Mawnan Park (formerly known as Mawnan Junior Playing Field)
The Mawnan Junior Playing Field, now renamed Mawnan Park, is located on Carwinion Road, next to Mawnan Bowling Club. You can access it by footpaths from Shute Hill, Carwinion Road and Grove Hill. There is a small selection of play equipment including a roundabout, two swings, trim trail and climbing fort. Please note that dogs are not allowed in the playing field area.
Reporting Issues
We strive to maintain the site as a safe and pleasant environment for everyone. Regular inspections and maintenance are carried out to ensure all equipment is safe and up to standard. If you notice any issues with the play equipment, such as damage or wear, or if you see full bins that need attention, please report these to the Parish Clerk via clerk@mawnan.org.uk or 01326 251022.
Important Notice: Play Equipment and Site Updates
The old zip wire has now been removed following safety inspections, as it had reached the end of its usable life. A new zip wire is planned for installation in April 2026.
New fencing and gates for the dog walkers’ path and the Mawnan Park Nature Garden are due to be installed in February 2026.
We are also seeking volunteers to help with tree planting, funded by Forest for Cornwall. If you would like to get involved, please register your interest with Cllr Shiona Biggin, further information is available below.
Alongside this work, we are progressing funding applications for new play equipment and seating. Our crowdfunder remains open, and donations will help support these bids through match funding.
Recent Developments
In June 2024, Mawnan Parish Council secured a grant from Cornwall Council’s Community Capacity Fund* to revitalise our village playground, now known as Mawnan Park. This funding represents a key milestone in developing a long-term, community-led vision for the site.
We partnered with Earth Wrights Ltd, a specialist playground design company, to ensure the new playground reflects the community’s needs and aspirations. Their expertise aligns perfectly with our goal of creating an accessible, inclusive, and biodiverse space.
On 3 September 2024, we held a community consultation consisting of a morning focus group followed by the Design Mawnan Park & Village Fete. The event featured drop-in sessions, enabling the entire community to participate and share their ideas.
Feedback from these sessions, along with survey responses and creative designs submitted by local children, played a key role in shaping the initial design concepts. These concepts were shared in November 2024 for further input. Cllr Shiona Biggin gathered valuable feedback during this phase, which helped Earth Wrights refine the designs and develop their final concept which can be viewed here. The Parish Council is now collaborating with a specialist sports and play consultancy company to develop a detailed site layout and prepare tender documents for the next phases of the project.
Fundraising and Community Support
Fundraising and partnership working have enabled the project to move forward at pace. The Mawnan Park Nature Garden Crowdfunder was successful, surpassing its target and helping to secure funding from the Cornwall Climate and Nature Fund and a Community Chest award. Alongside other donations, this has enabled over £13,000 to be raised to deliver nature garden elements as phase one of the project. The Crowdfunder remains open for donations to help us deliver phase two, including new play equipment and seating.
In parallel, the Parish Council has secured a Forest for Cornwall grant and will be delivering community tree planting days in late February, in partnership with Forest for Cornwall, followed by fruit tree planting and the creation of a foraging hedge with Simon Miles of The Forest Garden in early March 2026. Later in the year, we will run further community gardening days, giving people of all ages the opportunity to plant pollinator-friendly plants and wildflowers and help care for the space together. If you would like to get involved, please contact Cllr Shiona Biggin at cllr.biggin.mawnan@gmail.com.
Looking ahead, we are planning a Bioblitz event in summer 2026, delivered in partnership with local nature organisations. This will be the first of what we hope will become an annual event, enabling the community to record and track changes in flora and fauna over time and measure the impact of the nature garden and wider site improvements.
Strong community support has been central to the project’s progress and continues to strengthen future funding bids. Opportunities to get involved through volunteering, events and future fundraising will remain a key part of the project as it develops.
We need your support to continue building momentum! Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. If you’d like to help, whether by donating, hosting a fundraising event, or contributing your time, please get in touch. Together, we can bring the vision for Mawnan Park to life. If you would like to help in any way please email Cllr Shiona Biggin at cllr.biggin.mawnan@gmail.com
History
In 1928 the playing field was generously gifted to the village by Mrs Lucy Hodgkin of Treworgan, Mawnan Smith, daughter of Alfred and Sarah Fox of Glendurgan. The playground was officially opened on 10 August 1928, with a children’s fancy dress parade. Originally, it featured a pebbledash shelter and a sand pit, with the shelter bearing a plaque inscribed with a verse from Julia Carney’s poem “Little Things”:
“Little deeds of kindness,
Little words of love,
Make our Earth an Eden,
Like the heavens above.”
Stay connected with us on social media for the latest news on the Mawnan Park Facebook page.
*The Community Capacity Fund is part of the Good Growth Programme, which is delivering the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.
