My Outreach Contribution for March 2024
SPRING IS APPROACHING; By Councillor Sue James
Well, can you believe that it is almost Spring? Obviously a sign of age, but this year seems to be flying past faster than ever. Things on the horizon to look out for are events during Dark Skies week in April and the launch of an appeal to buy the St Just Methodist Chapel, to secure it as an asset for our community. I’m also bringing to your attention a photography competition that has just launched, that has some relevance to our Dark Skies.
By Duncan Scobie
International Dark Skies week is from 2nd to 8th April and, here in West Cornwall we are working with colleagues in the Bodmin group to put on various events, in both areas and on-line. Ideas being worked on are an on-line event from the Observatory near Bodmin, a star gazing event locally, a night walk locally (and possibly up around the Bodmin Moors) and maybe something to make use of our newly acquired David Chandler Planispheres!
Details of events will appear in April’s Outreach, on my website and my Councillor Facebook page, and hopefully many more places! If you are wondering what a Planisphere is, it is described on the website as:
A planisphere, also called a Star Chart or, sometimes, a Star Wheel is a flat multi-part chart that displays the stars visible from a particular latitude for any time and date.
If you are into landscape, astro or wildlife photography, Cornwall National Landscape, (was known as Cornwall Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB), have launched a photography competition with prizes and promotion of winning photos in a poetry book and at exhibitions. You can find details on the Cornwall National Landscape website:
St Just Methodist Chapel
I realise that rumour has had information buzzing around for a while BUT, the charity trying to secure the Methodist Chapel in St Just for the community is now in a position to make public that the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (the National body that owns most Chapel buildings) are looking to sell the Chapel. The Charity, in the name of St Just Miner’s Chapel, has managed to get the Chapel listed as a Community Asset of Value which means that once the owners decide to sell, that is paused to allow the community 6 months to raise funds and bid for it; it does not guarantee the owners accepting that offer but it does give hope. Please look out for the launch of the fundraising campaign and spread the word.