RED MOOR AND SOUTHERN RED MOOR
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CLASSIFICATION
Designated SSSI.
STATUS
Red Moor was bought by the Trust in 1980 with help from the World Wildlife Fund, Restormel District Council and individual donors. It is dedicated to the memory of three founding Trust members.
| TYPE OF HABITAT Lowland heath, bog, willow carr and pools covering 95ha. |
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GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The reserve consists of sixty acres of mixed heath communities, bogs, numerous small ponds and willow carr. The ponds were created by open-cast tin mining, which continued until the late nineteenth century.
ACCESS
From the A30/A391 roundabout, southwest of Bodmin, take the A389 towards Bodmin. Turn right to go under the A30, then first left. After 2.3km (1.5 miles), turn right towards Fenton Pits. Continue for 2.2km (1.5 miles) and turn right for Tredinnickpits. Access to the reserve is via a track leading off a triangle formed by the roads in Tredinnickpits. (SX 075 622).The reserve may also be reached from HelmanTor along the Saints' Way. (SX 064 611).
SPECIES OF PARTICULAR INTEREST
The entrance track runs through a spinney of oaks and willows. The trees are rich in lichens including the long, hanging beard lichens. Further into the reserve there are large areas of heathland on higher ground, with scrub and boggy areas in between. Purple moor grass dominates the wetter heath and devil's bit scabious and heath spotted orchids grow here. Bell heather, ling and cross-leaved heath also occur. The wettest hollows support sphagnum moss, while sundew grows on damp gravel nearby. Large stands of reedmace rushes, marsh horsetail, marsh cinquefoil and cotton grass grow around-the ponds. The magnificent royal fern is visible along the margins in summer. The largest pond attracts coots, moorhens, mallards and the occasional heron. The ponds are teeming with smaller life such as frogs, toads and newts. Sedge warblers and reed buntings are frequently seen, as are two other summer visitors, the tree pipit and the grasshopper warbler. Buzzards are a common sight. Adders and grass snakes frequent heath and the devil's bit scabious provides food for the marsh fritillary butterfly. Other butterflies and several species of damselfly and dragonfly abound in the open heathland.
