Aire Point to Carrick Du SSSI facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Gurnard's Head, within the SSSI
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| Area of Search | Cornwall |
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| Coordinates | 50°10′22″N 5°37′22″W / 50.1729°N 5.6228°W |
| Interest | Biological/Geological |
| Area | 704.81 hectares (7.048 km2; 2.721 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1972 |
Aire Point to Carrick Du SSSI is a special place in Cornwall, England. It's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it has amazing nature and interesting rocks. This area covers about 7 square kilometers. It stretches along the coast of the Penwith Peninsula.
This SSSI is important for both its plants and animals, and its unique geology. It's part of the beautiful Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Also, it's within the Penwith Heritage Coast. Some parts of this coast are looked after by the National Trust. The famous South West Coast Path also goes through this special area.
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History of Aire Point to Carrick Du
This special site has been known by different names over the years. It was first recognized as important for nature in 1972. Before that, some parts of it were already protected. For example, the Gurnard's Head area was first protected way back in 1951. The current boundaries for the Aire Point to Carrick Du SSSI were officially set on May 26, 1995.
What Does Aire Point to Carrick Du Look Like?
This SSSI is found on the western and northern coasts of the Penwith peninsula. It starts near Land's End and goes all the way to St Ives. The area is mostly made up of tall, straight sea cliffs. These cliffs are formed from a type of rock called granite.
The granite cliffs have steep slopes above them. These slopes are often rocky and uneven. You can also see older rocks, called Devonian slates and basalt. These rocks have been changed by the hot granite pushing into them. This process is called contact metamorphism. The soil here is usually thin and sandy. It's often acidic and drains water well. Because of the strong winds and salty sea spray, the plants here are often small and tough.
Amazing Plants and Animals
This special area is home to many rare plants and animals. Some of these are listed in the IUCN Red List. This list shows species that are at risk of disappearing. Others are "nationally scarce," meaning they are rare in the country.
Plant Life on the Cliffs
The plants on the cliffs are a mix of sea-loving and coastal types. The cliff slopes and tops have grassy areas, heathland, and some bushes. You can also find wet, boggy spots, especially on the north coast.
- Cliff Face Plants: On the rocky cliff faces, you'll find plants that love cracks in the rocks. Common ones include thrift, rock samphire, sea aster, and sea spleenwort.
- Rocky Ledge Plants: On shallow soils of rock ledges, you might see English stonecrop, thrift, buck's-horn plantain, and kidney vetch.
- Grassy Areas: The grassy slopes are mostly covered by red fescue and Yorkshire-fog. Other common plants include thrift, wild carrot, sea campion, sea plantain, and ox-eye daisy. In areas with thin soil or where people walk, you'll find buck's-horn plantain, ribwort plantain, kidney vetch, and spring squill. In more sheltered spots, you might see bluebells.
- Heathland: Higher up on the cliffs, there are large areas of heathland. These are covered in heather, bell heather, and western gorse. These plants often look "waved" because of the strong, salty winds. You'll also find spring squill, common bird's-foot trefoil, sheep's-bit, and wild thyme.
- Rare Plants: This area is home to two very rare eyebright species, Euphrasia vigursii and early meadow-grass Poa infirma. Other nationally scarce plants include lanceolate spleenwort, hairy bird's-foot trefoil, and pale dog-violet.
Wetland Plants
Between Boscaswell Cliffs and Clodgy Point, there are many wet, boggy areas called "flushes." A large bog is found at Boswednack. These wet areas are dominated by purple moor-grass. Other plants here include cross-leaved heath, tormentil, sharp-flowered rush, and royal fern. You might also spot bog asphodel, cottongrass, and pale butterwort. Two nationally scarce plants, Cornish moneywort Sibthorpia europaea and yellow bartsia Parentucellia viscosa, are found at Boswednack.
Bushes and Trees
Areas of scrub (bushes) are found on the cliff slopes and tops, especially in the valleys. You'll see thick patches of bracken. Other common bushes include European gorse, bramble, and blackthorn. These areas also have grasses, bluebells, and sometimes honeysuckle and ivy.
Mosses and Lichens
The cliffs also have many different types of bryophytes (mosses and liverworts). Some of these are very rare, like the moss Tortula solmsii, which is listed in the Red Data Book.
Shoreline Life
The western coast, between Aire Point and Kenidjack Castle, has rocky shores that are hit by strong waves. The plants and animals here are typical of such a coast. On the lower shore, you'll find brown seaweeds like "dabberlocks" and "tangle." Tide pools often contain pink coralline algae and encrusting algae.
Invertebrates (Bugs and Snails)
The varied habitats here support many different kinds of invertebrates. These include insects, snails, and other small creatures. Some rare species found here are:
- The mud snail Lymnaea glabra
- The bug Heterogaster artimisae
- The hoverfly Microdon mutabilis
You might also see nationally scarce butterflies like the pearl-bordered fritillary and silver-studded blue. The nationally scarce jewel beetle Trachys troglodytes also lives here. On the upper shore, limpets and barnacles are very common.
Bird Life
The cliff ledges are perfect nesting spots for seabirds. These include fulmars, shags, black-legged kittiwakes, and gulls. Higher up, on secluded slopes and rocky outcrops, you might find peregrine falcons, choughs, and ravens nesting.
The bushes on the cliff tops and in the valleys provide nesting places for birds like European stonechats, whitethroats, and sedge warblers. Grasshopper warblers breed in the scrubby areas near the bogs at Boswednack. These bogs are also important for birds like water rails, Eurasian woodcocks, and Eurasian curlews in winter.
Because this site is at the very tip of mainland Britain, it's a vital stopping point for birds migrating (traveling long distances). The sheltered valleys are especially important for them to rest and find food.
Mammals
Grey seals are known to have their babies along this coast. Nearby islands, like The Brisons and The Carracks, are places where seals can rest out of the water.
The old, unused mines in the area are important roosting (sleeping) spots for bats. These include the greater horseshoe bat and Daubenton's bat.
