Cornwall Wildlife Trust stands up for the protection of Penlee Quarry

May 2003

Cornwall Wildlife Trust is deeply concerned by proposals for the creation of a marina and hotel at Penlee Quarry, one of Cornwall's most important wildlife and geological havens. The quarry is located to the west of Penzance, adjacent to the coastal path between Mousehole and Newlyn. Penlee Quarry was owned for a number of years by mining companies to extract aggregates such as greenstone rock for road construction. It has also been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its geological importance at a national level by Natural England (the Government advisers on nature conservation). The quarry has been abandoned for a number of years, and like a number of other quarries that have been abandoned to nature in Cornwall, this has led to a wide variety of wildlife becoming established.

Richard Marsh, Assistant Conservation Manager of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, says, "This quarry is not only nationally important for its geological interest, but it also has a very high value for wildlife. This wildlife value has developed over a number of years in response to previous industrial activities and such places have unique assemblages and plants and animals that can not be replaced." The Cornwall Wildlife Trust is actively involved in providing advice on planning applications that may affect wildlife across the County. Richard continues, "Cornwall Wildlife Trust is not simply opposed to any development in Cornwall instead we fully support the right kind of development in the right location, and this includes tourism. But the proposals that have been appearing in the press recently will have a devastating short-term and long-term impact on our natural heritage in this location. This appears to be the wrong sort of development in the wrong location and we will be ensuring that a full Environmental Impact Assessment is carried out for any such development proposals."

The geological value of Penlee Quarry has been recognised through a number of conditions imposed on any mineral extraction rights that require geological surveys to be carried out alongside any extraction operations. Also, conditions have been added that would ensure restoration of the quarry to improve access to these geological features for the local community. Richard adds, "The future of Penlee Quarry should be based around allowing the local community to reclaim ownership through the establishment of a local nature reserve. The local residents are very interested in the wildlife value that the quarry provides and would welcome the opportunity to become more actively involved in how it is managed."

Nature reserves ... Introduction List of reserves Key to symbols Management Collecting Volunteering PARC diary SEARCH . . . . . . . . .