Sustainable Tourism in the Tamar Valley – green tourism initiatives and a closer look at the Tamara Coast to Coast Way

Whether you’re planning a day trip or looking to stay for a while in the Tamar Valley, Sarah Bartlett from Visit Tamar Valley highlights just some of the ways in which local tourism providers are offering a sustainable experience, to help conserve the natural beauty of our area.

Find out more about Visit Tamar Valley’s eight Green Ambassadors, the sustainability pledge and their work towards a sustainable tourism charter during a walk and talk at Lopwell Dam, where we caught up with Sarah just ahead of English Tourism Week (15-24 March).

Your hosts, Ginnette Sutherland and Charlotte Dancer from Tamar Valley National Landscape, also chat with one of the first walkers to complete the 87-mile Tamara Coast to Coast Way when it launched in summer 2023. We catch up with Gary Lewis (Senior Heritage Officer for Tamara Landscape Partnership) at Okel Tor, to hear how he and Sarah Richardson walked the entire length in seven days, and the advice he’d give to walkers who would like to explore the route.

This episode, you’ll hear the sounds of Nature at Okel Tor as we pause, engage and connect for a few moments in our regular slot inspired by the nature connectedness work and research undertaken by University of Derby.

Learn more about one of our Tamar Valley Special Species – 17 animals and plants that were identified within the Tamar Valley National Landscape’s Nature Recovery Plan 2023-2030, as needing a helping hand to thrive. Gary Lewis talks about the Willow Tit that favours willow or other suitable thicket and scrub habitat in damp places.

Your hosts

• Ginnette Sutherland, Community Engagement Officer (intern), Tamar Valley National Landscape/Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme (National Lottery Heritage Fund supported)
• Charlotte Dancer, Information & Communications Officer, Tamar Valley National Landscape

Our guests

• Sarah Bartlett, Marketing Consultant, Visit Tamar Valley
• Gary Lewis, Senior Heritage Officer (Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme (Tamar Valley National Landscape project, supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund)

With thanks

Thank you to Jim Baldwin and Ross Sinclair from Fotonow for their technical support.

 

Links

Find out more…

Visit Tamar Valley’s sustainable tourism initiatives - https://visittamarvalley.co.uk/sustainability-pledge

Tamara Coast to Coast Way - https://www.tamarvalley-nl.org.uk/discover-explore/walking/tamara-coast-to-coast-way/

Tamara Coast to Coast Way Guidebook - https://visittamarvalley.co.uk/product/tamara-coast-to-coast-way-guide-book

Shorter walk options - https://www.tamarvalley-nl.org.uk/discover-explore/walking/short-walks/?difficulty=All%20Difficulties&location=any-start-points&type=any-type&placeid=21&typeid=31

Tamara Landscape Partnership scheme - https://tamaralandscapepartnership.org.uk/

Tamar Valley National Landscape - https://www.tamarvalley-nl.org.uk/

Tamar Valley National Landscape’s Nature Recovery Plan 2023-2030 - https://www.tamarvalley-nl.org.uk/our-work/projects/nature-recovery-plan/

University of Derby

• Natural Connectedness research - https://www.derby.ac.uk/research/themes/zero-carbon/zero-carbon-nbs-research-centre/nature-connectedness-research-group/
• Nature Connected Communities Handbook Growing community nature connectedness: A new handbook for growing human-nature community relationships. | Finding Nature.

 

Wildlife Equipment – we have a range of surveying equipment that you can borrow to find out what’s visiting your garden or community space. Please contact bryony.james@cornwall.gov.uk for further details.

 

Production

This podcast has been brought to you from Tamar Valley National Landscape, one of 46 National Landscapes throughout the UK that work in partnership to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of these protected landscapes. Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1995, the Tamar Valley’s special qualities are;

 

• A rare valley and water landscape
• A landscape of high visual quality
• A unique wildlife resource
• A remarkable heritage
• A landscape of artistic and public appeal

 

The podcast has been made possible thanks to National Lottery Heritage Fund supported Tamara Landscape Partnership scheme, a project of Tamar Valley National Landscape, that aims to create a brighter future for the Tamar Valley and its communities, by creating opportunities and positive change through a programmes of 10 exciting projects.

 

Contact us

Email: enquiries@tamarvalley.org.uk

Social media: @tamarvalleynl – find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

 

More episodes

Look out for our next podcast that will be released at the end of April 2025. Please like, subscribe and share, and leave feedback to help inform future episodes.