Loggan's Moor nature reserve

CORNWALL

Loggan's Moor nature reserve

Habitat type: Grassland and reedbed
Size of Reserve: 11ha (26 acres)
OS Map No. 102
Grid reference: SW 576 389
Best time to visit: Spring and summer

Cornwall Wildlife Trust encourages the use of environmentally friendly forms of transport wherever possible. Click on the locator map above to go to the National Cycle Network website and view an Ordnance Survey map of this reserve highlighting nearby cycle routes.

Directions:

The entrance is from a lay-by on the right of the B3301, 2 miles (3km) north east of Hayle.

Access:

There are no footpaths, but parking is available in a lay-by close to the reserve The site can be muddy when wet.

Classification

Description:

This is a species-rich meadow with abundant wild flowers, underlain by calcareous sand with areas of reedbed and grassland. It owes its amazing diversity to the sandy soil and natural springs feeding wet areas, combined with the long unbroken use for grazing.

Characteristic wildlife of this reserve:

The early marsh orchid has a unique and very distinctively shaped lip, with sides bent backwards so that, face on, it looks very narrow. The dense spike of 20-30 flowers are variable in colour and the main leaves, which sprout from the base stand erect and are sword-shaped. This orchid is usually found where the soil water is alkaline.

The five-spot burnet is a rather striking day-flying moth, coloured black with red spots. The colours warn birds and other predators that they are distasteful. The larvae of this insect feed upon greater bird’s foot trefoil and construct cocoons in prominent positions high on plant stems.

The yellow flag iris is widespread in wetter parts of the moor. The sharp-edged, sword-like leaves grow from stout rhizomes. The flowers have three large, yellow, purple-veined petals and bees have to crawl right inside to reach the nectar. After flowering, large green capsules develop, each containing numerous brown seeds.

Another common wetland plant is the marsh marigold, also known as kingcup. This starts flowering as early as March and continues well into the summer. The bright golden-yellow blooms are carried amid dark green, shiny, heart-shaped leaves and may be up to 5cm across, with as many as 100 stamens. They are a valuable early source of nectar for insects.