Chacewater Community Car Park and Garden

Mining heritage sits quietly behind the car park in this former tin mining village between Truro and Redruth. The community garden project has transformed what was once industrial wasteland into a proper little green space, though you'll need to know what you're looking for to spot the historical significance.

Engine houses and mining remains dot the landscape around Chacewater, remnants of Cornwall's tin mining boom. The village itself was a key stop on the old mineral railway that carried ore to the coast. Walking around the garden area, you can still make out foundations and earthworks from the mining days if you've got a keen eye.

Families staying at nearby parks like Trevarth Holiday Park or Lanyon Holiday Park might find it a decent leg-stretch stop rather than a destination in itself. The garden is well-maintained and there's easy parking, making it handy for a brief wander. Children will probably be more interested in the playground equipment than the historical bits.

Really, this works best as part of a wider exploration of Cornwall's mining heritage. The more famous sites like Wheal Martyn or the mines around St Agnes offer more dramatic ruins and better interpretation. But if you're passing through on the A30 or exploring the quieter corners around Truro, it's worth a quick look to see how communities are breathing new life into their industrial past.