Wildlife of Pendower
Cheryl Marriott
Director of Nature and People
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Nestled behind Pendower Beach lies a hidden gem for nature lovers — a rich and diverse landscape that forms part of the Pennarin Point to Portscatho County Wildlife Site (CWS). This area is one of Cornwall’s most important havens for wildlife, and while County Wildlife Sites are not legally protected, they are recognised as being of special significance for biodiversity. The CWS sits alongside the Gerrans Bay to Camels Cove Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is adjacent to the Falmouth Bay to St Austell Bay Special Protection Area (SPA) and close to the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation (SAC) — making it part of a wider network of nationally and internationally important habitats.
A Haven for Rare and Remarkable Species
Pendower is home to a fascinating array of wildlife. Offshore, you might spot black-throated divers, great northern divers, Slavonian grebes, guillemots, kittiwakes, and shags. On land, the rare and protected shore dock has previously been recorded in the area.
The area’s habitats are just as varied. The CWS features a mosaic of scrub, bracken, and broadleaved woodland, supporting a rich mix of species. Notable species which have been recorded in the locality include:
Eleven species of moths, including species of conservation concern such as the autumnal rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa), blood-vein (Timandra comae), and small phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata)
The elusive slow-worm (Anguis fragilis)
A variety of bryophytes, including the rare moss awl-leaved ditrichum (Ditrichum subulatum)
The common pipistrelle bat, often seen flitting through the twilight
Dunes, Reedbeds, and Wildflower Meadows
Pendower’s dunes may be small, but they’re full of life supporting a variety of habitats including grassland, reedbeds fed by a small stream, bramble scrub, and wooded valley slopes stretching out behind. These habitats support a colourful mix of wildflowers, including:
Yarrow
Stork’s-bill
Dove’s-foot crane’s-bill
Cat’s-ear
Buck’s-horn plantain
Lady’s bedstraw
Sea beet
Black knapweed
Even though shore dock wasn’t spotted during the latest survey, its presence in past records highlights the ecological value of this special place.