Penwith Moors in Cornwall now Site of Special Scientific Interest

Penwith Moors is an extensive area of heathland, wetland and acid grassland in Cornwall, covering 3,152 hectares in total.

As of today, Friday, October 7, it is now an area of special interest due to being home to nationally important features.

They include lowland heathland, fens and lowland dry acid grassland, and feature four species of vascular plants, a variety of invertebrates associated with scrub-heath and moorland, as well as lichens associated with acid non-montane rock and areas that are a breeding ground for Dartford warbler.

Areas highlighted on the map as now falling within the SSSI include pockets of land from the Zennor area all the way across West Cornwall to the far west, close to St Just.

However, there are now four months of consultation where people can have their say about whether this is the correct decision.

You can submit your views via an online survey at https://consult.defra.gov.uk/natural-england/penwith-moors/, by email to penwithmoorscornwall@naturalengland.org.uk or by post to Natural England, Polwhele, Truro, Cornwall TR4 9AD.

Land on Penwith Moors now a designated SSSI Map: Defra/Natural England (Image: Defra/Natural England)

The news has been welcomed by former MP Andrew George, now a Cornwall councillor for a large part of the area within the new SSSI. He said: “This is very welcome news for nature conservation across the Penwith peninsula.

“At a time when it seems the government is eroding and undermining environmental and nature conservation measures and regulations, it is good to see progress being made in our local area. “However, there remains a four-month period for consultation when opponents of this measure will no doubt put pressure on the government to either withdraw or significantly downgrade the protection which this provides.

“I hope that all who rightly support the improved conservation of our environment and Penwith Moors will back this measure in the coming weeks and months.”

The deadline for sending in messages of support, objections and representations is February 7, 2023.

Penwith Moors is a breeding ground for the Dartford warbler Picture: Defra/Natural England/Philip Ray (Image: Natural England/Philip Ray)

Now designated an SSSI, it means that owners and occupiers of the land will need to gain consent from Natural England before undertaking some operations that are considered “may cause damage to the special features that are the reasons for notification of the SSSI.”

These include cultivation, including ploughing, rotovating, harrowing and reseeding as “areas with potential for habitat restoration could be destroyed”, as well as alterations to the existing grazing regime, the application of manure, slurry, silage liquor, fertilisers or lime, and killing, injuring, taking or removing any wild animal.

A full list can be found via a link on the Defra consultation website.