The local daffodil industry swings into gear early in January with millions of stems being picked every day in Cornwall.

We are lucky to be surrounded by flowers in West Cornwall and want to celebrate the beautiful and varied daffodil and its industry. So preparations are well ahead in the village of Mawgan in Meneage for the seventh Daffodil Festival at the 12th century Grade I listed church of St Mawgan in Meneage. The church was fully restored in 2017, including a new roof, and the proceeds from this event will help maintain the church to a high standard.

The Mawgan Daffodil Festivals celebrate the wonderful industry that surrounds us in West Cornwall, and the delightful and varied daffodil, by decking this beautiful church with thousands of daffodils (over 7,000 in fact) of every variety available at the time. 

Give all your senses a treat and come and enjoy the sight and smell of thousands of daffodils, view displays of equipment used over 50 years ago, listen to music from local musicians and admire displays of paintings, photographs and other crafts with a daffodil theme.

You can also learn about the flower and the industry. Did you know that the only species of daffodil generally accepted as native to Britain is narcissus psuedonarcissus, the “Bastard” Daffodil, Lent Lily or Wild English Daffodil? Or that on one farm on the Lizard over 130 varieties were grown at one time? Do you know the difference between a narcissus and a daffodil?

The music this year so far includes local organists, local classical instrumentalists, Maen Voes Choir from St Keverne and the bell ringers will be in action on Saturday and Sunday.

The festival is made possible again by the donation of daffodils from the Scrimshaw family of R H Scrimshaw and Sons Limited and the church is very grateful not only to them but for sponsorship received or promised from other local companies and organisations.

Taking place on Saturday, February 16 to Monday, February 18 from 10.30am to 4.30pm each day, the festival is free to enter. Light refreshments will be available including pasties and homemade soup at lunchtime on Saturday and Sunday and tea and cakes all day every day.

On Sunday there is a Celtic evening service at 5pm, taken by the new Priest in Charge of the Meneage Benefice, the Revd Mike North.

Anyone wishing to help in any way with the huge team effort needed to make this festival a success should contact Lindsay Hockley on 01326 221740 or email lindsayhockley@hotmail.co.uk
Updates will be published on the St Mawgan in Meneage pages on Facebook and A Church Near You.