The Morrab Library

The Cornish Hedge Project
2026-04-07 10:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London)
The Cornish Hedge Project – A Community Textile Project with Vicks Harrison.

This project will produce 4 x panels 1.5 metres long(ish) representing the 4 seasons. Each panel will be made in 4 horizontal strips representing the wall, the area above and behind the wall, the ditch or area below the wall and a narrow strip with the creatures that exist in the soil, The project will be made step by step starting with Autumn in January 2026.

A diverse range of skills will be taught and used from simple expressive embroidery stitches to a variety of fabric manipulation. The emphasis will be on hand stitch skills. There will be teaching workshops for expressive embroidery stitches, padded applique, flat hand applique, 3d elements, like birds, padded worms, making a variety of cords and fabric manipulation.

The project is designed to help participants learn more about the importance of Cornish hedges and develop a wide range of design and hand stitch skills.

The project will take its inspiration from Cornish hedges so will involve an element of research for the participants. For those that are able I will be encouraging participants to go out and take photographs or draw. There may be some organised field trips.

Each panel will be given a seasonal feel by reflecting the actual flora and fauna present in that season in and around a Cornish hedge. There may be stuffed birds flying overhead.

Programme Start – Morrab Library all 10am – 12 unless indicated otherwise

27th January – Launch of project – Taster paper collage workshop looking at things like lichens and mosses that grow on the wall . Participants will be given pieces of the wall to begin embroidering

10th February – Taster How to turn stitches into expressive stitches. Textured stitches for mosses and lichens and a look at the kinds of unusual threads we can use.

24th February – Session working on the pieces we have begun

10th March – Making the dimensional ivy leaves. This will be an introduction to how we will make the ivy leaves. There will be many leaves and both flowers and berries moving across the panel and onto the start of the second panel.

24th March – Session working on the pieces we have begun

7th April – Collage workshop – paper collage birds – learning to design with paper collage. We will also begin to look at the creatures we will make for the ivy.

Free tour of The Morrab Library
2026-04-10 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-17 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-24 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-01 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-08 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-15 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-22 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-29 14:00 - 15:00 and 12 more dates
All are welcome to join a free guided tour of The Morrab Library every Friday at 2pm. This is an opportunity to learn more about our beautiful independent Library and the collections within.
The tour begins at 2pm, it is drop-in and there is no need to book. If you plan to bring a large group (6+ people) please email enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk and we will do our best to accommodate you.
For accessibility information, please click here.
We also welcome visitors to the Library at any time during our opening hours (10am – 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday) when you are welcome to pick up a map of the Library at the front desk and explore the library.

A Cornish Geek l T Shirt painting workshop
2026-04-18 13:30 - 15:30
Join Emma, aka A Cornish Geek, for a family-friendly afternoon of creative wellbeing. Drop in from 1.30-3.30pm to paint a t-shirt (sizes 3-4 years up to adult XXL) and learn more about journaling for all ages. £5/person. T-shirts are an additional £4.
Find out more about Emma’s work here: https://acornishgeek.com/

Relaxed Book Group at The Morrab Library
2026-04-28 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-26 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-06-30 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-07-28 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-08-25 14:00 - 15:00
About the group:
A friendly group for anyone who loves books but doesn’t want the pressure of a traditional book club.
Rather than reading a specific book, we share what’s on our bookshelf or simply come for tea, biscuits and company in the beautiful book-filled atmosphere of The Morrab library.
No library membership is required and there’s no compulsory reading list.
Audiobook listeners are just as welcome as traditional readers.
We explore all types of books, swap books and share recommendations. Our discussions focus on what we’re looking for in a book and whether and when, we’ve found it.
When: The last Tuesday of the month, from 2pm-3pm. The first session will take place on Tuesday 25th March
Where: The Morrab Library, Morrab Gardens, Penzance, TR18 4DA
How to book: To join the group contact Jo Buckingham by email jo.buckingham.palace@gmail.com
Suggested donation £3.
About the group leader:
Joanna Buckingham started her first relaxed book group with friends in 2019 and got the idea of starting one at Morrab Library when working as a social prescriber as a way of creating supportive communities.
She loves the camaraderie and support of doing things in groups and the immersive experience of reading. She loves reading widely across many genres.
She’s organised group events and experiences in such diverse locations as tall ships and tin mines.
Joanna has set up and supported numerous groups whilst working in the museum and adventurous activity industry and as a social prescriber.
She is a level 3 trained counsellor and knows the importance of both being a good listener and having a good book to fall back on in times of need (Cold Comfort farm by Stella Gibbons always works for her)

The Morrab Library's AGM
2026-05-11
The Annual General Meeting of The Morrab Library will take place on Monday 11th May, 2026 at 11.00am at the Lugger Inn Hotel, Marine Terrace, Penzance TR18 4DL.

No tour of The Morrab Library
2026-06-19 14:00 - 15:00
There is no free tour of the Library today as we prepare for our Summer Fair. We hope to see you there!

Library Closed for Mazey Day
2026-06-27
The library will be closed today for Mazey Day, we will be open again on Tuesday 30th June.
