About the West Tours

19/09/2024

25/05/2024

24/05/2024

30/04/2024

It’s whimbrel spotting season! Whimbrel can be seen here in Cornwall during a narrow window in late April & early May as they pass through when migrating from their winter home in West Africa to their Arctic breeding grounds. 🪶

We’ve received reports of sightings on the Gannel, the Camel and the Fal.

The whimbrel is very similar to the curlew, but a little smaller and with a striking face pattern and a shorter, less curved bill. Its eerie call is a series of seven whistles - you’re likely to hear them first listen out for it around the coast! 🌊

Have you spotted any yet? Let us know and record your sightings 👉 https://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/wildlife-recording

📸 Lynn Colliver

19/04/2024

Why should we pay cash everywhere with banknotes instead of a card ?

- I have a £50 banknote in my pocket. Going to a restaurant and paying for dinner with it.

The restaurant owner then uses the note to pay for the laundry.

The laundry owner then uses the note to pay the barber.

The barber will then use the note to pay for shopping.

After an unlimited number of payments, it will still remain a £50 value, which has fulfilled its purpose to everyone who used it for payment and the bank has jumped dry from every cash payment transaction made.

BUT

IF I go to a restaurant and pay digitally via Card,

- the bank fees for my payment transaction charged to the seller are 3%, so around £1.50

( and so will be the fee of £1.50 for each further payment transaction )

-for the owner re laundry or
- payments of the owner of the laundry shop,
- or payments of the barber etc.....

Therefore, after 30 transactions, the initial £50 will exist at only £5, and the remaining £45 has become the property of the bank … thanks to all of the digital transactions and fees!

Use it or lose it folks…

Once it’s gone we won’t get it back!

Cash is king!

19/04/2024

Primrose Day is celebrated on the 19th April, the anniversary of the death of British Prime Minister and statesman Benjamin Disraeli. Primroses were his favourite flowers and Queen Victoria would often send him bunches of them from Windsor: she sent a wreath of primroses to his funeral.⁠
⁠
This lovely painting is Frank Bramley's version of 'Primrose Day' from the Tate collection, on loan to Penlee and currently on show in Gallery 5.

13/02/2024

27/08/2023

Like something out of a fairy-tale, Cragside emerges from the forest.

Photo: Brian Eyler

26/08/2023

This week's Art UK Online Art Exchange theme is fabulous hair! We have chosen Portrait of Laura Knight c.1891 by Harold Knight (1874 - 1961) which is owned by Royal Academy of Arts

Laura met Harold, her future husband, at Nottingham School of Art and recalled an early encounter when she posed for him in an empty life room: “He was just eighteen when he did this remarkable work. While he was painting it, I got a hint that I meant as much to him as he to me”.

23/08/2023

It’s officially Museum Meme Day! We are bringing back an oldie but goldie to celebrate ☂️

20/08/2023

15/08/2023

Congratulations to Pirate listener David Rose-Massom in Bude who's only got into the Final 12 on the BBC's Countryfile 2024 calendar. 👏📷 'Breaking Waves' was taken at Porthcurno. Well done Dave! Check the comments if you want to vote for him to appear on the calendar's front cover. 📆

13/02/2023

🎉The adoption of new planning rules in Scotland (under National Planning Framework 4) will ensure NO development will be supported that impacts ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees in Scotland!

📝The new rules come into force with immediate effect. A huge thank you to our supporters - your voices were heard and irreplaceable habitats protected as a result!

🌳Ancient woods and trees are natural bastions in the face of the climate and nature emergencies, and we have long campaigned to protect these habitats from developments. Read more about National Planning Framework 4 here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-planning-framework-4/

11/02/2023

Born today in 1466 & died today in 1503...Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville (TV's 'The White Queen') and mother of Henry VIII. The queen in a pack of playing cards is said to be based on her portrait.

10/02/2023

💚 Dartmoor National Park Authority would like to thank the Dartmoor Preservation Association for their continued support with the Backpack Camping appeal.

In light of the recent request to appeal the High Court Judgement on Backpack Camping, the DPA have set up a crowd funding page for anyone wishing to offer their support to the appeal process

https://bit.ly/3DQDDaa

10/02/2023

Work of the Week! ⁠
Old Kneebone of Helston by John Opie (1761–1807). This was one of four paintings shown to King George III when Opie was invited to Buckingham Palace in 1782. This particular work was said to be one of Opie's masterpieces.⁠⁠⁠⁠