North Predannack Downs nature reserve

Habitat type: Heathland Size of Reserve: 40ha (99 acres) OS Map No. 103 Grid reference: SW 693 167 (southeast entrance point near the Lizard Kennels) Best time to visit: All year
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:

Accessed via a bridleway opposite Mullion Holiday Park (B3296/A3083 junction), or 1.25 miles (2km) south of Penhale, turn right towards Lizard Kennels and take the footpath on the right just before the airfield gates.

Access:

Limited parking. The path into the reserve can be wet and muddy. Once on the reserve, a number of paths crisscross the site and these can be uneven.

Classification

Description:

The unique Lizard heathlands are famed for their unusual geology, mostly Serpentinite rock, and exceptional plant life, and this reserve is prime Cornish heath with pools and wet willow woodland. Early Bronze Age barrows are present, there are several ancient 'turf-hut' circles and also the remains of buildings likely to have been used during the Second World War.

Characteristic wildlife of this reserve:

The adder has a thick body, triangular head and a characteristic v-shaped mark on its head, often with zigzag markings along its back. It feeds on small mammals and lizards but is a shy animal - it will not attack, only defend itself if cornered. The adder is the only poisonous snake found in Britain, but although its bite is unpleasant, it is unlikely to cause you serious harm.

The male stonechat is unmistakable because of its tri-coloured plumage of black head, orange breast and white neck patches. The female is similarly marked, but with brown rather than black. The majority of stonechats are resident in Britain, feed mainly on insects and are likely to be seen near gorse, which the male may use as a perch from which he will launch into his characteristic dancing flight.

Cornish heath only occurs naturally in this country on The Lizard and was first mentioned as growing there by John Ray in 1670. It is an attractive shrub found plentifully on the dry heaths of the Lizard “Downs”. The narrow, dark green leaves sprout in fours or fives. The long, dense flower spikes have leafy tips and the bell-shaped flowers occur in shades of pink or lilac, even white.

Other information:

The reserve was a gift in 1986 from Tehidy Minerals.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves

List of reserves ... Armstrong Woods Bakers Pit Beales Meadow Bissoe Valley Bosvenning Common Cabilla and Redrice Woods Caer Brân Carn Moor Chûn Downs Churchtown Farm Chyverton Devichoys Wood Downhill Meadow Fal-Ruan Estuary Five Acres Fox Corner Greena Moor Halbullock Hawkes Wood Helman Tor Kemyel Crease Kennall Vale Lanvean Bottoms Loggan's Moor Loveny Lower Lewdon Luckett Maer Lake Nansmellyn Marsh North Predannack Downs Park Hoskyn Pendarves Wood Penlee Battery Phillips's Point Priddacombe Downs Prideaux Wood Quoit Heathland Redlake Cottage Meadows Ropehaven Cliffs Rosenannon Downs St Erth Pits St George's Island Swanvale Sylvia's Meadow Tamar Estuary Tincombe Trebarwith Tresayes Tywardreath Marsh Upton Meadow Upton Towans Ventongimps Moor Welcombe & Marsland Windmill Farm

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