We’re passionate about sustainability and protecting and enhancing the natural environment here at Bosinver. We want you to enjoy a really sustainable holiday here in Cornwall, ensuring that we’re all doing everything we can to protect the beautiful landscape, marine environment and fascinating ecosystems which make it such a wonderful place to explore and escape to.
Here are five eco-friendly days out you can enjoy with the kids offered by some venues and companies who have a strong ethos of sustainability and a love of the natural world.
Enjoy a river trip on a hybrid electric ferry
Kids and adults alike will love a river trip from Trelissick, near Truro to St Mawes on Fal River’s high tech ferry, the Kingsley II. This wonderful classic wooden ferry boat was built by Cornish boatbuilder Percy Mitchell in 1934. It’s recently been adapted so that instead of being a conventional electric ferry that requires recharging frequently throughout the day, it can operate all day long with its cutting-edge hybrid electric system.
Also, when the boat is in the estuaries, the electrical power is used as it is much quieter for passengers and less likely to disturb wildlife, which means you have a greater chance of seeing some of the beautiful birds which make their home here, including herons and egrets.
Find out more and book a trip at www.falriver.co.uk
A foraging walk with Cornwall Wild Food
Get outside and hunt for some delicious hedgerow treats on a foraging walk. Wild food and foraging experts Emma Gunn and Matt Vernon are passionate about reconnecting people with nature and the wild larder that surround us all. They both have years of practical hands-on foraging and both love introducing people to the wild plants that can enrich and enliven many recipes and all to be had for free. You can learn so much while enjoying the Cornish countryside. Discover, for example, that sorrel has an amazing lemony taste, giant hogweed seeds add a nutty flavour to any recipe and pennywort leaves can be used as plasters on wounds and you can actually make noodles out of dandelion stems.
Afterwards you can enjoy a feast from foraged food. Previous treats we’ve enjoyed include Summer Berry Mess with mint sugar and rose hip syrup rounded off with Matt’s Wild Gin and Tonic (for the grown-ups of course!).
Find details of courses and foraging days all around Cornwall on Matt’s website
www.cornishwildfood.co.uk and Emma’s books here www.nevermindtheburdocks.co.uk/bookshop
Children’s Activity Trails in Cardinham Woods
Cardinham Woods near Bodmin is a fantastic place to visit for outdoor fun. It’s managed by the Forestry Commission and has marked walking and cycling trails for all abilities. The Lady Vale walk is a level, hard surfaced trail which circuits the valley floor and stream. It is 1.5 miles long and quite manageable for little legs, pushchairs and bikes. It’s great to find a safe, fairly level and off-road track to ride a bike.
The fabulous Woods Café welcomes children and dogs. It’s open every day (except Christmas Day) from 10am and serves a variety of homemade refreshments.
Find out more at www.forestryengland.uk/cardinham-woods
Love Nature at The Lost Gardens of Heligan
The Lost Gardens of Heligan near Mevagissey is a fabulous place to explore and inspire a love of nature which children will love as much as the grown-ups. The gardens offer over 200 acres of natural habitat to wildlife including kingfishers, hummingbird hawkmoths and barn owls. Kids can visit the Insect Hotel or the Black Honeybee Observation Hive. When it is not closed due to COVID restrictions there is also The Hide where you can enjoy some close-up views of Heligan’s birdlife. There is also The Jungle, a lush tropical garden in a hidden valley.
The productive gardens are a great place inspire little ones who might enjoy the idea of growing produce at home. Over 300 varieties of mostly heritage fruit, vegetable, salad and herbs are grown here to supply the Heligan Kitchen with fresh, seasonal produce throughout the year and seeds are on sale in the shop to help you try this at home.
Finally don’t miss the farm animals. Heligan is home to a marvelous collection of heritage and rare livestock, including ‘Tamworth’, ‘Lop’ & ‘Berkshire’ Pigs (and sometimes very cute piglets), ‘Devon and Cornwall Longwool’, ‘Kerry Hill’, ‘Jacob’, ‘Hebridean’ & ‘Ryland’ sheep and ‘Highland’, ‘Ruby Red’ & ‘White Park’ Cows, along with a variety of rare poultry.
Find out more and book your visit here: heligan.com
See rescued seals at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary
Head down to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek near Helston and learn all about local wildlife, test your nature knowledge and watch the seal and penguin feeding sessions.
This lovely charity was founded by Ken and Mary Jones over 40 years ago and moved to Gweek in 1975. It’s mission is to rescue and provide expert care for sick, injured, or distressed seals and other marine animals in need of help who are found around our shores and they rescue around 70 seal pups each year. The animals are cared for and rehabilitated at the Sanctuary before being released back into the wild whenever possible. A few of the animals who cannot be safely returned to their natural environment remain at the Sanctuary where they are cared for. Nowadays you can also see Humboldt penguins, sea lions and otters at the Sanctuary. There is a great educational activity trail for kids and some beautiful woodland walks and trails along the banks of the tranquil Helford River.
Find out more and book a visit at sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org
