Planet PK is our ongoing environmental programme at PK Porthcurno, formally recognising our duty of care as residents and landowners within the Valley, which is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Planet PK embeds green values within the charity’s future programming, engagement, and business plans to ensure that environmental concerns are central to every decision we make.
Photo: Maeve Cushla
Award Winners
Planet PK has twice been national winners of the Association for Cultural Enterprises Association Green Award. In 2022 we won for our Plastic Free Community work and Lights Out for Darker Skies exhibition. In 2020 we were celebrated for our work around wildflower planting, sustainable sourcing in the shop and café, installation of renewable energy, beekeeping, and habitat and wildlife protection on our site. Planet PK also won in 2020 at the Cornwall Heritage Awards, organised by the Cornwall Museum Partnership, and sponsored by Tevi, who acknowledged our ‘Contribution to the Environment and Circular Economy’ here at PK Porthcurno.
Mission
Everyone loves Porthcurno, from locals and tourists to film and TV producers, and it is not hard to see why! However, with such popularity comes a strain on the environment and infrastructure of what is not only a breath-taking beach, but a valley steeped in natural and cultural heritage. PK Porthcurno works very closely with the local National Trust on land management and endeavours to work with our neighbours, partners, local community, and visitors alike to ensure Porthcurno is enjoyed in the most sustainable way possible with wildlife and habitat protection placed at greatest importance.
Photo: Ellie Smart
Follow Planet PK on Instagram
Follow us on our Instagram channel where we celebrate the wildlife and natural history of Porthcurno Valley with stunning images from local and international photographers and promote environmental protection and sustainable tourism as well as nature for health and wellbeing.
Read our Planet PK Young Curator’s Blog
Our Planet PK blog starts with photographer Maeve Cushla (@rainonlens_) who will be documenting her experiences of the nature within Porthcurno Valley.
Planet PKGutta-Percha: Environmental Impacts
Understanding the implementation of gutta-percha in undersea cables & discovering its unsustainability and impact on the environment.
Museum newsQuinta dos Ingleses – A visit to Carcavelos
Members of Planet PK flew out to Carcavelos to meet the SOS Quinta Dos Ingleses team and to visit the site under threat of development.
PK StoriesMoths & Bats
Recently we have been looking at the relationship between bats and their main prey moths and how the two have evolved over millions of years.
PK StoriesMillion Mile May
Young Curator, Maeve shares how Planet PK took part in SAS's Million Mile May and the mess left at Porthcurno car park over the May half-term
PK StoriesSustainable Beekeeping at PK Porthcurno 🐝
PK's Young Curator, Maeve Cushla shares the sustainable bee-keeping practices taking place at PK Porthcurno by our Bee Keepers.
PK StoriesThe Journey to a Plastic Free Community in Porthcurno.
PK's Young Curator, Maeve Cushla shares the journey of turning Porthcurno in to an official Surfers Against Sewage plastic free community!
PK StoriesBat Blog
PK Porthcurno's Young Curator, Maeve Cushla, explores Bats - their habitats, how the communicate and the threats they face.
PK StoriesThe Wood-Wide Web
PK Porthcurno's Young Curator, Maeve Cushla, shares the important role of Fungi Mycelium and its complex network of brain-like roots.
PK StoriesPhotographing Fungi
PK Porthcurno's Young Curator, Maeve Cushla, shares her experience and tips for photographing the fascinating world of Fungi!
PK StoriesThe SAS Millionth Mile Week Beach Clean
PK Porthcurno's Young Curator, Maeve Cushla, shares images and findings of Planet PK's Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) beach clean.
PK StoriesAutumn Fungi
Young Curator Maeve Cushla diverts our attention away from the sea and beach of Porthcurno and deep into the woodland that surrounds the valley.
PK StoriesBank Holiday Beach Clean- Planet PK x Cornwall AONB
Our Young Curator Maeve Cushla shares images and the findings of Planet PK's beach clean with Cornwall AONB.
PK StoriesPlanet PK Night Camera Update – Young Curator Blog
Young Curator Maeve Cushla updates us on the Tevi Nightcam to get a sneak peek into the nightlife of our nocturnal friends in Porthcurno.
PK StoriesInterview with Caleb Giddens
Planet PK talks to local ocean and lifestyle photographer Caleb Giddens and discuss the highs and lows of working in a field impacted by the environment and increased tourism.
PK StoriesWildlife Photography Without Harm – Young Curator Blog
Young Curator Maeve Cushla shares valuable personal experience, hints and tips about wildlife photography without causing harm to their environments.
PK StoriesSurfers Against Sewage Million Mile Clean – Young Curator Blog
On Tuesday 1st June PK Porthcurno staff, friends, residents and volunteers took part in the Surfers Against Sewage Million Mile Beach Clean and helped to remove an alarming amount of bank holiday rubbish.
PK StoriesLights Out for Darker Skies – Young Curator Blog
As part of our Lights Out for Darker Skies exhibition Young Curator Maeve Cushla learnt to photograph the night sky at Porthcurno and discovers the different techniques used in astrophotography.
PK StoriesNational Gardening Week – Young Curator Blog
During National Gardening Week, our Young Curator Maeve Cushla decided to observe the PK gardens and record the types of species spotted enjoying the plants!
PK StoriesSocial Media – Young Curator Blog
In our latest Planet PK blog, Maeve Cushla explores the positive and negative effect of social media and how it contributes to our understanding of the environment.
PK StoriesThe Roe Deer – Young Curator Blog
In our latest Planet PK blog, we observe the elegant roe deer, captured on the Tevi camera, positioned on the museum grounds.
PK StoriesDark Sky – Young Curator Blog
In our latest Planet PK blog, we discuss our work with Penwith Landscape Partnership, Cornwall AONB and Cornwall Council in supporting the West Penwith application aiming to become an International Dark Sky Park.
PK StoriesWave Action – Young Curator Blog
In our latest Planet PK blog, we look at the recent swell in Cornwall, and the potentially devastating effect these swells can have on our coastal landscape and coastal communities.
PK StoriesThe Stonechat – Young Curator Blog
In our latest Planet PK blog, Young Curator Maeve Cushla observes the wintering birds that visit the valley and in particular the stonechat.
PK StoriesThe Red Fox – Young Curator Blog
In this weeks Planet PK blog, Young Curator, Maeve Cushla, observes the nocturnal behaviour of the red fox, as captured on our wildlife camera.
PK StoriesBuzzards – Young Curator Blog
In our latest Planet PK blog, Young Curator, Maeve Cushla, observes the common buzzard, the most frequent bird of prey in Porthcurno valley.
PK StoriesProtecting our coasts – Young Curator Blog
In the fifth of our Planet PK blogs, Young Curator, Maeve Cushla, looks at how we can protect our coasts from pollution through careful consideration of what we purchase, take to, and safely remove from a day at the beach.
PK StoriesBadger Behaviour – Young Curator Blog
In the fourth of our Planet PK blogs, Young Curator, Maeve Cushla, watches and learns about nocturnal badger behaviour, as captured on our wildlife camera.
PK StoriesMicrolife at Porthcurno – Young Curator Blog
In the third of our Planet PK blogs, Young Curator, Maeve Cushla, explores the leafy debris of the valley and unearths the microlife that lives beneath.
PK StoriesGrey Seals – Young Curator Blog
In the second of our Planet PK blogs, Young Curator, Maeve Cushla, writes of her experience filming the grey seals that visit Porthcurno.
PK StoriesKids in Museums – Young Curator Blog
As the museum is closed for lockdown 2, Maeve Cushla, our Young Curator, spent this week photographing and researching the local songbirds around Porthcurno valley for the Kids in Museums takeover day.
Header image credit: Ellie Smart