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Special Areas of Conservation

Polruan to Polperro

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Centroid* SX161512
Latitude 50.33111111
Longitude -4.584166667
SAC EU Code UK0030241
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 210.24
* 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 Polruan to Polperro SAC

General site character

  • Shingle, Sea cliffs, Islets (65%)
  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (3%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (15%)
  • Dry grassland, Steppes (15%)
  • Improved grassland (2%)

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

  • 1230 Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic Coasts

    This site on the south coast of Cornwall represents a range of cliff habitats influenced by the complex lithological variation and tectonic structure at this location. The cliff habitats are particularly important for their assemblage of plants and the site also supports the Annex II species 1441 shore dock Rumex rupestris. The cliffs and slopes support a variety of maritime rock crevice and ledge communities, with maritime and sub-maritime grasslands and flushes. In places the lower cliffs, backshore and cliff crevices are influenced by freshwater seepages, flushes and springs. The maritime grasslands are found alongside or amongst areas of scrub and bracken Pteridium aquilinum, and the species composition reflects the variation in the calcareous influence of the underlying strata. Extensive areas of unimproved grassland are present on the cliff tops and headlands. The exposure at this site is less than that experienced on the north coast of Cornwall, and provides an important contrast to the other Cornish sites selected for this feature.

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

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

  • 1441 Shore dock Rumex rupestris

    An important rocky-shore site for shore dock Rumex rupestris, near to the centre of its UK distribution. In 1999 the site supported 13 widely scattered colonies and at least 30 plants, along with numerous small pockets of additional suitable habitat.

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.