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Fal and Helford

South West England

Seaweed colours snapped at Falmouth © Theo Wright under a Creative Commons Non Commercial-No Derivs 2.0 Generic license

Location: Flow into the sea at Falmouth Bay. Extend inland to Truro in the north and west from Helford to Gweek.

Grid Reference: SW 802 325

The area of the Fal and Helford rivers and estuaries is extremely important in both marine and terrestrial diversity.

Rocky shores characterise parts of the Fal, Percuil river and the lower reaches of the Helford rivers whilst other sections form an example of a ria (drowned river valley) system and comprise a number of different habitats: sandbanks, mudflats and salt marshes, often with very slow tidal currents flowing over extensive sediment. These areas, although with only limited freshwater input support a diverse community of marine algae and terrestrial plant species, with rarities such as the shore dock occurring.

Directions

View map of the IPA

Further information

For additional scientific information on why Fal and Helford have been identified as an IPA, including details of existing protection, landuse and threats to the site please click here.