A ROSELAND campsite has hosted an innovative arts project this summer to help promote sustainable tourism.

Working with owners Pete and Debs Walker, artists Annie Lovejoy and Mac Dunlop have developed the Caravanserai project at Treloan Coastal Holidays near Gerrans.

Annie explained: "It's about using the arts to help local people and visitors alike to celebrate the local environment and culture, discover what's on their doorstep, and respond creatively to it.

"We've taken the concept of a 'caravan' in its historical sense of a group of people travelling along ancient trade routes like the Silk Road between Asia and Europe and based the project on the 'caravanserai', the place where they would meet, a shared place of exchange, rest and conviviality."

This summer's activities have so far included fireside poetry, music, singing and storytelling, creative writing, wild food walks, a local food feast, film screenings and an open caravans day.

As well as raft making for Portscatho's Regatta on Saturday, there have also been practical events with an ecological bias, for example spinning and knitting and recycled clothes-making.

Annie said: "These collective activities, skills sharing, workshops and celebratory events, are meeting places in themselves, shared experiences that bring people together.

"Each event has taken us by surprise as people contribute creative activities. Some have never written before, let alone read to an audience."

Ecology and sustainability have also been at the heart of the Caravanserai project and activities such as charcoal making and willow coppicing, have helped bring skills back to the village that were in danger of dying out.

Annie explained: "We've had several people doing residencies for the project, including local writer Cat Holman, geographer Harriet Hawkins, writer Alyson Hallett, and artist Greg Humphries.

"Greg came to make, among other things, charcoal from local willow, using wood from a coppice belonging to Jude and Tony Tomlinson.

"Local carpenter Allan Collins was working on the barns adjacent to the coppice and became really interested in the project. He told us that the coppice was planted by a man called Morley in order to make crab-pots.

"When asked if the skill was still alive locally, Allan replied with a familiar story. He was shown how to do it as a child, but nobody of his generation made crab pots today and most are now made of plastic.

"He agreed to find someone who knew how, and see if they would be willing to teach it. They were, so we did!"

To develop the Caravanserai project Annie and Mac Dunlop worked closely with campsite owners Pete and Debs Walker, who took over the campsite last season.

Annie said: "The partnership evolved through lots of conversations and activities such as starting an allotment on site, literally preparing the ground'!

"We then looked at how we could use the creative arts to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability for both the local community, and tourism on the Roseland.

Generate ideas

"At the same time we wanted to generate ideas that give visitors an enhanced experience of the area and give voice to the creative talent and local knowledge rooted in Portscatho and Gerrans."

The project, which Annie will speak about at this week's prestigious Royal Geographical Society conference in Manchester in a joint paper with Professor Catherine Brace from the University of Exeter at Tremough, is the focus of her PhD studies at University College Falmouth.

It was made possible thanks to funding from FEAST, a programme to make art happen in Cornish villages and towns supported by Cornwall Council and the Arts Council.

The final product from the project will be an area guide book to celebrate what is local to the campsite.

Debs Walker said: "The Caravanserai project has been wonderful.

"Our local community and campers have had great fun joining in with the artists and many have been inspired by them. So much so, Rachel Best, a camper from Wales, is coming back next year to do a workshop with the children, teaching them how to draw with chalk and charcoal.

"We have another lady who will be returning to do foraging jams and chutneys, musicians have been popping out from everywhere, and six local people have written poems and read them at our fireside sessions.

Memories

"This project has not only made our campers enjoy their holiday more and take home good memories, it has helped the community to get together.

"Thanks to Annie, Caravanserai, and Feast, Treloan coastal holidays is a nicer place to be and stay."

Debs and Pete are holding a festival 'Treloan Fest' on October 2 and 3 to celebrate their move to the village, the local community, and the success of Caravanserai.

They would like to hear from musicians, performers, poets, storytellers who would like to take part.

Debs said: "In the spirit of all our events, this is a 'not for profit' bring and share exchange, but performers can be accommodated on site. If anyone would like to be involved, please get in touch by telephoning 01872 580989."