LOVENY/COLLIFORD RESERVE

CLASSIFICATION

FlowersBirds

STATUS

Loveny Reserve covers 400 acres and is leased from the South West Water Authority jointly by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society.

TYPE OF HABITAT

Moorland and part of Colliford Reservoir covering 128ha.

ACCESS

OS map ref SX 180 742
Restricted. On the A30, 21km (13 miles) south of Launceston, is a turning for Colliford Reservoir. A footpath may be followed to the edge of the reserve from Deweymeads car park, 1.5km (1 mile) along the road.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

It consists of part of Colliford Reservoir, constructed in 1981 and flooded in 1984. Originally the valley contained Red fill Marsh, a very good example of bog and other wetland habitats. Although these have been lost it is anticipated that the Reservoir will become a very important ornithological site. The western shore, north of Stuffle point, consists of heathland, grassland and improved pasture.

SPECIES OF PARTICULAR INTEREST

Besides the heron there are mallard, widgeon, teal and tufted ducks. Members of the grebe family, swans and geese can be seen. Waders include lapwings, curlews, green sandpipers, redshanks and dunlins. In winter there may be golden plovers, short eared owls and hen harriers, as well as visiting wildfowl. Typical heathland species include Western gorse, heather and bristle-leaved bent. In among these occur the damp loving species, purple moor grass and cross leaved heath, tormentil, devilsbit scabious and both the heath grass and heath rush. Deer grass, of restricted distribution in Cornwall occurs widely here. Unimproved grassland includes Yorkshire fog, crested dogstail, sweet vernal grass and wavy hair grass. Otters and mink also use the reserve.

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