In Looe, salt marshes and mudflats in the estuary are exposed with the tide providing ideal feeding grounds for its visiting migratory birds which include white egret, field fares, and dunlin. During the summer, sunfish, dolphins, inquisitive seals and the sea's gentle giant the basking shark, can all be seen off the coast.
This incredible diversity of plants and animals was recognised in 1995 by the establishment of the Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (VMCA) to help protect this special area of coastal and marine wildlife. The Looe VMCA embraces nearly five kilometres of coastline. It also includes the East and West Looe Rivers to their tidal limits and seaward it encompasses Cornwall Wildlife Trust's Looe Island Nature Reserve.
The VMCA is an area where there is opportunity to enhance marine conservation, community pride of place, perception of the environment and to promote sustainable use. The role of the VMCA is not to impose restrictions but to encourage sensible use of the natural resources in the area, protecting and preserving our marine environment for future generations to enjoy.
The Looe VMCA goes solo!
As of September 2011, the Looe VMCA volunteers have started the process of setting themselves up as an independent local group. A committee has formed and a constitution is being written up. It is hoped by the end of 2012, the newly formed Looe VMCA Group will be fully established and will take on the role of co-ordinating the Looe VMCA, independently from Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Well done to all those involved! Read on to see how this group has evolved due to the work of and support from Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
Discovering the Wonder’s of Looe’s Marine Heritage project
With funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Trust set up the ‘Discovering the Wonders of Looe’s Marine Heritage’ project. This project enabled the Trust to liaise and work with the local community, visitors and schools to inform and engage them about the value of the marine environment and its ecological importance. In doing so the Trust promoted and nurtured local awareness and responsibility for the well being of the marine environment in Looe.
| The project started in October 2007 and completed its 14 months in December 2008. It is delivered a wide ranging programme of school visits, community workshops and events based around the Looe VMCA. This gave people of all ages and abilities the chance to explore and learn about this very special place. | 
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 | During the project, over 40 school groups visited the VMCA, resulting in over 900 children visiting St George’s Island as well as mainland visits to Hannafore Point. In addition to the education and outreach programme, a volunteer group of over 50 members has been established to survey and monitor the VMCA, assess the quality of the area and to track changes in the future. Volunteers have continued to meet since the completion of the project and have started survey work on the local seal population, intertidal rocky shore ecology, and cetacean activity. |
What's next?
Due to the success of the 'Discovering the Wonders of Looe's Marine Heritage' project, Cornwall Wildlife Trust is looking towards the future of VMCA's, not only in Looe but across the entire county. There are four other VMCAs as well as Looe - one in Fowey, Helford, St Agnes, and Polzeath. Through our new Your Shore project, which started in April 2010, we hope to extend our education and awareness work to all these VMCAs, ensuring that there are opportunities to discover and experience the marine environment across the entire county.
