Publicans Martin and Natalie Watts at The Travellers Rest in Trevarrian Hill are helping local children learn more about the environment with the opening of a wildlife zone and eco-friendly play area.
These have been opened with the expert help and a Community Services Fund Grant from Pub is The Hub, the not-for-profit organisation that helps pubs to diversify and provide essential local services.
The wildlife zone has a pond as well as chickens and ducks plus hedgehog shelters have also been built to allow for their hibernation. A camera with video link will mean that the garden and pond can be streamed live so everyone can see the wildlife in action.
An eco-friendly play area, which uses recyclable materials including tyres, has also been opened at the pub to ensure that children can exercise and stay active.
Both the wildlife zone and play area are part of a larger development at the 17th Century St Austell pub, which also includes luxury glamping pods, a horsebox transformed into a coffee shop and a sheltered barn with log burner for wildlife watching in the winter months. An allotment is also in development.
Martin said: “It has been a challenging year with the pandemic but we are looking to the future and hope the new garden and wildlife area will prove a real asset to local schools.
“We have managed to utilise the outside area at the pub to offer something for everyone from locals, to schools to holidaymakers.”
Pub is The Hub regional advisor Reg Clarke said: “There is nothing like this pub locally and creating this engaging outside area to cater for customers is inspired.
“This pub is really putting itself at the heart of its community and helping with the education of local children. It is also a safe place for people to meet and connect, which will help combat the impact of social isolation after the lockdowns.”
Editor’s Notes
Pub is The Hub is a not-for-profit organisation inspired by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2001, which offers independent specialist advice to publicans on rural services diversification or the options for the community ownership of pubs, so they can all provide viable local services at the heart of their community.
With a proven track record of rural project development and delivery over the last 19 years, Pub is The Hub has worked with great publicans to open shops, libraries, cafes, community cinemas, allotments, play areas and much more. Since 2013, the organisation has also been able to offer small grants through its Community Services Fund.
Pub is The Hub has helped over 600 pubs diversify, with over 170 of these benefitting from help through the Community Services Fund.
Building on its community services work, in 2019 Pub is The Hub conceived its ‘Join Inn – Last Orders for Loneliness’ campaign. ‘Join Inn’, specifically looks to support publicans and their communities to become better connected, helping local people feel less isolated and, in the process helping to alleviate loneliness.
Website: www.pubisthehub.org.uk
Twitter: @PubistheHub_uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pubisthehub
Press release from Pub is the Hub
Contact: michelleperrett@