Diary

I have currently been working on a number of projects including starting to clear two Bridleways, one in Ludgvan and one in Towednack. Practical tasks will vary from routine strimming and mowing in areas such as Lescudjack Hill Fort in Penzance, the Saint Michaels Way and the Footpaths and Bridleways of Morvah Parish, to the construction of stiles, gates and fences and the re-opening of long forgotten and overgrown routes. I work from a small workshop and office at Catchall near to St Buryan and spend the majority of each day out in the countryside unless the weather is really awful! The job offers many benefits, including the opportunity to discover many hidden areas of our beautiful Penwith countryside and a great deal of job satisfaction.

If you are interested in applying for this position then please see the other information included on this website, giving details on how to apply. Click Here

6th March 2008 - It has been another busy month for PAROW with lots of problems reported concerning our Rights of Way. Following the recent storms and high winds there have been a number of fallen trees and other vegetation which has required clearing including work on the path to Madron Chapel and a number of paths in the Parish of St Erth. A project completed by PAROW before Christmas was the clearance of 'Devils Lane', a half mile long old lane near to Bottallack. This has proved to be very popular with both walkers and local horse riders and PAROW has now replaced the two stiles at the top of the lane to improve access to the surrounding moors. Further work has also been carried out on another previous PAROW project, where areas of the Earth Works at Caer Bran Hill Fort have now been cleared of Gorse, bracken and brambles, giving a much better view of the remaining structure. PAROW now has access to a compact tractor and hedge flail through the hard work of Rob Poole, the Rural Economy Officer from the District Council. It is hoped that this will allow us to greatly increase the amount of work achieved through the busy summer months and should also be a great help in further clearance on areas of Open Access land and moor.

20th December 2007 - We have been busy this month working to improve some of the problems reported at our regular monthly public meetings. Following on from the clearance work carried out earlier in the year at Caer Bran Hill Fort and its surrounding area of Open Access land, two additional paths have been created to allow better access. These paths have been out of use for a number of years but are shown on the local maps, and now provide alternative routes for both walkers and horse riders. Another new project for PAROW is the clearance of a half mile long disused farm track near to Botallack. The track, which is known locally as 'Devils Lane', gives access from 'No Go By Lane' up onto the moors above Botallack and is well used by local people, but had become increasingly difficult to access due to the build-up of brambles and bracken.
The New Year will see a number of exciting new projects starting for PAROW and we hope to take delivery of a new compact tractor and flail in the New Year provided by Natural England, which should speed up next year's work considerably and greatly increase the, amount of work we achieve both in heathland and path management.
Despite the recent cold and windy weather, this Is an excellent time of year to be walking and riding in Penwith, and offers the opportunity for some bracing outings over the Christmas holidays. On behalf of PAROW I'd like to thank everyone who has offered us support and assistance this year.
If you have any issues you would like to raise regarding our rights of way, either contact me or come along to one of our regular forum meetings and raise them with the many representatives of the county and parish councils who attend.

6th September 2007 - As the start of Autumn seems to be with us, and we at last seem to be getting some sunny settled weather, it appears that the rapidly growing vegetation which has been blocking many of our paths this year seems to be slowing. PAROW has worked hard this year to keep as many of these paths and Bridleways open as possible, and hopefully people have seen an improvement in some of the Rights of Way in Perranuthnoe and Paul.
We have also been busy clearing and maintaining some of Penwiths important Ancient Sites and have kept the bracken in check at Boscawenoon Stone circle and at Chun Castle. Hopefully this will encourage the re-growth of wild flowers and already Boscawenoon looked lovely with an outer ring of foxgloves which took over from the Blue Bells seen earlier in the year
It is now the time of year for PAROW to be considering projects and plans for the future and I already have a long list of gates to install and stiles to replace!We have many ideas for these improvements, such as lengths of permissive Bridleway to link existing routes and for the opening up of paths which have often been blocked by vegetation for years. I am also interested to hear of any other ideas from people for ways in which we can improve our paths and ancient site to increase peoples enjoyment of the countryside.
Work has continued at Lescudjack Hill Fort in Penzance to keep the grass under control and the site is looking much improved, and it is hoped that it will soon be possible to install new gates to improve access for local residents.

19th July 2007 - Following the continued rain and damp weather, the vegetation seems to show no sign of slowing its amazing rate of growth. Usually by this time of the year our paths are starting to turn brown in the sun and I get the opportunity to hang up my strimmer for a while and think about planning for the future. This year, every path remains green and is growing fast!
Work has continued for PAROW over the last few weeks to try to clear this rapidly growing vegetation which is threatening to block our paths. After completing the Rights of Way in the Parish of Perranuthnoe, our attention has turned to the Parish of Paul and I have already made a start by clearing the two paths which run from Kemyel down into Lamorna Cove. These are vital paths much enjoyed by tourists and locals alike, and offer lovely views of the Cove and surrounding area. PAROW is also trying to improve the presentation of some of the Ancient sites in Penwith, and will be continuing with its cutting at Chun Castle in Morvah and at the Boscawenoon Stone Circle site, working in partnership with Cornwall Ancient Sites Protection Network who look after the centre of the circle.
Work has also continued at Lescudjack Hill Fort in Penzance which is looking much improved, and it is hoped that it will soon be possible to install new gates to improve access for local residents.
Last Wednesday saw PAROW's regular monthly public meeting which was well attended by both representatives of local Parishes and user groups, but also by the general public. With regular guest speakers including recent contributions from Cornwall County Council and Natural England, it is an excellent opportunity for people to discuss problems and make their views on our Rights of Way heard

21st June 2007 - The warm weather and recent rain have contributed to make this a very busy summer for PAROW, with their Paths Officer struggling to keep up with the rapidly growing vegetation. Work has continued on the Rights of Way in Morvah and Perranuthnoe where PAROW is the main contractor, and the majority of paths having been cut for the second time this season. Work has also continued at the site of the Lescudjack Hill Fort in Penzance with the grass now being cut on a fortnightly basis.
I recently visited the Boscawenoon Stone circle, signposted from the A30, which was the scene of much clearance work by PAROW last year. It was really pleasing to find the site looking much improved, with any signs of the work carried out now softened by the re-growth surrounding the stones. The Circle enclosure is now a carpet of Campions and Foxgloves which have replaced the Bluebells seen earlier in the spring and is well worth a visit.
There have been many other issues and problems which have been recently reported to me such as a fallen tree across a Bridleway near to Castle and Dinas quarry or a blocked section of the Saint Michaels Way which needed clearing to keep this important route open.

17th May 2007 - PAROW has been busy over the last couple of weeks, working hard to keep up with the rapidly growing vegetation in the Parishes of Morvah and Perranuthnoe. As the main contractor for these Parishes it is our responsibility to keep all of the Footpaths and Bridleways clear, and the warm wet weather has made it a very good spring for growth! The spring is a lovely time to enjoy the beauty of Penwith, with the paths a picture of Blue Bells and Campions.

Work has been progressing well at the Lescudjack Hill Fort site at Penzance with regular maintenance starting to pay off. After major clearance work carried out by the District Council last year the regular mowing off the site by PAROW has reduced the re-growth of brambles and blackthorn, and the grass is starting to return. While working on site I have spoken to many of the local residents, and have received a lot of positive comments on its improving appearance.

Work has also continued on Caer Bran Hill near to Sancreed, and it is now possible to use the old track which crosses the area of Open Access land which contains the remains of an Iron age hill fort. This site provides panoramic views across Penwith and is well worth a visit.

Last week saw PAROW's regular monthly public meeting at the offices of Penwith District Council, and as usual it was well attended with many parish representatives present. It was a good opportunity to discuss any Rights of Way issues and also to discuss future projects for PAROW.

if you would like to report any issues regarding the footpaths and Bridleways of Penwith then I can be contacted by phone on 01736 811124 or at parow@btconnect.com. Further information regarding PAROW and our activities can now also be found on our new Web site at www.parow.org.uk

26th Apri 2007 - PAROW has recently been working to improve access on an area of open access land at Caer Bran, near to Bartinney Hill. This is an area rich in history, with the remains of an Iron Age Hill fort and more recent signs of mining and excavation. It provides a valuable link for both horse riders and walkers, from the road leading to Brane, across to the Sancreed road. PAROW has cleared a clearly defined track which is shown on old maps, which runs right across the top of the hill and through the centre of the fort.

PAROW is now also helping in the maintenance and improvements of the Lescudjack hill fort site at Treneere in Penzance, and is cutting the vegetation at the site on a regular basis to prevent the encroachment of blackthorn and brambles and to encourage the re-establishment of grass.

With the spring weather finally with us for the last few weeks, all of the rights of way are growing fast and as PAROW is now the contractor for Perranuthnoe as well as Morvah I have been busy strimming and trimming to keep all of the paths clear of vegetation. if you are aware of any problems with Rights of Way becoming overgrown in either of these Parishes, or anywhere else then please let me know.

I can be contacted by phone on 01736 811124 or at parow@btconnect.com to discuss any issues regarding Penwith's Rights of Way. Further information regarding PAROW and our activities can now also be found on our new Web site at www.parow.org.uk

February 2007 - Spring seems to have come very early this year, with many fields a sea of yellow daffodils and already the hedgerows are starting to come to life, and the vegetation is starting to grow! PAROW is currently involved with a project at Connor Downs to clear an overgrown Byway. This is being carried out at the request of the Parish Council and is also being partly funded by The Gwinear and Gwithian Footpaths and Bridleways Association. When completed the work will make the route much easier to use and reduce the risk of bumped heads on the overhanging trees!

The final stage in the contractor training program being organised by PAROW and held in its workshop at St Buryan is nearing completion. Four local contractors will take part in a week long course covering all the necessary aspects of chainsaw use, including small tree felling and maintenance.

Work has continued on the clearance of a network of paths on Bartinney recently, with lots of positive comments from local walkers and riders, many who have missed the opportunity to sample the tremendous views as the paths have become badly overgrown. Clearance has been slowed by the recent high winds and rain making Bartinney more inaccessible than usual, requiring the use of a wheel barrow for the transportation of tools and equipment from the near by car park of Chapel Carn Brea to the top of the hill!

I can be contacted by phone on 01736 811124 or at parow@btconnect.com to discuss any issues regarding Penwith's Rights of Way.

17th January 2007 - With the recent heavy rain and storms, the strong winds have been creating more work for PAROW. As the rain helps to loosen the soil around their root systems, a number of trees have blown down in the local area, blocking Footpaths and Bridleways. The previous week saw a tree cleared from a Bridleway in St Erth and this week has seen two more trees cleared, one from Ludgvan and one from Perranuthnoe. Work has continued on Bartinney with clearance progressing well, and it is now possible to walk from the summit trig point down towards Tredinney common.

Another new project that PAROW has become involved with is the clearance of a blocked Footpath in the Parish of St Just. Talking to local people I discovered that it has been overgrown for nearly 15 years and is certainly a mass of brambles and bracken. It runs from the Sancreed road across to Crugkern and will provide a useful link for circular walks in the area, avoiding the main road.

Penwith’s countryside is now showing the first eagerly awaited signs of Spring, with a few daffodils out already, so make the most of any sunshine and enjoy our precious Rights of Way’.

4th January 2007 - 2006 has been another good year for PAROW, and its ambitions to try to help with improvements to the countryside in Penwith. We have had the opportunity to consolidate some of our previous projects and also the chance to expand the range of projects we have been involved with. We have been able to spend more time on some of the important historical and archaeological sites in Penwith such as Boscawenoon Stone Circle, Madron Chapel and Chun Castle as well as our usual work clearing and improving the Footpaths and Bridleways. Another project PAROW has been involved with has been the training of contractors to help with the maintenance of our Rights of Way network. This has helped to improve the employment opportunities for some members of the local community, but also to provide a link between contractors, the Parish Councils and Duchy College.
We have many exciting ideas for new projects in the coming year and hope to continue to contribute to the local community, helping more people to discover the amazing landscape we have in Penwith.
I would also like to thank everyone who has supported PAROW this year, whether it is by attending our monthly Public Forum Meetings or by volunteering time to help with practical work in the countryside.

16th December 2006 -This months Public Forum Meeting for PAROW at the Penwith District Council Offices in Penzance, and as usual it was very well attended by a number of local Parish representatives and local interest groups. The Forum is an excellent opportunity to raise issues or problems relating to Rights of Way, which can be dealt with either by PAROW or passed onto the County Council.
Last week also saw the end of the first stage of the Rights of Way Contractors course which is being run in partnership with Duchy Collage, Cornwall County Council and PAROW. With all six candidates passing their initial assessments, there is now a break until after Christmas when candidates will have to take a week long chainsaw course. It is hoped that this course will increase the number of suitably trained people that the local parishes can call on for work on their Rights of Way.
Practical work has continued on a variety of projects around Penwith, including the clearance of a number of blocked stiles and footpaths in the Parish of St Erth. Some of these stiles are coming to the end of their lives and will be replaced with new, more easily accessed structures when possible.
Despite the somewhat wet and windy weather recently, this time of year provides an opportunity to enjoy the peace and solitude of Penwiths coast and countryside without the crowds of summer, so wrap up warm and make the most of our beautiful winter landscapes.

16th November 2006 - Last Thursday saw PAROW's regular monthly public meeting, and as usual it was very well attended with many representatives from local Parish Councils, and other user groups. Our guest speaker was Linda Holloway from Cornwall County Council who gave an interesting slide show regarding her role as an enforcement Officer for the Council. The meeting provides an excellent opportunity to discuss any issues regarding our Rights of Way.Practical work has continued at Bartinney Hill this week, with the path which snakes its way to the trig point at the top of the hill being cleared of years worth of accumulated gorse. Monday saw the site covered in a dense layer of sea fog with visibility down to 20 feet, making it a very eerie spot to work and definitely limiting the views to the Long Ships lighthouse!
Last week also saw the replacement of a step stile near to the Porthcurno turn off. This type of stile is common in more mountainous areas such as North Wales but is the only example I am aware of in Penwith, allowing uses to gain access up or down a 6ft bank, and after many years of service was looking rather rotten!

This week has seen the continuation of improvements and clearance work, which is being carried out by PAROW and other volunteer groups on Bartinney Hill. Work was carried out last year to modify a vital access gate to improve horse access on to the hill, which is now an area of Open Access land. This year has seen a great deal of work on clearing blocked paths already achieved by volunteers from the British Horse Society, and with a lot of time and effort provided by local resident Mr Peter --- , great strides are being made to improve access to the hill. It is hoped to continue clearing the definitive path which runs right over the sumit of the hill, and to also improve access on some of the non-definitive paths that cross the area.
It has been really rewarding while working on Bartinney to see so many people using and enjoying the area for a variety of activities from walking dogs to horse riding and with the recent beautiful weather, the area provides some stunning views across to the Long Ships Light House and the Isles of Scilly

This week has seen the start of an exciting new project for PAROW, with the first work carried out at the remarkable Chun Castle site, high on the moors above Morvah. Chun Castle is the site of a Bronze Age settlement and for a number of years has been overgrown with bracken and brambles which have made it difficult for visitors to enjoy the site. In a project partially funded by Penwith District Council, and with the support of Cornish Ancients Sites Protection Network, it is hoped to sympathetically clear some of the vegetation from the inner area of the site and to promote the regeneration of grass land and wild flowers.
It has been a pleasure to be working on the site during the early part of the week, with such beautiful weather, and a chance to admire the amazing views along the north coast. It has been surprising to see, and to get the chance to talk to the many visitors both local and on holiday who have searched out this special place.
Please continue to make the most of our footpaths and bridleways through the autumn and let me know of your experiences.

It has been a busy few weeks for PAROW, with lots of reorganisation following the retirement of its chairman Graham Ronan after 3 very successful years. Thanks to Graham for all his hard work. With our new chairman, Adrian Bigg of the British Horse Society in place, we hope to continue to build on the work achieved so far in preserving and improving the Rights of Way in Penwith.
A lot of time has recently gone into surveying the Rights of Way in the lovely Parish of Paul, which is being used as a pilot project in looking for ways to improve their regular maintenance. It is hoped to share the up keep of these between the Parish's current contractor and PAROW in the New Year, to improve their presentation and to reduce the cost of their maintenance.
With winter fast approaching, this years series of guided walks has cone to an end and I would like to thank all those who have supported PAROW and St Julia's Hospice. Despite the cooler weather this is an excellent time of year for walking, riding and cycling and I would be pleased to hear of your experiences on our Rights of Way, both good and bad!