Cornwall has over 4,000 years of mining history. Mine water and soil pollution continue to affect the ecosystem. The Rebirth of a Mining Site is located in Cornwall’s Gwennap area, where ongoing erosion leads to the expansion of metal contamination, making the area the most contaminated in the UK.

This project proposes sustainable and effective ecological purification strategies, using wetlands and hyperaccumulating phytoremediation of metal-contaminated soils. Combined with mineral extraction technology, super-accumulation planting and repelling plants combine with compost to extract and absorb metals in the soil. At the same time, the plant mining method is used to extract the metals absorbed by plants, with rare metal minerals generating economic benefits. Graded wetlands filter metal mineral water accumulated in abandoned mines. The hyperaccumulator plant purification area on the site will encourage residents to participate in planting.

The mining heritage at the site will be showcased to stimulate thinking about the harmonious development of industry and nature, as well as the possibilities for the development of Cornwall in the post-industrial era.