Mousehole Rock Pool swimming spot given new lease of life

The Mousehole Rock Pool was officially opened in 1970

The future of a much-loved rock pool swim spot in west Cornwall has been secured.

Generations of children have been taken to the Mousehole Rock Pool for their first swimming lessons, but it is badly in need of repair.

A group of concerned locals got together to clear the pool of rocks and seaweed.

Now they have gained official permission to lay new concrete walkways to make the pool accessible to all.

The volunteers hoped the new walkways will be flatter and less slippery

The Mousehole Rock Pool dates back to the late 1960s when a team of local men used building blocks and concrete to reinforce the naturally square rock pool.

Elaine Bawden, who has lived in the area all her life, said: "I used this pool as soon as I was old enough to get in the water, my dad and several other dads from the village helped to build it.

"It's just a really special place, it's a safe place for children to learn to swim, we love it."

Elaine Bawden and Chris Yacoubian have been leading the work to save the Rock Pool

Over the years the pool has been patched up by community volunteers, but the access paths over the rocks had become extremely worn and slippery.

Photographer and cinematographer Chris Yacoubian said he was inspired to set up the Friends of Mousehole Rock Pool Facebook page after bringing his young daughter there during lockdown.

"She had a couple of near misses, she fell over, it was very slippy and full of rocks and weeds," he said.

"I was spending time in the pool and I noticed families would come down but less able members of the family, whether that's children in wheelchairs or grandparents in wheelchairs, would be sat up on the path, about 30 or 40 feet away from the pool, and not able to share that memory of being together."

The pool had to be drained to allow building work to take place in between high tides

Because of the pool's unique location, it's taken about four years to get a licence from the Marine Management Organisation to lay new concrete walkways around the pool.

The concrete has to be coloured black to match the surrounding rocks and the contractors had to time the project to catch a spell of dry weather, between high tides.

Steve Backshall and Helen Glover have agreed to be patrons of the Rock Pool charity

Double Olympic champion rower Helen Glover, who is originally from Newlyn, and her husband TV naturalist Steve Backshall have agreed to be patrons of the Friends of Mousehole Rock Pool charity.

In a video message, Steve Backshall said: "It's been hugely important to my family, my kids have learned to swim here, we go looking for crabs and anemones and all sorts of other cool things here and I hope you have the same opportunity because this place rocks, quite literally."

Chris Yacoubian added: "Steve really fundamentally believes in what we're trying to do, from a health perspective and from an educational perspective in regards to wildlife, marine life, and getting whole families involved with that.

"Helen is obviously one of the best advocates for fitness, outdoor swimming, outdoor sports and engaging with your environment outside and less with your phones or tablets inside."

At high tide the Mousehole Rock Pool is completely submerged, giving contractors a tight window to get the concrete walkways laid

Further building work is planned to plug leaks in the pool while keeping its unique character for the next generation.