Lying behind Hayle’s famous ‘three miles of golden sand’, the sand dunes from Hayle to Godrevy comprise the second largest dune system in Cornwall. Only the Towans at Perranporth are more extensive.
Towans is Cornish for sand dunes…
The dunes mainly comprise broken-down seashells which have been blown onshore. They are calcareous and support lime-loving plants rarely found in Cornwall, which is predominantly made up of acidic granite. It is the richest botanical site west of the River Fal, supporting a quarter of all the plant species ever recorded in Cornwall.
A nature reserve
Many rare and scarce invertebrates occur on the towans, including one fifth of the UK’s most protected butterfly species.
Rare wildlife
Scarce and declining birds including Skylark, Linnet and Stonechat breed on the towans.
Flora and fauna
The towans area from Hayle River mouth to the Red River is designated as nationally important for flora and fauna.
Towans is Cornish for sand dunes…
The dunes mainly comprise broken-down seashells which have been blown onshore. They are calcareous and support lime-loving plants rarely found in Cornwall, which is predominantly made up of acidic granite. It is the richest botanical site west of the River Fal, supporting a quarter of all the plant species ever recorded in Cornwall.
A nature reserve
Many rare and scarce invertebrates occur on the towans, including one fifth of the UK’s most protected butterfly species.
Flora and fauna
The towans area from Hayle River mouth to the Red River is designated as nationally important for flora and fauna.
Rare wildlife
Scarce and declining birds including Skylark, Linnet and Stonechat breed on the towans.
A team of volunteers
Friends of the Towans was formed to help local people get involved with the management and preservation of the Towans, from Hayle to Godrevy, including Gwithian Green Local Nature Reserve. Volunteers undertake practical habitat management work through the year, although the main focus is during autumn and winter, when scrub vegetation such as gorse and brambles, is removed from the grassy areas to improve the habitat.
