In the run up to St Piran’s Day, Penzance will ‘Go Cornish’ - by hosting a range of free events and activities for the public, schoolchildren and local businesses to engage with Kernewek, the Cornish language.

A family treasure trail, drop-in sessions and singing expedition are being provided by the website Go Cornish, which has been set up to support people wanting to learn or teach the language.

Pol Hodge, a fluent Cornish speaker and teacher who will be leading the activities, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing our beautiful language to the people of Penzance for the fourth year in a row."

Funded by Cornwall Council’s Cornish Language Learning and Communication Fund, together with commercial sponsorship from First Kernow, Go Cornish have been putting on events across the duchy over the last few years, such as Nadelik Lyskerrys in Liskeard and Blas an Taves in Camborne.

The Go Cornish programme is delivered by Golden Tree, the cultural collective that produced among other projects the award-winning Man Engine

project in 2016.

Will Coleman, Golden Tree’s Director, said: “The amazing response we’ve had over the recent years goes to show how much people enjoy these events, which we’ve worked really hard to develop. Living in Cornwall, we are so fortunate to have our own beautiful, indigenous language.

"Kernewek is a rich treasure

trove for people of all ages to engage with.”

Lergh Teylu Trovyans Tresor, or The Family Treasure Trail, will return for a fourth year this Saturday, February 29 starting at the Exchange Gallery in Princes Street between 1pm and 2pm.

School classes and families are invited to collect a free treasure map from the gallery to kick off their adventure, which will lead participants on an exciting exploration of the town, visiting different locations and businesses.

Each stop on the trail has collaborated with local primary school children to make Cornish language displays, where piratical participants will be able to collect

special treasure stamps, and learn how to answer simple questions in the Cornish language.

Stops on this year’s tour include The Edge of the World Bookshop, Mr Billy’s, Archie Browns, H Samuel, Alfred Smith & Son and Perfect Pictures.

All treasure hunters are invited to join a free celebratory ‘Cakey Tea’, which will be hosted at Warren’s Bakery on Market Jew Street between 1.30pm and 3pm.

For adults there is Keskerdh Kana, or The Singing Expedition, which invites people to join the Para Kernewek Pennsans (Penzance Cornish Crew) for drop-in sessions on Cornish conversations and singing between 7pm and 9pm at the Admiral Benbow pub on Chapel Street, in the heart of Penzance.

Suitable for complete beginners and those who are just curious, to those more fluent, the Tuesday sessions start on March 10 and run to March 31, ending with a Singing Expedition around the pubs of Penzance on Friday, April 3 ending with a finale at The Admiral Benbow from 10pm.

People can drop in for both or either activity for as long as they like, with vocab and song sheets available to use and keep.

"Pub shouts are a long-standing Cornish tradition, and are also a great way to meet people, learn some traditional songs and practice some Kernewek,” said Will.