Lymsworthy Meadows facts for kids
Lymsworthy Meadows is a very special place in north Cornwall, England. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its amazing plants and animals. This means it's a protected area where nature can thrive.
What is Lymsworthy Meadows?
Lymsworthy Meadows is a protected area, officially recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1992. These sites are chosen because they have rare wildlife, special habitats, or important geological features. Protecting them helps keep our natural world healthy.
Where is Lymsworthy Meadows Located?
This special site covers about 7.7 hectares (which is roughly the size of 19 football fields!). It's found in the Kilkhampton area of Cornwall. You can find it about 5 miles (8 km) northeast of the town of Bude. It's also about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the border with Devon. Streams that flow through the meadows eventually join the upper River Tamar.
Amazing Plants and Animals
Lymsworthy Meadows is mostly made up of two important types of land: moorland and culm grassland. These areas are very important because they haven't been changed much by farming. This makes them rare and valuable habitats, especially in Cornwall.
One of the special plants you can find here is the wavy St John's-wort (Hypericum undulatum). This plant is considered "nationally scarce," meaning it's not found in many other places across the country.
The meadows are also home to a group of marsh fritillary butterflies (Eurodryas aurinia). Like the wavy St John's-wort, these butterflies are also nationally scarce. Finding a colony here shows how important Lymsworthy Meadows is for protecting rare species.
