Ventongimps Moor facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Cornwall |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°19′05″N 5°07′05″W / 50.3181°N 5.1181°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 8.2 hectares (0.082 km2; 0.032 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1951 |
Ventongimps Moor is a special nature reserve in Cornwall, England. It's known as a "Site of Special Scientific Interest" (SSSI) because of its amazing plants and animals. This moor was the very first place bought by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust to protect nature. It's especially famous for a rare plant called Dorset Heath.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
How Ventongimps Got Its Name
The name "Ventongimps" is very old. Back in 1311, people called this place "Funtenvaes." This old name means "well" or "spring." It tells us there was fresh water here a long, long time ago.
Protecting the Moor
In 1966, the Cornwall Wildlife Trust was a new group. Ventongimps Moor became their first nature reserve. A volunteer named Dr. Frank Smith found the moor. It was bought to protect it from being used for farming. This helped keep its special nature safe.
An Old Plane Discovery
Something surprising was found on the moor in 1977. It was a bomber plane from the Second World War! The plane was later moved to be fixed up. Where it used to be, a new pond was created on the moor.
Where is Ventongimps Moor?
Ventongimps Moor is about 8.2 hectares (20 acres) big. That's like 12 football fields! It's located near a small village called Ventongimps. This is about 5 miles (8 km) north-west of the city of Truro in Cornwall. The Cornwall Wildlife Trust still owns and looks after this special place today.
Plants and Animals of the Moor
What Kinds of Habitats Are Here?
Ventongimps Moor has many different types of natural areas. Most of it is a wet heathland with small shrubs. But you can also find bogs (very wet, spongy ground), marshes (wet grasslands), and even some woodland with different kinds of trees. There are also open ponds. The Cornwall Wildlife Trust helps manage the moor. They sometimes do controlled burning or remove some plants to keep the habitat healthy.
Rare Plants to Spot
This moor is home to some very rare plants. Two of them are on the "Red Data Book" list, which means they are in danger.
- Dorset Heath (Erica ciliaris) is a beautiful purple flower.
- Cornish Eyebright (Euphrasia vigursii) is another special plant found here.
Other interesting plants you might see include:
- Cornish Moneywort (Sibthorpia europaea)
- The 'Dawn' hybrid heath (Erica x watsonii)
- Hay-scented Buckler Fern (Dryopteris aemula)
- Wavy-leaved St John's Wort (Hypericum undulatum)
- Yellow Bartsia (Parentucellia viscosa)
- Yellow Centaury (Cicendia filiformis)
Insects of the Moor
The ponds on the moor are home to 13 different kinds of dragonfly and damselfly. One very rare type is the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio). This tiny insect is very special. The moor also has 99 different kinds of Lepidoptera, which include butterflies and moths. That's a lot of different flying insects!
