Site Code
Country: United Kingdom
Central coordinates: 50.36625457o [50o 21' 58" North], -5.14030547o [5o 8' 25" West]
Administrative region: South West (West Cornwall)
Area: 618 ha
Altitude: 15 - 93
Site Description
Forming the most extensive dune system in Cornwall, Penhale Dunes provide an important habitat to many coastal plants including numerous lichens (including the RDB Endangered Fulgensia fulgens) and bryophytes (including Petalophyllum ralfsii RDB Vulnerable) as well as the largest populations in the UK of the scarce Rumex rupestris as well as Cornish Gentian.
Botanical Significance
Penhale Dunes provide an outstanding example of a sand dune system with an exceptionally rich associated flora, including a number of rare plant species including Babington’s Leek Allium babingtonii, Wild Leek Allium ampeloprasum and Fragrant Evening-primrose Oenothera stricta. In addition, Penhale Dunes is an important site for shore dock Rumex rupestris, with possibly the largest concentration of plants on the UK mainland. More than 50 plants were recorded at this site in the late 1980s; in 1994 the number had apparently declined to 33 fruiting plants but, following the discovery in the late 1990s of new plants away from the previously-known colonies, the total population is now thought to comprise >70 plants.
This site also supports strong populations of Gentianella anglica. Populations of G. anglica in Cornwall are now viewed as mixed populations of G. anglica ssp. anglica and its ‘hybrid’ with autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, G. x davidiana (Rich et al. 1997). Plants at Penhale Dunes have been found to range from pure G. anglica through a range of intermediate forms to pure G. amarella (Wilson 1999).
Other rarities include Variegated Horsetail Equisetum variegatum, Italian Lords-and-Ladies Arum italicum, Slender Spike Rush Eleocharis acicularis, Brackish Water Buttercup Ranunculus baudotii, Portland Spurge and Cornish Gentian.
The site is also one of the richest moss sites in Cornwall with 19 local or rare species including a large population of Petalophyllum ralfsii (this species is listed on Appendix I of the Bern Convention and Annex II of the Habitats Directive. It is also listed as Vulnerable on the GB Red List and is protected under Schedule 8 of the WCA 1981). Recorded here since 1919, it occurs in damp, calcareous dune slacks, populations of this species reduced from 600 in 1997 to around 120 in 2001 but now appear to have stabilised.
In addition at least 66 lichen species have been recorded, including two nationally rare species, Fulgensia fulgens (RDB Endangered).
The majority of the dunes are fixed grey dunes colonised by Marram Grass Ammophila arenaria, and Red Fescue Festuca rubra as well as Portland Spurge Euphorbia portlandica, which is rare outside Cornwall. Nearer the sea are areas of yellow dune with evidence of active blow-outs.
Dune slacks with an interesting flora are well developed in the northern section where they often form marshy areas or pools. The drier slacks support short, rabbit grazed turf, dominated by Red Fescue Festuca rubra where as damper areas are colonised by taller herbs such as Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, Water Mint Mentha aquatica, Common Reed Phragmites communis, Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum, and Marsh Horsetail Equisetum palustre.
The older dunes have been eroded to form flatter expanses of species-rich dune grassland dominated by Red Fescue Festuca rubra. Other species encouraged by the base-rich conditions include Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor, Yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata, Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, Viper’s Bugloss Echium vulgare, Cowslip Primula veris and Flatsedge Blysmus compressus. Small patches of dune heath also occur.
Maritime grassland occurs along the cliff top, dominated by Red Fescue Festuca rubra, Thrift Armeria maritima and Thyme Thymus drucei. Maritime heath occurs on the heathlands between Ligger Point and Penhale Point, with Bell Heather Erica cinerea dominant.
An area of marshland occurs to the east of the dunes along the Ellenglaze valley where the vegetation is dominated by Grey Willow Salix cinerea, with Greater Tussock Sedge Carex paniculata, Lady Fern Athyrium filix-femina, Broad Buckler Fern Dryopteris dilatata and Hart’s-tongue Fern Phyllitis scolopendrium.
Management guidance notes
None
Notes
Noted for bryophyte and lichen interest. Component sites:Penhale Dunes, Perranporth/Gear Sands. Additional features of interest Rumex rupestris.