Visitors from Germany have been enjoying what Cornwall has to offer during a 30th anniversary twinning visit. 

Forty members of Restormel Twinning Association’s twin district Dithmarschen.

They visited Newquay, St Austell, Charlestown, Falmouth, Helford Passage, Truro, Port Isaac, St Ives and Bodmin during the trip. 

The members stayed with families in Newquay and at Trelinda Guest House in the town. 

A special Restormel and Dithmarschen LK twinning dinner was held at the Lakeside Café and Restaurant at Trenance Boating Lake, which was attended by Newquay Mayor Margaret North. 

The chairman from Dithmarschen, Dietmar Grein, who is a retired police inspector and his colleague Sabina, who is still a serving police officer, spent a day with Devon and Cornwall Police traffic department from Bodmin to experience how they work. An arrest was made in Nansledan. 

Cllr North said: “The dinner celebrated its 30th year. 

“The Lakeside cafe staff certainly did themselves proud with the food provided and hospitality offered. 

“I would like to thank Restormel Twinning Association chairman Steven Daniell for organising the event and the visitors stated what a great trip they’ve had enjoying the delights of not only Newquay but Cornwall.  

“A special thank you to Val Pascoe and Lesley Friel who supported Steven in organising the event.” 

The Restormel Twinning Associonation was founded after Ebby Anstey, became director of tourism for Restormel more than 30 years ago. 

Ebby, who hails from Penzance, saw the benefits of ‘twinning’ and in 1990 twinned with Dithmarschen. The main link is between St Austell and Newquay and Heide. 

Initially some of the visitors would stay with local families and some of the original friendships remain and are in attendance this evening.  

Ebby and his wife attended the dinner and although now retired he still is heavily invested in the twinning association. 

Dithmarschen’s landscape owes its character to the North Sea. From west to east Dithmarschen consists of the Wadden Sea, marsh, bog and great land. 

 Part of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park is in Dithmarschen. It is the most important habitat in the district.  

Many molluscs can be found there including bivalves and gastropods, worms and crustaceans, which provide food to larger animals.  

Fish use the Wadden Sea as a “Kindergarten” where they can raise their offspring in a protected environment.  

The Dithmarschen economy consists mainly of tourism, agriculture, and energy.  

Tourism is concentrated in the north in Büsum and in the south in Friedrichskoog.  

Most tourists come as families to enjoy the North Sea beaches.  

A significant number of tourists also come for bicycle trekking. Almost all of the approximately two million tourists each year come from Germany. 

The geography and economy are fairly similar to Restormel and that is how the twinning developed and is maintained.