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Special Areas of Conservation

Lower Bostraze and Leswidden

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Centroid* SW384310
Latitude 50.12055556
Longitude -5.660277778
SAC EU Code UK0030064
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 2.34
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Lower Bostraze and Leswidden SAC

General site character

  • Other land (including Towns, Villages, Roads, Waste places, Mines, Industrial sites) (100%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 1390 Western rustwort Marsupella profunda

    This site comprises two closely adjacent locations selected for western rustwort Marsupella profunda. The colony at Lower Bostraze is in the southern half of a disused china-clay quarry where extraction ended around 1991. There are many exposed clay surfaces with little or no colonisation by bryophytes and vascular plants. Filamentous green algae are however widespread on the clay. Most vascular plants present are only immature individuals, with heather Calluna vulgaris and bell heather Erica cinerea the most common species. Lower Bostraze supports the largest population of western rustwort, with an estimated 4,000 cm2 cover, while Leswidden supports an estimated 200 cm2. Leswidden is also a former china-clay quarry, where working ceased before 1965. Banks of clay spoil have been exposed more recently during work to clear and flatten the area to the south now used as a coal merchant’s yard. As at Lower Bostraze, the clay surfaces are colonised by filamentous green algae and, very sparsely, by calcifuge vascular plants such as heather Calluna vulgaris and bell heather Erica cinerea.

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

  • Not Applicable

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.