky Martin and Marketing Manager, Kate Turnbull are the first two posts to be filled in the new Heartlands Trust.

Vicky has a vast range of experience and knowledge in running visitor attractions and also heritage sites which ties in great with the Heartlands site and the similarities that we will offer visitors. Vicky is also the England representative on the European Union of Tourist Officers (EUTO), which will be incredibly helpful in developing Heartlands as a site for Cornish visitors as well as further afield.

The Trust's new Marketing Manager, Kate, is also in post and has also worked in similar projects to Heartlands, managing the media and marketing at attractions such as Edinburgh Zoo and Kate also has a background with heritage projects when working for Historic Scotland.

We are delighted in welcoming Vicky and Kate on board and I am sure you will join us.

You can listen to Kate and Vicky in this months podcasts.