Listen now to our latest podcasts!

This month we're looking inside Heartlands with two delicious podcasts from our exhibition planner, Andrew Leitch. As well as restoring the former mine buildings at Robinson's Shaft and preserving many of the artefact's that were found there, the World Heritage Site exhibition within Heartlands will bring to life the history of Cornish mining in an innovative and interactive way. In the podcasts, Andrew Leitch gives an exclusive glimpse inside the exhibitions revealing the captivating human story as well as the challenges involved in interpreting the Cornish Mining story.

The exhibitions will be delivered within the restored Robinson's Shaft mine buildings over the next couple of months.

For more information and a Guided Tour, please contact the Heartlands Team on 01209 722320.

Applications now open for studio space

There are 15 studios at Heartlands which are located at the centre of the exciting development incorporating culture, history and play.

Studios are for the use of artists, makers and crafts people and with lots of natural light and views over the market square and World Heritage Site of Robinson's Shaft it certainly is an inspiring place to work.

For further information on how to apply for a studio, along with costs and floor plans visit the Business section of our website.

Many adventures in store!

The Heartlands site is looking more and more exciting each day. Last week saw the installation of the adventure playground.


From fishing boats, to trains, twisting slides, swinging cradles and a huge climbing net this really is the start of something wonderful happening at Heartlands for young people. The creation of the play space is all thanks to local students who helped design the playground. We cant wait for local young people to be let loose and get to grips with one of the largest playgrounds of its type in Cornwall.

Sustainable living on a World Heritage Site

Ever thought about living on a World Heritage Site? Well this could be the opportunity you were waiting for!

Thirteen first floor, one and two bedroom apartments have just gone on sale at Heartlands, with views over the Grade II listed buildings of Robinson's Shaft. The apartments sit above artist studios with the possibility of renting the studio space below if a live/work space is of interest.

The residential accommodation reaches a variety of environmental sustainable standards, with a central biomass boiler for heating and photovoltaic cells for producing electricity.

For further information on how to arrange a site visit and for further information on each apartment please go to www.rightmove.co.uk

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!