AONB Managementplansection2

Location

This AONB section covers the south central part of Roads blends with the coast there are low rocky the Cornish coast from Porthpean near St Austell cliffs and headlands between which are sheltered in the east, the Roseland Peninsula, the Fal Ria sandy beaches. including Carrick Roads to just south of the A390 near Tresillian and west to near Perranarworthal The tidal extent of the rivers reaches far inland to and the edge of Penryn in the west Truro and Tresillian. At high tide the reﬂective water catches the colours of the sky as it laps against low banks of exposed rock. At low tide extensive mud Extent and sand banks edge the remaining winding ribbon of water revealed in a daily cyclical rhythm of changing Pentewan Approximately 16,000 hectares or just under 62 character. Views over the immense expanse of water Valley square miles and forms just over 16% of the whole at the Carrick Roads give a sense of vast scale of the Cornwall AONB (including Carrick Roads whilst further inland the ria system feels remote and St Austell Bay upstream from Trefusis Point/St Anthony Head). increasingly enclosed, especially in the smaller creeks.

Probus Visually the dominant landcover is mature often St Clement Statement of Significance dense esturine Sessile Oak woodland cloaking the slopes along the waters edge. In places this Cuby St Ewe The two distinct yet complementary areas of woodland is extensive and seemingly untouched Mevagissey Sennen Probus landscape character of the Fal Ria and the by human interference despite a long history of Roseland make up this beautiful AONB section productive management lending a timeless primeval St Michael and are described separately below. air to the watercourses. In other parts woodland has Penkevil Kea been partially or fully cleared where occasional large St Michael St Goran The Fal Ria fields come right to the waters edge giving a more Ruanlanihorne Caerhays domesticated impression. This rich and productive Whilst sharing many of the qualities of the Helford farmland on the rounded convex hilltops between Estuary the component parts of the Fal Ria (a flooded Veryan the creeks is a mix of pastoral and extensive arable Feock Philleigh river valley) landscape are of a significantly larger uses giving considerable seasonal changes in colour. scale and extent. This seasonally changing agricultural scene is set in a constant and strong framework of Cornish hedges Mylor Gerrans The River Fal meets the open sea at the broad some of which display their construction in bare St Just-in- expanse of the Carrick Roads, an internationally stone faces whilst many others are well vegetated Roseland important sheltered deep water harbour capable of and lined with mature trees strongly enclosing and receiving large ocean going vessels. Stretching far defining the mostly small to medium irregular fields Penryn inland of the Carrick Roads is a winding network of medieval origin. However a proportion of larger of intertwining creeks and river valleys that are recently enclosed straight sided fields adds variety considerably more extensive than those of the nearby to this overall field pattern. Falmouth Helford estuary. The rivers and creeks sit amongst Budock their landscape of steep sided small twisting valleys In addition to the extensive Sessile Oak woodland the between rounded ridges creating a setting of strongly untamed presence of nature is further strengthened Mawnan rolling topography. Where the mouth of the Carrick along the valleys and watercourses by a varied

144 CORNWALL AONB MANAGEMENT PLAN 2011 - 2016 145 Management range of semi-natural wetland habits including tidal creating enclosed leafy tunnels and at Trelissick vegetated in the sheltered valleys. These hedges • The National Trust manages significant and extensive saltmarsh, intertidal mudflats, reed beds, and fens the King Harry Ferry emerges from the wooded support occasional surviving and regrown elms. sites around the coast of the Fal Ria at Trelissick whilst heathland and scrub reinforce the rugged banks providing a link for cars and pedestrians. The In some locations the outlines of early strip Gardens, Turnaware Point, Nr. St Mawes, and St undomesticated openness of the coastal margins. waterways are now extensively used for recreational field systems are preserved in the current field Anthony Head and along the exposed south facing and commercial boating with many small craft patterns. Woodland occurs on steep valley sides, coasts at Portscatho, Gerrans Bay, Nare Head, Set amongst this strong natural framework are many moored in sheltered locations or moving slowly alongside streams and in valley bottoms often in Dodman Point, Near Gorran Haven and Black Head. distinctive landmarks and subtle historic remains. across the water having a strong visual presence combination with other valuable wetland habitats The many indications of defended Iron Age farm especially in the vicinity of settlements. such as fens and rush pasture strengthening • Parish Plans are in place at Feock, St Just-in- enclosures emphasise how long this productive land these ribbons of semi natural vegetation that Roseland, Gorran and St Ewe. Parish Plans are under has been settled and the eye catching castles at The Roseland weave through the agricultural land. Coastal preparation in Mylor, Veryan and Tregony. The Parishes St Mawes and its counterpart at Pendennis Castle rough ground including scrub and bracken of Carlyon, St Austell Bay and the Pentewan Valley Separated from the Fal Ria by a pronounced ridge (outside the AONB) have guarded the strategically emphasises the wildness of the cliff tops. (along with St Austell Town Council) were created in that crosses the narrow strip of land inland of Gerrans important Carrick roads since the time of Henry June 2009. Bay, the Roseland has a coastline of sweeping and VIII. St Anthony’s lighthouse is a distinct focal point This markedly tranquil landscape is relatively free extensive bays with majestic cliffs rising above rocky marking the transition to the open sea. of man made land marks or structures. However it • St Just-in-Roseland Parish Plan is adopted as a shores, sandy beaches and small coves all sculpted is rich in discernable pre-historic features from the Supplementary Planning Document in the Cornwall by the erosion of their soft killas rocks. Accentuating Across the Carrick Roads the visually imposing largest Bronze Age burial mound in Cornwall at Council Local Development Framework. and defining the form of the bays are distinctive extent of the towns of Penryn and Falmouth including Carne Beacon to the County’s largest prehistoric rocky promontories which extend from inland ridges, docks, cranes and busy moorings provides a enclosure at the Iron Age cliff castle at Dodman • The Truro and Threemilestone Action Plan seeks to notably at Nare Head, Dodman Point and Black Head strong contrast to more tranquil locations further along with numerous other traces of ancient guide development of these large settlements that lie where the harder basalt and dolerite better withstand up river. Despite the nearby presence of large human occupation and activity. close to the AONB. the power of the sea. A geologically interesting towns settlement is scattered and small in scale, extensive raised beach at Pendower stretches all the especially so away from the coast and waters edge. Estates and ornamental parklands are a feature • Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative aims include ‘All of the way to Nare Hotel. Sharply intersecting the cliff line Villages cluster at the heads of creeks and around of the countryside most notably at Caerhays Coast’ improvement for bird life and catchment area is the gently rolling topography of the inland plateau some of the numerous small quays whilst dispersed and Heligan taking advantage of the sheltered farming. whose subtle ridges are dissected by incised stream farmsteads abound throughout the agricultural land. valleys. Some attractive coastal villages shelter valleys. There are far reaching panoramic views from Estates and ornamental parklands are a feature in the coves at stream mouths or have developed • The ancient sessile oak woodlands have largely fallen the rugged cliff tops complementing the enclosed and of the countryside and waters edge most notably around picturesque small harbours as at out of their previous long historical productive and peaceful farmed landscape inland. at Trelissick and Tegothnan and with their mature Mevagissey and Gorran Haven. Inland apart from economic management. ornamental vegetation they lend an exotic yet the churchtowns of Veryan and Gorran settlement The arable and pastoral fields are predominantly of domesticated air to the waters edge. is a sparse but even distribution of hamlets • The Fal Estuary is included in a candidate Special Area medieval origin being medium in scale with irregular and farmsteads linked by narrow winding lanes of Conservation, one of only two being proposed for its boundaries that range from bare low stone walls Many small lanes link villages and farms often with high hedges and blind corners. Traditional large shallow inlets and bays. (the other being Plymouth near the exposed coasts to being broad and well densely edged on both sides with mature trees black and white painted metal finger signs are a Sound). The designation is also for saltmarshes, distinctive feature amongst these rural lanes. intertidal mudflats and subtidal sandbanks.

146 CORNWALL AONB MANAGEMENT PLAN 2011 - 2016 147 South Coast Central Condition Guiding Principles

• Holiday sites around Mevagissey, Gorran It is intended that these local guiding principles will GP.09.5 Require assessment of the landscape, Haven, and Pentewan are unnecessarily visually support the actions of the AONB Partnership and visual and cumulative impacts of future proposals intrusive by their location, layout and design. other stakeholders and that their actions will be for tall structures such as farm scale, community informed by them. Note: Some local issues may be and commercial wind turbines along with masts • The design and scale of some modern addressed by strategic policies. and utilities infrastructure within the context of the development for example on the fringes of evidence base including the emerging Renewable Falmouth, Malpas and at other small water side GP09.1 Ensure that the conservation and and Low Carbon Energy Supplementary Planning settlements is visually intrusive. enhancement of the special qualities of the AONB Document. Those proposals which have an adverse is fully taken into account in development proposals impact on natural beauty should not be supported. • There is poor or non existent footpath access for expansion of Truro, Falmouth and Penryn and GP09.10 Seek protection of the landscape setting around much of the Fal Ria and Carrick Roads. at waterside small settlements in order to retain the GP09.6 Support consideration of landscape and of key landmarks such as St Mawes castle, character of the Fal Ria landscape. Particular care visual impacts on the AONB landscape around the St Anthony’s Lighthouse and others from negative • Change is taking place at some farmland to should be taken to ensure that no development is Fal Ria, Carrick Roads and associated creeks from impacts by new development including housing non agricultural uses – e.g. keeping horses. permitted inside or outside the AONB which would increasing or changing patterns of water based and lighting and seek enhancement of their damage its natural beauty, character and special access, leisure and commercial activity and their settings. • Native deciduous woodlands of the Fal Ria and qualities. related infrastructure such as moorings, jetties, sheltered local valleys throughout the Roseland car parks and yards and seek conservation and GP09.11 Encourage the productive management to Porthpean are generally unmanaged and in GP09.2 Seek reduction in landscape and visual enhancement of tranquillity, dark night skies and of broadleaved woodlands for example around places fragmented. impacts and better integration of existing holiday local character. the Fal Ria in a manner that is consistent with sites, visitor infrastructure, car parks and signage. conserving and enhancing local landscape • In parts of this section there was significant Pay particular attention to the increase in scale, GP09.7 Support consideration of improved car free character and biodiversity. loss to disease of hedgerow elm trees with massing, associated development and respecting access options including, foot, cycle, bus and boat impact on habitat connectivity and landscape local character in external works, landscaping, site for example from Truro, Falmouth and Penryn in a GP09.12 Encourage in the context of a wider character. design and layout at Mevagissey, Gorran Haven and manner that conserves and enhances the AONB. landscape scale approach the extension of Sessile Pentewan. Oak woodlands around the Fal and its tributaries GP09.8 Support appropriate improvements to and in the inland and coastal valleys of the GP09.3 Support provision of affordable housing in footpath access around the Carrick Roads and Roseland. Consider opportunities for small scale settlements such as St Just in Roseland; St Mawes; its creeks with respect to the Marine and Coastal planting of local provenance native tree species Gorran Haven; Mevagissey and Pentewan provided Access Act 2009 which does not encourage an such as Sessile Oak, Hazel and Alder to act as a that there is access to local services, identified increase in traffic levels or the provision of further future seed source where this is currently absent or local need and that by location and design this car parks in the area. sparse to assist subsequent natural regeneration. fully respects historic settlement pattern and local vernacular including locally characteristic materials GP09.9 Support management of visitor car parking GP09.13 Encourage the management of hedges and that this conserves and enhances the natural in quiet and remote tranquil rural areas in the Fal to allow elm and other hedge tree regeneration beauty of the AONB. Ria and throughout the Roseland up to Porthpean or, where appropriate, planting of native or locally such that levels of use do not increase and visual naturalised tree species on hedges in order to GP09.4 Seek consideration of the cumulative impacts are reduced by use of carefully located restore landscape character following the impacts landscape and visual impact from individual unobtrusive small scale dispersed rural car parks of elm disease including raising awareness developments on local character and tranquillity for set back from the coast for example as managed by that such local hedges were previously example along the shores and slopes of the Fal Ria. the National Trust at Vault Bay and Dodman Point. considerably more treed.

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