Local inshore fishermen in the west of Cornwall refer to Kemyel Crease Nature Reserve as 'The Trees'. Viewed from the sea this plantation of Monterey pines and cypress is a distinct landmark, giving the impression of order on the wild/ rugged sloping cliffs.

Once within the nature reserve any sense of order disappears as the majestic forms of living and dead trees create a chaotic scene that is wild and awe-inspiring. Individual trees present dramatic images/ towering above masses of brambles and the old fuchsia hedges that were planted to create small flower and potato gardens in the late 1800s.

The south-facing and well-drained cliffs in this area were ideal for early potatoes and flowers that were taken by train to London markets. At its fullest extent Kemyel Crease had over 100 of these small gardens/ known as

quillets/ that were still being cultivated in the 1930s when six to twelve donkeys worked the land and seaweed was used as manure.

Today the trees and tangled under-storey provide a welcome shelter from the elements for walkers on the South West coast-path. This is the only access to the nature reserve/ whether approached from Mousehole or Lamorna Cove/ and there is no further access as the overgrown slopes can be dangerous.

The South West coast-path is currently celebrating its Silver Jubilee and the Trust is supporting projects that mark this. The inspirational sense of wilderness at Kemyel Crease prompted local artist Jonathan Middlemiss to approach the Trust with ideas for a series of sculptures using the linear route. Thanks to funding from the Arts Council, Creative Partnerships and KEAP (Kernow

Education Arts Partners) this project is underway at Kemyel Crease until mid-October. The sculptures will not be permanent and will eventually be removed/ leaving behind the wilderness with its own natural sculptures.

Central to this project is education

and raising awareness of the natural environment and links have been made with local schools to allow children to participate and interact with the sculptures.

Jonathan is an internationally recognised artist mainly for his ceramics. This project is a development of his devotion to wild environments and follows his exhibition of wood sculpture at Trelissick Gardens in 2002, It will be launched at the Acorn Theatre Penzance on 22nd October at 8pm. A continuous slide show with impressions of a year at Kemyel Crease was shown at Morvah Schoolhouse in September