Truro River facts for kids

The Truro River and cathedral in Truro

A riverboat on the Truro River

The Tresillian River near Malpas

The Truro River (called Hyldreth in the Cornish language) is a river in the city of Truro in Cornwall, England, UK. It forms where two smaller rivers, the Kenwyn River and the Allen River, meet under the city. The Truro River then flows into the River Fal. This area is an estuary, which means it's where the river meets the sea. It's a great place for wildlife! From there, the water goes out into a larger area called the Carrick Roads. Boats can travel on the Truro River all the way up to the city of Truro.

The city of Truro sits in a natural bowl formed by the river valleys. These valleys surround the city on three sides. Because of this shape, and when there's a lot of rain and a high tide in the River Fal, the rivers can swell up. This caused a big flood in 1988 that damaged the city centre. To prevent future floods, special flood defences have been built. These include an emergency dam on the Kenwyn River and a tidal barrier on the Truro River. Another river, the Tresillian River, also flows into the Truro River just before it joins the Fal. Old records show the Tresillian River was once called "Seugar" or "Sowgar."

The Truro River is even mentioned in an old Cornish play from around 1550 called Bewnans Ke. In the play, Saint Kea starts his journey from this river, using its old Cornish name, Hildrech.

Wildlife in the Malpas Estuary

The part of the river from Truro city down to the village of Malpas is very special. It includes smaller areas like Lambe Creek and Calenick Creek. This whole section is called the Malpas Estuary SSSI. SSSI stands for "Site of Special Scientific Interest." This means it's a protected area because of its important natural features.

What Makes the Estuary Special?

The Malpas Estuary has large areas of tidal mudflats. These mudflats are like a giant buffet for many different animals! They are important feeding grounds for:

• Wildfowl: These are birds like ducks and geese.
• Wading birds: These birds have long legs and search for food in shallow water.
• Fish species: You can find fish like European seabass, thicklip grey mullet, European flounder, and European eel here.
• Migratory brown trout: These fish, also known as Sea Trout or "Peel" in Cornwall, swim from the sea into the River Allen to lay their eggs.

The banks along the estuary are also known for their interesting plants. It's a fantastic place to see nature up close!