Site Code
Country: United Kingdom
Central coordinates: 50.15112105o [50o 9' 4" North], -5.07717205o [5o 4' 37" West]
Administrative region: South West (East Cornwall, West Cornwall)
Area: 6207 ha
Altitude: 0 - 42
Site Description
The area of the Fal and Helford rivers and estuaries is extremely important in both marine and terrestrial diversity. The IPA is made up of a variety of habitats ranging from marine areas to sandbanks, mudflats, shallow inlets/bays and Atlantic salt marshes. These are crucially important for vascular plants and marine algae, a notable rarity being the shore dock.
Botanical Significance
Fal and Helford noted for assemblages of vascular plants, marine algae and the presence of important habitat. The site comprises a range of coastal habitats which support nationally rare and nationally scarce plant species, including internationally important populations of shore dock Rumex rupestris, a European endemic threatened throughout its world range, and the moss Weissia multicapsularis, another extremely rare European endemic which in Cornwall (its world stronghold) is now known from just three localities. Other notable species include the nationally scarce hairy bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus subbiflorus and Babington's leek Allium ampeloprasum var. babingtonii.
Management guidance notes
None
Notes
Fal and Helford noted for assemblages of vascular plants, marine algae and the presence of important habitat (Atlantic Salt Meadows).