Caerthillian to Kennack
Also within
Cornwall County Cornwall Scenic Area King Charles Way - Penzance to St Mawes National TrailSouth West Coast Path National Trail
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW694121 | — | Not Assessed | 11.53 | 2023-05-04 |
| SW699111 | — | Not Assessed | 47.62 | 2023-05-04 |
| SW706116 | — | Not Assessed | 47.62 | 2023-05-04 |
| SW716134 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 32.99 | 2023-05-04 |
| SW720148 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 48.09 | 2021-10-28 |
| SW722147 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 48.09 | 2021-10-28 |
| SW727153 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 48.09 | 2021-10-28 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Rock Type: Gabbro, Granite, Serpentinite
Landscape processes: Coastal, Volcanic / Igneous
Description
Caerthillian to Kennack SSSI Description Caerthillian to Kennack is located some 17 kilometres south of Helston at the most southerly tip of the Lizard Peninsula, which forms the southernmost point of mainland Britain. The site is underlain by metamorphosed sediments and igneous rocks including micaceous and hornblende schists of amphibolite to granulite facies. Tectonically above these lies serpentinised peridotite and gabbro into which acidic granite gneisses have been intruded. The rocks at Lizard Point and from Polbarrow to the Balk are of special geological importance in the interpretation of the Lizard Complex of rocks. Along most of the site the cliff top soils are stony and free draining and often droughty in summer. The combination of mild oceanic climate with the unusual geology and exposed location has led to the development of a range of vegetation types which, in Britain, is unique to the Lizard Peninsula. This site is of great botanical importance, with 12 Red Data Book (RDB) (*) plant species having been recorded, including three rare clovers Trifolium spp. confined on the British mainland to the Lizard Peninsula. Biology The vegetation of the cliffs exhibits a range of maritime communities. From Caerthillian to Lizard Point the cliff faces support a maritime rock-crevice community, characterised by thrift Armeria maritima subsp. maritima, rock samphire Crithmum maritimum and sea aster Aster tripolium. Higher up the cliff profile, continuing onto the cliff top, maritime grasslands dominated by red fescue Festuca rubra occur. Thrift and sea carrot Daucus carota subsp. gummifer are common here. Another maritime grassland community develops inland with Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata dominant. In spring, abundant blooms of spring quill Scilla verna can be seen in these grasslands, with fewer individuals of the nationally rare autumn squill Scilla autumnalis later in the year. Widespread across the cliff profile are pockets of shallow soil, often associated with rock ledges or outcrops, where a maritime therophyte community occurs, characterised by an abundance of annuals such as English stonecrop Sedum anglicum. Populations of the RDB (*) plants fringed rupturewort Herniaria ciliolata, long-headed clover Trifolium incarnatum subsp. molineri and wild asparagus Asparagus officinalis subsp. prostratus occur in some stands. Passing around Lizard Point, important populations of RDB (*) wild asparagus, fringed rupturewort Herniaria ciliolata, early meadow-grass Poa infirma, long-headed clover and upright clover Trifolium strictum are found along with the nationally scarce autumn squill, hairy bird’s-foot trefoil Lotus subbiflorus, tree-mallow Malva arborea and sea radish Raphanus maritimus. The majority of the rest of the site is of an easterly aspect and so is relatively sheltered from prevailing winds. Thus the vegetation here is markedly more luxuriant than on the wind-pruned west coast of the Lizard. In most places considerable growth of scrub develops inland from the maritime grassland, therophyte and rock-crevice communities. Small areas of cliff top support a maritime bluebell community. Dominant species of the cliff scrub are gorse Ulex europaeus, blackthorn Prunus spinosa and wild privet Ligustrum vulgare, often with an understorey of bramble Rubus fruticosus, ivy Hedera helix and bracken Pteridium aquilinum with woodland species such as hart’s-tongue Asplenium scolopendrium, red campion Silene dioica, honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum and common dog-violet Viola riviniana. In other areas stands dominated by bracken are extensive. A disused serpentinite quarry at Church Cove supports the nationally scarce galingale Carex longus, bird’s-foot clover Trifolium ornithopodioides and yellow-vetch Vicia lutea, the latter at its largest concentration on the Lizard. At the Devil’s Frying Pan the only cliff woodland on the Lizard occurs, a result of suckering of elms Ulmus spp. planted around a farmstead. Three varieties are thought to occur here, namely Dutch elm Ulmus hollandica, Cornish elm Ulmus minor subsp. angustifolia and an intermediate form. A third RDB (*) clover, the twin-headed clover Trifolium bocconei is found north-east of here, together with particularly strong populations of long-headed clover, wild asparagus and fringed rupturewort. Nationally scarce thyme broomrape Orobanche alba and musk stork’s-bill Erodium moschatum also occur. Nearby, a disjunct population of the RDB (*) plant four-leaved allseed Polycarpon tetraphyllum exists, one of only two populations of this rare annual on the British mainland. At Enys Head the common dog-violet Viola riviniana subassociation of maritime heath has developed. This is dominated by ling Calluna vulgaris, bell heather Erica cinerea and sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina. Locally, a ‘Mixed Heath’ community has developed. This is a rare community restricted in Britain to the Lizard and is dominated by gorse, western gorse Ulex gallii and the RDB (*) Cornish heath Erica vagans. In the north of the site the area around Poltesco has considerable tree and shrub cover, an unusual feature on the Lizard.
Species mentioned
Show the 42 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
H6 — Lizard peninsula, Lowland heath
Erica vagans-Ulex europaeus heath
Show 64 indicator speciesCalluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Erica vagans, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Prunus spinosa, Carex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Schoenus nigricans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Trichostomum brachydontium, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia impexa, Daucus carota, Pimpinella saxifraga, Hypochaeris radicata, Leontodon saxatilis, Leucanthemum vulgare, Serratula tinctoria, Solidago virgaurea, Jasione montana, Anthyllis vulneraria, Lotus corniculatus, Centaurium erythraea, Geranium sanguineum, Hypericum humifusum, Hypericum pulchrum, Teucrium scorodonia, Thymus praecox, Scilla verna, Pedicularis sylvatica, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Polygala serpyllifolia, Polygala vulgaris, Filipendula vulgaris, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium verum, Viola lactea, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis vinealis, Aira caryophyllea, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Molinia caerulea, Pteridium aquilinum, Chara curta
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas