A Helston-based activity programme is making the most of a successful rollout and claims over a thousand people have already taken part.

The CAST-Off programme is now halfway through and already over a thousand people have participated in the free creative activities run by the Helston-based arts organisation CAST.

The activities take place in the walled garden at National Trust Penrose on Tuesdays and Saturdays, from 10am to 12 noon and 2 to 4pm.

The programme is attracting lots of local families, many of whom do the mile-long walk from out of Helston to the Stables Yard at Penrose, with pushchairs, bikes and scooters.

Falmouth Packet: Children adding to and drawing from our ‘Museum of Special Things’; a collection of natural materials such leaves, feathers and shells. Children adding to and drawing from our ‘Museum of Special Things’; a collection of natural materials such leaves, feathers and shells.

Holiday makers visiting Penrose are surprised and delighted to find so much imaginative activity taking place in this beautiful location.

The walled garden is a perfect peaceful setting for the workshops, which are led by artists from CAST studios, and many others based in the local area.

Falmouth Packet: Children learning to make cups and bowls with ceramist Hannah LawrenceChildren learning to make cups and bowls with ceramist Hannah Lawrence

Comments from parents are simple and heartfelt: ‘I just love it’, ’This is what my children need’, ‘It’s lovely to see children completely absorbed and calm, just making’.

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Activities so far have included polishing Serpentine, making felt pouches, wild weaving, leaf printing, wood construction, pinch pots, clay houses, magic seed pods, cyanotypes, hay animals and boat-building.

Still to come, on Tuesdays and Saturdays until August 28: pollination investigations with botanical artist Dominica Williamson, pigment making and wild painting with artist Nina Royle, shadow puppets, fish kites, granite bashing, animal masks and more Serpentine smoothing and cyanotypes.

Falmouth Packet: ‘Ben’s Den’ with his painted canopy in the woodland near the Bulwark estate.‘Ben’s Den’ with his painted canopy in the woodland near the Bulwark estate.

There is also a ‘Museum of Special Things’ where children can settle and make observational drawings, and plenty of grassy space for families to picnic and toddlers to toddle.

Lucy Grant has designed a beautiful new activity map with a range of creative tasks for children to carry out independently in and around Penrose.

The maps are available from CAST Café in Penrose Road and can also be picked up from the Stables Café at Penrose and from the walled garden on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Falmouth Packet: Families making cyanotypes at a session led by artist Stuart Robinson.Families making cyanotypes at a session led by artist Stuart Robinson.

At sessions in the walled garden visitors can also pick up a free pack with a sketchbook and artist’s pencil.

Also on Tuesdays and Saturdays, you’ll find CAST artist Ben Sanderson making a den in the little wood between the Bullock lane path and the Bulwark estate.

You’ll find full details of the programme on CAST’s Facebook page: CASTcornwall, or look for CAST-Off on the CAST website: c-a-s-t.org.uk.