Cornwall Life – October 2019

(^46) ŠCornwall Life: August 2019

SECRET

WOODLANDS

If you go down to the woods today... you’ll find an oasis

of calm and fascination, discovers Su Carroll

J

o Cooper grew up in a

remote corner of Wales

which instilled in her a

love of the countryside.

Now living in Cornwall she found

the perfect job – working in

beautiful woodland just a mile

from the coast at Carbis Bay. The

26-acre Cubit Woods is a picture

postcard woodlands with views

across the Hayle Estuary and the

north coast beaches and many

natural features. There’s a diverse

range of habitats, glades, a hazel

coppice, orchard, lake, pools and

a stream.

“It’s so lovely and quiet here,”

says Jo. “As you walk down in

the woods, you can’t hear the

cars. And we tell people to turn

off their phones and enjoy the

woodland sounds. It’s quite lovely

and it has my heart.

“I never knew it was here until

I came six years ago to clear the

invasive rhododendrons and

laurels. And I’ve never left.”

The initial task was to care

for the woodland, but then the

idea of a Forest School was born.

Now Heart of the Woods runs

experiences for schools and

young children, woodland skills

workshops including working

with horses, coppicing, green

woodwork and charcoal. There

are team building and bonding

days and even children’s parties.

In this green oasis, the natural

instinct is to breathe in, breathe

out... and relax. Jo knows

first-hand the benefits of such an

PHOTOS:SEAN WHITE