Pendennis Shipyard lent its expertise to the Helford River Children's Sailing Trust (HRCST) to help them restore an iconic footbridge.

The footbridge will provide pedestrian access to the trust's new sailing facility at Trevassack Lake on the Lizard peninsula.

The Trevassack project, currently under development, will expand the trust's capacity to provide children and young people with free sailing and kayaking tuition, particularly those with special needs and disabilities.

“We were very grateful to be given the old wooden ‘Monet’ bridge, which was donated to HRCST by the Trebah Garden Trust when a new bridge was installed at the gardens,” said HRCST co-chairman Charles Richardson. “We felt it would be perfect for bridging a small stream at the Trevassack Lake site.”

After years in situ at the gardens, however, the bridge was in need of extensive repair. It was transported to Pendennis, where, under the guidance of joinery manager Tim Tregear, a team of apprentices set about restoring the arched structure to its former glory.

“This was an ideal project for our apprentice joiners and painters, giving them an opportunity to practise their skills,” says Tim. “They had to remove large areas of rot before inserting new pieces of hardwood and forming seamless joints. The whole bridge was then sprayed with layers of epoxy yacht paint for a hardwearing finish.

“The HRCST’s development of Trevassack Lake is a fantastic opportunity for local children and it is lovely to be involved, albeit in a small way,” Tim continues. “We look forward to assisting with the installation of the bridge, when the time comes.”

Jill Carr, who leads the apprenticeship programme at Pendennis, adds: “Our team started work on the bridge in March, when we run our annual Apprentices Community Week to mark National Apprenticeship Week. As a company we like to put something back into the community, and we feel it helps our apprentices develop as well-rounded individuals.”

“The Pendennis apprentices have done a great job,” says Charles. “When it is installed at Trevassack Lake, we will call it the Pendennis Bridge,”

HRCST has provided free sailing and kayaking lessons on the Helford River to local primary school children since its foundation in 1997. The Trevassack Lake centre will offer a wide range of watersports training, as well as serving as a new facility for the local community. Subject to funding, HRCST plans to open the new learning centre in 2020.

Visit hrcst.org.uk for further details about HRCST and its forthcoming Trevassack Lake project.