The future of the Cornwall National Landscape: An Invitation to Co-Design a New Research Project

 

An Invitation to Co-Design a New Research Project

The Cornwall National Landscape (CNL) is more than a protected area; it is a living, working, culturally rich place. From the rugged Atlantic coast to Bodmin Moor, from fishing coves and estuaries to farmland and historic settlements, these landscapes carry deep ecological value, shape local identity, and support thousands of livelihoods.

But they also face growing pressures: climate change, coastal erosion, rising visitor numbers, shifting agricultural policy, rural housing challenges, and competing demands on land and sea.

My PhD research at Falmouth University explores these pressures and possibilities, and I want to involve the people who know these landscapes best.

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The Research Question

How does social capital influence environmental stewardship and sustainable business development in protected landscapes, and in what ways can the Community Capitals Framework (CCF) be applied to assess and enhance governance outcomes in the Cornwall National Landscape (CNL) five-year plan?

Research Aim

To explore tensions between sustainable business growth and conservation.

Research Focus

To understand how social capital, the relationships, trust, networks, and norms that connect people and organisations, shapes environmental stewardship and sustainable economic development across the CNL.

This project is guided by a simple principle:

Cornwall’s landscapes are lived-in and cared-for by communities: so they should play a central role in shaping the research.

This blog post is an invitation to co-design the project, refine what matters, and ensure that the outcomes reflect real experiences on the ground.

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What Is the Research About?

At its core, the project asks how protected landscapes, historically focused on conservation and recreation, can also help strengthen:

• Local economies
• Community wellbeing
• Cultural resilience
• Ecological integrity

This brings together several ongoing debates in Cornwall and the wider UK:

• Heritage & Identity: Engine houses, fishing harbours, Cornish hedges, and Kernewek all require investment, care, and sensitive management.
• Tourism: A vital economic driver, but one that places pressure on ecosystems, infrastructure, and community life.
• Land & Sea Stewardship: Policies increasingly emphasise nature recovery, climate action, and sustainable land management.
• Community Voice: Many Cornish communities seek more inclusive governance models that reflect their identity, rights, and aspirations for year-round living and working.

Understanding these dynamics requires collaboration and not just academic analysis.

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Why Co-Design?

Cornwall National Landscape is a complex social–ecological system shaped by farming, fishing, mining, migration, culture, and centuries of environmental change. To study it meaningfully, the research must involve those who understand it from lived experience.

Co-design brings:

Local knowledge

Insights from residents, farmers, fishers, guides, and community volunteers who understand seasonal rhythms, pressures, and opportunities.

Industry & heritage expertise

Tourism operators, environmental bodies, and cultural organisations can highlight business realities, visitor trends, and heritage needs.

Shared decision-making

Participants help shape the research questions, methods, and interpretation of findings.

Real-world impact

Co-produced research produces recommendations that support planning, governance, sustainable tourism, cultural initiatives, and community-led action.

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How You Can Contribute

There are several ways to get involved, all voluntary and flexible:

1. Feedback on Research Direction

• What issues matter most to you?
• What tensions or opportunities do you see?
• Where do policies or practices fall short?

2. Community Conversations / Interviews

Share lived experience of tourism, farming, fishing, conservation, heritage, housing, or local business.

3. Participatory Workshops

Workshops will explore priorities such as sustainable tourism, nature recovery, cultural identity, and community wellbeing.

4. Longer-Term Collaboration (optional)

Help sense-check findings, co-interpret results, or co-develop practical frameworks.

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Themes Where Your Insight Matters Most

I particularly welcome views on:

• The future role of tourism
• Balancing heritage (from mining landscapes to Kernewek) with sustainability
• Farming, fishing, and land/sea management experiences
• Community wellbeing, cultural identity, and economic resilience
• Environmental change, coastal pressures, and seasonality
• How relationships, networks, and social capital shape decision-making
• What a “sustainable future for Cornwall” looks like to you

Your perspective will help shape a more grounded, meaningful research project.

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Get Involved

If you’d like to participate or stay informed:

📩 Email: NG286123@falmouth.ac.uk
👥 Attend a workshop: Dates to be announced
🔗 Recommend people or groups to contact

All participation is confidential and entirely voluntary.

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Closing Thoughts

Protected landscapes belong to both their past and their future. As Cornwall navigates changes in tourism, environment, governance, livelihoods, and cultural identity, we need new ways of understanding and managing these places.

Co-designed research recognises that landscape stewardship is not an abstract policy exercise, it is lived, negotiated, contested, and cared for every day by the people who call Cornwall home.

Whether you farm on Bodmin Moor, manage a heritage site, run a business, volunteer in conservation, speak Kernewek, or simply love Cornwall’s landscapes,  your insight is invaluable.

I look forward to listening, learning, and shaping this research together.

Larmorna Cove a Cultural, Artistic, Industrial, Botanical and Historical gem.

Lamorna Cove: Quarry, Port, Smuggling Traditions, Artistic Haven, and the Botanical Richness of a Cornish Microclimate

Abstract

This article explores Lamorna Cove, situated within the Penwith section (Area 7) of the Cornwall National Landscape, as a dynamic case study of environmental distinctiveness, industrial development, cultural heritage, and historical criminal enterprise. Beginning with 19th-century granite quarrying operations and the construction of a harbour to support maritime transport (Pett, 1998; Barton, 1968), the paper examines the cove’s evolution following the quarry’s decline and the subsequent emergence of a thriving artistic community (Cross, 2001). Particular attention is given to Lamorna’s sheltered microclimate, which fosters unusual botanical diversity (Cornwall Wildlife Trust, 2022). The article further investigates the Cove’s association with Cornwall’s historical smuggling economy, exemplified by the traditions linked to The Lamorna Wink pub (Deacon, 1983; Cornish Story, 2018). By situating Lamorna within the broader contexts of environmental history, industrial archaeology, and cultural heritage, this study highlights the multiple ways landscapes can serve simultaneously as sites of economic activity, ecological richness, creative inspiration, and community resilience.

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Introduction

Lamorna Cove, located approximately four miles southwest of Penzance, offers a rich tapestry of industrial, environmental, and cultural narratives. Set within the Cornwall CNL, the cove’s history reflects broader themes in Cornwall’s development, from resource extraction and maritime activity to artistic expression and folk traditions, including the darker legacy of smuggling.

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Industrial Development: Quarrying and Maritime Activity

Granite quarrying commenced at Lamorna Cove during the 1840s (Pett, 1998). The cove’s fine-grained granite was highly valued and contributed to major construction projects such as the Admiralty Pier at Dover and naval facilities at Portsmouth (Barton, 1968).

To support the export of granite, a small harbour and quay were constructed. Nevertheless, the logistical difficulties associated with shipping stone from a relatively exposed location limited Lamorna’s commercial success compared to larger inland quarries. By the early 20th century, quarrying operations had ceased (Herring, 2000).

Today, the remnants of Lamorna’s quarrying past are visible in the form of abandoned stone cuttings, sections of the quay, and tool marks etched into the cliffs, preserving the memory of this industrial period.

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Environmental Richness: Microclimate and Biodiversity

A significant factor contributing to Lamorna Cove’s and valley distinctive character is its microclimate. The cove’s southeast-facing, steep-sided valley offers shelter from prevailing Atlantic storms, resulting in a milder and more humid environment than elsewhere in Cornwall (Cornwall Wildlife Trust, 2022).

This unique climate allows both native and exotic plant species to thrive, including:

• Tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica),

• Giant rhubarb (Gunnera manicata),

• Giant viper’s bugloss (Echium pininana),

• African lily (Agapanthus praecox),

• Ginger lily (Hedychium spp.),

• Various bamboo species,

• Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea).

Native flora such as Cornish heath (Erica vagans), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), primroses, bluebells, and foxgloves also flourish in this environment.

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Cultural Heritage: Smuggling in Cornwall and The Story of The Lamorna Wink

Cornwall’s deeply indented coastline, characterised by hidden coves like Lamorna, historically provided ideal conditions for smuggling activities between the 17th and 19th centuries (Deacon, 1983). Economic hardships resulting from the decline of mining and fishing industries made smuggling particularly of goods such as tea, brandy, and tobacco a lucrative alternative for local communities (Cordingly, 1995; Palmer, 1978).

One of the most tangible links to this past is The Lamorna Wink pub. The term “wink” in smuggling parlance referred to a covert signal indicating a desire to purchase contraband (Cornish Story, 2018). By discreetly “tipping the wink,” patrons could obtain smuggled goods without attracting the attention of authorities. The pub itself, believed to have served as a key meeting point for smugglers, remains a symbol of the area’s rich and secretive past. Furthermore, the broader term “kiddlywink” was used to describe small alehouses often associated with informal and illicit trade in Cornwall (Cornwall Forever, 2024).

Today, The Lamorna Wink stands not only as a social hub but as a living testament to Cornwall’s resilient, often rebellious maritime culture.

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The South West Coast Path and Tourism

Lamorna Cove is also strategically located along the South West Coast Path, Britain’s longest national trail, which promotes sustainable recreation by encouraging walking and appreciation of natural landscapes (South West Coast Path Association, 2024). The trail enhances Lamorna’s accessibility and highlights its natural beauty within a wider regional network of protected coastal paths.

With the recent release of the film adaptation of Raynor Winn’s memoir The Salt Path (Winn, 2018), public interest in the South West Coast Path is anticipated to rise, potentially bringing greater visitor numbers to Lamorna and other historically rich coastal sites.

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Conclusion

Lamorna Cove offers a compelling example of the ways in which a small landscape can encapsulate major historical, environmental, and cultural processes. From granite quarrying and maritime trade to the flourishing of exotic plant species and the preservation of smuggling traditions, Lamorna stands as a vibrant microcosm of Cornwall’s broader story. Its continued role within recreational tourism, particularly through the South West Coast Path, ensures that Lamorna’s complex heritage will remain alive and accessible for future generations.

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References

• Barton, D.B., 1968. A History of Tin Mining and Smelting in Cornwall. Truro: D. Bradford Barton Ltd.

• Cornwall Forever, 2024. Kiddlywinks: Small Alehouses of Cornwall. [online] Available at: https://www.cornwallforever.co.uk [Accessed 27 April 2025].

• Cornwall Wildlife Trust, 2022. The Special Climate of West Cornwall. [online] Available at: https://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/ [Accessed 27 April 2025].

• Cornish Story, 2018. The Lamorna Wink and Smuggling Traditions. [online] Available at: https://www.cornishstory.com [Accessed 27 April 2025].

• Cordingly, D., 1995. Under the Black Flag: The Romance and Reality of Life Among the Pirates. London: Random House.

• Cross, T., 2001. The Shining Sands: Artists in Newlyn and St Ives 1880–1930. Tiverton: Halsgrove Press.

• Deacon, B., 1983. The Smugglers: A History of Cornwall’s Secret Trade. Falmouth: Maritime Cornwall Press.

• Herring, P., 2000. Cornwall’s Historic Environment: Cornwall and Scilly Urban Survey - Penzance. Truro: Cornwall Archaeological Unit.

• Palmer, R., 1978. The Falmouth Packet: Smuggling Days in Cornwall. Falmouth: Packet Publishing.

• Pett, D., 1998. The Industrial Archaeology of Cornwall. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. Ltd.

• South West Coast Path Association, 2024. South West Coast Path Official Guide. [online] Available at: https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk [Accessed 27 April 2025].

• Winn, R., 2018. The Salt Path. London: Michael Joseph.

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