Journalism & Creative Writing graduate named Heritage Champion

Congratulations to Journalism & Creative Writing graduate Elizabeth Dale, who was awarded the Heritage Champion Award from the Cornwall Heritage Trust. 

The Heritage Champion Awards aims to recognise people who have made a significant contribution to Cornwall’s heritage in a voluntary capacity. 

Elizabeth was awarded the prize for her blog, The Cornish Bird, which highlights the lesser-known stories of Cornish history and folklore. The award was presented by Lord Lieutenant Edward Bolitho and Tiffany Truscott from BBC Radio Cornwall. 

Asked how it felt to receive the award, Elizabeth said: “I was absolutely delighted to receive this award, especially coming from an organisation that I admire so much. It was just wonderful to be recognised for something I am extremely passionate about, and which is a huge part of my life. The preservation of Cornwall's history and heritage is vitally important, it is integral to understanding and celebrating who we are as a nation – so incredibly fascinating, complex and diverse.” 

Since starting the blog in 2016, The Cornish Bird has built an impressive readership of over 900 subscribers, with the website receiving more than 234,000 page views per year. In 2020, Elizabeth launched The Cornish Bird podcast, where in each episode, she discusses some of Cornwall’s hidden places. 

My time studying at Falmouth University was invaluable, it really opened me up to so many possibilities and opportunities.

Growing up on a farm near Falmouth, Elizabeth can trace her family tree in Cornwall all the way back to 1550. After travelling the world for nine years, she returned to Cornwall and realised that some of the most captivating stories were right on her doorstep. 

Elizabeth has researched and written posts on a range of subjects, including the notorious women of the Killigrew family, the Cornish daredevil Bobby Leach who went over Niagara Falls in a barrel, and the legend of the Cornish sea monster, Morgawr. 

As well as writing content for her blog, Elizabeth regularly contributes to local publications, including myCornwall Magazine and the Falmouth Packet. She has also been interviewed on a number of TV series, including ITV’s Cornwall & Devon Walks with Julia Bradbury, Channel 5’s My Cornwall with Fern Britton, and Coastal Devon and Cornwall with Michael Portillo. 

Elizabeth studied Journalism & Creative Writing BA(Hons) at Falmouth from 2015 – 2018, graduating with First Class honours. Reflecting on her time at university, Elizabeth says “My time studying at Falmouth University was invaluable, it really opened me up to so many possibilities and opportunities, and also gave me, as a mature student, an incredible skill set that really helped me to develop my career after I left. There is no way I would have been writing a blog or recording a podcast before my degree! I will always be grateful that I took the plunge and decided to study there.” 

Discover some of Cornwall’s hidden history by visiting The Cornish Bird blog.

The Cornish Bird