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COUNTY: CORNWALL SITE NAME: LOGGANS MOOR

DISTRICT: PENWITH DISTRICT COUNCIL

Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, (as amended).

Local Planning Authority: CORNWALL COUNTY COUNCIL, Penwith District Council

National Grid Reference: SW 577390 Area: 10.7 (ha.) 26.4 (ac.)

Ordnance Survey Sheet 1:50,000: 203 1:10,000: SW 53 SE

Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): – Date of Last Revision: –

Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1986 Date of Last Revision: –

Other Information: A new site.

Description and Reasons for Notification: Loggans Moor is an area of species rich meadow and marshland located some 1.5km north- east of Hayle immediately adjacent to the A30 road in West Cornwall. The site lies in a shallow tributary valley of the Angarrack River in the lee of the extensive Phillack and Upton Towans dune system to the west.

The western side of Loggans floor is overlain by varying depths of wind blown calcareous sand which covers the slates of the underlying Devonian Mylor Beds. The local Loggans Soil Series mainly consist of base-rich sandy soils over fine silty or fine loamy calcareous gley soils. In the lower parts of the moor higher groundwater levels have led to the formation of humic sandy gley soils and a few small areas of peat have also developed.

Much of the moor is traversed by a series of poorly maintained ditches and a series of springs emerge from the base of the sand dunes along the western side of the site.

Loggans Moor is a particularly species rich meadow site resulting from a long period of traditional farming on the series of small meadows, marshland and pasture. The site exhibits both calcareous and marshy grassland together with tall herb, standing water and running water habitats all of which are affected by the base-rich conditions.

The calcareous grassland occurs on the steeper slopes on the west side of the moor and exhibits a wide variety of short turf plants. Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, Eyebrights Euphrasia agg., Fiddledock Rumex pulcher, are of particular note together with Lady’s Bedstraw Galium verum, Cowslip Primula veris and Common Restharrow Ononis repens.

The springs that emerge towards the bottom of this slope have led to the development of tall-herb wet marshes and the occurrence of the Broad-leaved Cottongrass Eriophorum latifolium is indicative of the base-rich environment. Other species found in these tall herb areas include Marsh Horsetail Equisetum palustre, Marsh Bedstraw Galium palustre, Bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata, Water Mint Mentha aquatica, Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica and Marsh Pennywort Hydrocotyle vulgaris.

Much of the central and eastern part of the site consists of marshy grassland, used as rough pasture and traversed by a system of old water-filled ditches and streams. In the wettest area the occurrence of Parsley Water Dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii is of particular note. Marsh Arrow Grass Triglochin palustris is also recorded here together with Red Rattle Odontites verna, Bog Pimpernel Anagallis tenella, Marsh Lousewort Pedicularis palustris, Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris, Common Spike-Rush Eleocharis palustris, Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi and Devil’s-Bit Scabious Succisa pratensis. The Early Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata which is rare in Cornwall, also occurs here together with an abundance of the Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa.

In the slightly drier areas are to be found Quaking Grass Briza media, a calcicole which is scarce in Cornwall together with Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica and Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor. The old leat that forms the southern boundary of the site contains good stands of Hemlock Water-dropwort Oenanthe crocata and Fool’s Water-cress Apium nodiflorum.