Swanvale nature reserve

Habitat type: Woodland Size of Reserve: 0.8ha (1.9 acres) OS Map No. 103 Grid reference: SW 800 317 (south west boundary by public footpath) 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:

This reserve lies just to the north east of Swan Pool Local Nature Reserve which, in turn, lies to the south east of Falmouth.

Access:

The woodland is inaccessible, but there are good footpaths and roads with viewing points around Swan Pool and the reserve.

Classification

Description:

The tiny Swanvale reserve is owned by Cornwall Wildlife Trust and comprises mostly willow carr, which provides shelter for many small birds and mammals.

It is part of the larger Swan Pool Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and provides an important buffer against pollutants in terms of streams entering the pool from Falmouth town.

Characteristic wildlife of this reserve:

Willow trees thrive on waterlogged soils and are commonly found on banks of streams. Natural succession leads to wetlands becoming wet woodland, potentially very diverse areas, but becoming something of a rarity. Willow may support a large number of invertebrates and this attracts a huge variety of birds. Mosses and ferns also thrive in the humid atmosphere of this wet woodland.

Wildfowl are perhaps the most obvious birds on Swan Pool, but there are others. In summer, listen for reed warblers, several pairs of which nest in the reedbed. Their song has been variously described as chatty, grumpy or jittery. In winter, watch carefully for water rail, which skulks in the waterside vegetation. It is about the size of a moorhen, with grey and brown plumage and a fine red bill.

Other information:

The Swan Pool LNR is managed by a partnership of local authorities, residents and environmental groups.

Swan Pool LNR is a brackish lagoon and is the only location in Britain of the trembling sea-mat, a small and very primitive creature, resembling a thin layer of jelly, which looks more like a plant than an animal.

The reserve was purchased in 1986 with a donation from the Cornwall Birdwatching & Preservation Society.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves

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