The Skylark Garden - Community Climate Resilience

Aim

The Skylark Garden will be Trevisker Community Meadow's first outdoor climate resilience area connecting us to our environment

What do we want to do?

The Skylark Garden will be Trevisker Community Meadow's first outdoor climate resilience area, doubling as an outdoor educational and community volunteering area for us to host workshops and activities that connect us to our environment. We pride ourselves on building stronger and more resilient communities.

Who are we and what do we do?

Trevisker Community Meadow was established 5 years ago in a fallow field just outside Padstow. Since then we have planted thousands of saplings, an orchard, created a wildlife pond, established three beehives, and taken on 10 acres next door to grow heritage Cornish wildflower. 

All of this work has been achieved with hundreds of volunteers as a part of our outreach programme. These include Local schools, both primary and secondary, colleges, Saint Petrocs charity, Guides, Rainbows, Cubs, Scouts, socially prescribed people, members of the public and local businesses. 

Now we have established our basic infrastructure we want to create our first dedicated outdoor communal and climate resilience area. We will call this area "The Skylark Garden". Skylarks are a red listed species. However, since we started our Community Meadow we have seen a massive increase in numbers over the past few years. This year 36 were counted at one given time! 

Our meadow is a safe place for them to rear their young. This demonstrates the positive message that habitats can be restored and there is hope and positivity when we discuss climate change. It is vital that people participate in projects that not only teach the skills to make a difference, but that they feel that difference they are making and know that we can positively influence the future and be resilient to the impacts. It is important to feel stronger...

What is the project inspiration?

Cornish Hedges mitigate climate change by absorbing and retaining water, reducing soil erosion and flooding, providing shelter from storms, and storing carbon. Their unique structure, with an earth core and stone cladding, allows them to manage water extremes, while their vegetation contributes to carbon sequestration and provides vital wildlife habitats and corridors that enhance biodiversity. 

This project will not only teach people how to create these important structures but will also enable ways to understand and enhance the climate benefits of these hedges through providing the skills for restoration and creation of new structures for carbon storage and biodiversity.

What will the Crowdfunder enable?

This Crowdfunder will provide us with the tools and equipment to host workshops that help to create more nature areas in Cornwall. 

This funding will provide the space and equipment to conduct these workshops, and will provide an amazing opportunity for the volunteers to come and learn Cornish Hedging using stone from Trebarwith in Cornwall.

Participants will be able to take away their own stone to create pockets of wildlife habitats in their own gardens and communities. We will be able to plant more saplings, teach growing your own produce using "cut and come again" techniques to maximise yields from own grown vegetables and salads and spread more Cornish wildflower seeds around.

Why an outdoor climate resilience area?

We will create a large central point within the meadow from which we can conduct workshops, talks, focus and set intention before our work, as well as congregate, relax and eat our own grown produce.

It will be our space in which to promote healthy, thriving communities by preventing, preparing for and protecting against the impacts of climate change. If we plant more trees, create more home grown produce, help understand the threats to wildlife and the steps that we can all take to make a difference, and talk about climate change then we can make important steps to achieving these goals.

The Communal area will seat up to 20 adults or 30 children, and can comfortably host 8 people during a focused workshop. The circular arrangement of the Cornish hedge will make it perfect to present and educate. 

Our visitors comment on how the meadow affects their mood and general health, this space will be where they can reflect and connect to the meadow. Should we be successful with the funding we can engage with hundreds of participants, inclusively and across all ages.

How you can help

There are three simple ways to get involved and support our project:

1. Make a donation

Every pledge gets us closer to our goal. Early support can help build momentum and inspire others to give too.

2. Spread the word

Share our project with friends, family and your wider network. The more people we reach, the more likely we are to succeed.

3. Volunteer with us

If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch through the ‘Contact’ section using the subject "I want to volunteer my time or expertise" on our project page.

This project successfully funded on 31st January 2026