Cornwall is a very special place, has a very rich and diverse flora and fauna. In Cornwall, there are 12 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 167 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and 17 Special Areas of Conservation.
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
AONB is an area of countryside in the UK that has been designated for conservation due to its significant landscape value. Areas are designated in recognition of their national importance by Natural England. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty enjoy levels of protection from development similar to those of UK national parks. The Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers 958 square kilometres (370 sq mi) in Cornwall; that is, about 27% of the total area of the country.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the UK. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in the UK are based upon them.
There are 167 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly). 81 have been designated due to their biological interest, 54 due to their geological interest and 32 for both.
In England the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses a site "because of its flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features".
Special Areas of Conservation
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are protected areas in the UK designated under:
• the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
• the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994
• the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c) Regulations 1995
• the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
AONB is an area of countryside in the UK that has been designated for conservation due to its significant landscape value. Areas are designated in recognition of their national importance by Natural England. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty enjoy levels of protection from development similar to those of UK national parks. The Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers 958 square kilometres (370 sq mi) in Cornwall; that is, about 27% of the total area of the country.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the UK. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in the UK are based upon them.
There are 167 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly). 81 have been designated due to their biological interest, 54 due to their geological interest and 32 for both.
In England the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses a site "because of its flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features".
Special Areas of Conservation
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are protected areas in the UK designated under:
• the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
• the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994
• the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c) Regulations 1995
• the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
Portholland Beach, Roseland Peninsula
Some lovely finds...
Gem, Dahlia, Daisy, Snakelocks, Strawberry and Beadlet Anemone
The Dodman, Gorran
Wildflowers
Buzzard, Cormorant and Herring Gull
Green-veined White and Wall
Hemmick Beach, Gorran
Gem, Dahlia, Daisy, Snakelocks, Strawberry and Beadlet Anemone
Great White Egret and Little Egrets in Hayle Estuary
Redshank and Greenshank in Hayle Estuary
Ducks in Hayle Estuary
Rosewall Hill, St Ives
Wheatear
Godrevy, Gwithian, Hayle
Kestrel
Mutton Cove, Gwithian, Hayle
Boardwalk in Woodland Valley Farm, Ladock
Beaver Lodge and Wood Chippings
Beaver in Action
Frank John's Trevergy Farm, Cury
Ancient Woodland carpeted with beautiful Wood Anemones
Wood Anemone
Bumblebee, Roe Deer and Cows
Lantic Bay, South East Cornwall
Wildflowers
Fumaria capreolata subsp. capreolata f. speciosa
I went to Lantic Bay area to search for the rare Sand Crocus Romulea columnae. I'm so delighted to find this rare beauty and saw more than 15++ flowers. The weather is cloudy, murky, misty with a bit of sunny spell that's why I was able to take a few shots of the flowers with its petals open.
The Sand Crocus Romulea columnae was found growing on the clifftop in Lantic Bay area in 1879 and 1881. There's been a few searches for this rare flower but it was not seen again until 2002. The only other site to see this rare flower is on Dawlish Warren in Devon and in the Channel Islands.
I'm really delighted and pleased to have seen and photograph this rare and gorgeous flower.
● Common Name: Sand Crocus
● Scientific Name: Romulea columnae
● Family: Iris (Iridaceae)
● Main Flower Color: Purple
● Range: Only at Lantic Bay in Cornwall, Dawlish Warren in Devon and in the Channel Islands
● Height: up to 4 cm
● Habitat: Cliffs and short, sandy grassland, beside the coast
● Flowers: Six pale purple, equally-sized petals, pointed at the tip, crossed by a dark midvein and a pair of lighter lateral veins; up to 10 mm in diameter. Sometimes more uniformly darker purple, or pink. Greenish-yellow at the centre. Usually solitary; occasionally in pairs. There are three stamens, topped by yellow anthers
● Leaves: Linear, up to 10 cm long and 2 mm wide, curly and somewhat wiry, growing from the base
● Season: March to May
● Rarity: ★★★★★
The Sand Crocus Romulea columnae was found growing on the clifftop in Lantic Bay area in 1879 and 1881. There's been a few searches for this rare flower but it was not seen again until 2002. The only other site to see this rare flower is on Dawlish Warren in Devon and in the Channel Islands.
I'm really delighted and pleased to have seen and photograph this rare and gorgeous flower.
● Common Name: Sand Crocus
● Scientific Name: Romulea columnae
● Family: Iris (Iridaceae)
● Main Flower Color: Purple
● Range: Only at Lantic Bay in Cornwall, Dawlish Warren in Devon and in the Channel Islands
● Height: up to 4 cm
● Habitat: Cliffs and short, sandy grassland, beside the coast
● Flowers: Six pale purple, equally-sized petals, pointed at the tip, crossed by a dark midvein and a pair of lighter lateral veins; up to 10 mm in diameter. Sometimes more uniformly darker purple, or pink. Greenish-yellow at the centre. Usually solitary; occasionally in pairs. There are three stamens, topped by yellow anthers
● Leaves: Linear, up to 10 cm long and 2 mm wide, curly and somewhat wiry, growing from the base
● Season: March to May
● Rarity: ★★★★★
Place, Percuil, Lanhay, Bohorta and Ruan Lanihorne, Roseland Peninsula
Wildflowers
Tawny Mining Bee
Bumblebee
Orange Tip
Red Admiral, Peacock and Holy Blue
North Cornwall Coast
Wildflowers
Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Red Admiral
Willow Warbler
Crowhill Valley, Grampound
Wildflowers
Green-veined White
Speckled Wood, Peacock and Red Admiral
Woodland Valley Farm, Ladock
Wildflowers
Bumblebees
Damselfly
Speckled Wood
Red Admiral, Orange Tip and Peacock
Wheal Friendly, St Agnes
Ramping-fumitory
Wildflowers
Red Admiral, Bumblebee and Kestrel
Portmellon Valley, St Austell
Wood Anemone and Wood Sorrel
Wildflowers
Butterflies
Struddicks, Seaton
Wildflowers
Butterflies
Pearl-bordered Fritillary underwing
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Hare
Willow Warbler
Yellowhammer
Cirl Bunting
Wild Gladioli
Early Purple Orchid
Common Spotted Orchid
Perran Sands, Perranporth
Wildflowers
Peacock, Wall and Speckled Wood
Grizzled Skipper, aberration Taras