Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2011 - 2016
09 South Coast Central
(Falmouth Bay, River and the Roseland)
Location
This AONB section covers the south central part of the Cornish coast from Porthpean near St Austell in the east, the Roseland Peninsula, the Fal Ria including Carrick Roads to just south of the A390 near Tresillian and west to near Perranarworthal and the edge of Penryn in the west.
Extent
Approximately 16,000 hectares or just under 62 square miles and forms just over 16% of the whole of the Cornwall AONB (including Carrick Roads upstream from Trefusis Point/St Anthony Head).
Statement of Significance
The two distinct yet complementary areas of
landscape character of the Fal Ria and the
Roseland make up this beautiful AONB section
and are described separately below.
The Fal Ria
Whilst sharing many of the qualities of the Helford Estuary the component parts of the Fal Ria (a flooded river valley) landscape are of a significantly larger scale and extent.
The River Fal meets the open sea at the broad
expanse of the Carrick Roads, an internationally
important sheltered deep water harbour capable of
receiving large ocean going vessels. Stretching far
inland of the Carrick Roads is a winding network
of intertwining creeks and river valleys that are
considerably more extensive than those of the nearby
Helford estuary. The rivers and creeks sit amongst
their landscape of steep sided small twisting valleys
between rounded ridges creating a setting of strongly
rolling topography. Where the mouth of the Carrick
Roads blends with the coast there are low rocky
cliffs and headlands between which are sheltered
sandy beaches.
The tidal extent of the rivers reaches far inland to
Truro and Tresillian. At high tide the reflective water
catches the colours of the sky as it laps against low
banks of exposed rock. At low tide extensive mud
and sand banks edge the remaining winding ribbon of
water revealed in a daily cyclical rhythm of changing
character. Views over the immense expanse of water
at the Carrick Roads give a sense of vast scale
whilst further inland the ria system feels remote and
increasingly enclosed, especially in the smaller creeks.
Visually the dominant landcover is mature often
dense esturine Sessile Oak woodland cloaking
the slopes along the waters edge. In places this
woodland is extensive and seemingly untouched
by human interference despite a long history of
productive management lending a timeless primeval
air to the watercourses. In other parts woodland has
been partially or fully cleared where occasional large
fields come right to the waters edge giving a more
domesticated impression. This rich and productive
farmland on the rounded convex hilltops between
the creeks is a mix of pastoral and extensive arable
uses giving considerable seasonal changes in colour.
This seasonally changing agricultural scene is set in
a constant and strong framework of Cornish hedges
some of which display their construction in bare
stone faces whilst many others are well vegetated
and lined with mature trees strongly enclosing and
defining the mostly small to medium irregular fields
of medieval origin. However a proportion of larger
recently enclosed straight sided fields adds variety
to this overall field pattern.
In addition to the extensive Sessile Oak woodland the untamed presence of nature is further strengthened along the valleys and watercourses by a varied range of semi-natural wetland habits including tidal saltmarsh, intertidal mudflats, reed beds, and fens whilst heathland and scrub reinforce the rugged undomesticated openness of the coastal margins.
Set amongst this strong natural framework are many distinctive landmarks and subtle historic remains. The many indications of defended Iron Age farm enclosures emphasise how long this productive land has been settled and the eye catching castles at St Mawes and its counterpart at Pendennis Castle (outside the AONB) have guarded the strategically important Carrick roads since the time of Henry VIII. St Anthony’s lighthouse is a distinct focal point marking the transition to the open sea.
Across the Carrick Roads the visually imposing extent of the towns of Penryn and Falmouth including docks, cranes and busy moorings provides a strong contrast to more tranquil locations further up river. Despite the nearby presence of large towns settlement is scattered and small in scale, especially so away from the coast and waters edge. Villages cluster at the heads of creeks and around some of the numerous small quays whilst dispersed farmsteads abound throughout the agricultural land. Estates and ornamental parklands are a feature of the countryside and waters edge most notably at Trelissick and Tegothnan and with their mature ornamental vegetation they lend an exotic yet domesticated air to the waters edge.
Many small lanes link villages and farms often densely edged on both sides with mature trees creating enclosed leafy tunnels and at Trelissick the King Harry Ferry emerges from the wooded banks providing a link for cars and pedestrians. The waterways are now extensively used for recreational and commercial boating with many small craft moored in sheltered locations or moving slowly across the water having a strong visual presence especially in the vicinity of settlements.
The Roseland
Separated from the Fal Ria by a pronounced ridge
that crosses the narrow strip of land inland of Gerrans
Bay, the Roseland has a coastline of sweeping and
extensive bays with majestic cliffs rising above rocky
shores, sandy beaches and small coves all sculpted
by the erosion of their soft killas rocks. Accentuating
and defining the form of the bays are distinctive
rocky promontories which extend from inland ridges,
notably at Nare Head, Dodman Point and Black Head
where the harder basalt and dolerite better withstand
the power of the sea. A geologically interesting
extensive raised beach at Pendower stretches all the
way to Nare Hotel. Sharply intersecting the cliff line
is the gently rolling topography of the inland plateau
whose subtle ridges are dissected by incised stream
valleys. There are far reaching panoramic views from
the rugged cliff tops complementing the enclosed and
peaceful farmed landscape inland.
The arable and pastoral fields are predominantly of medieval origin being medium in scale with irregular boundaries that range from bare low stone walls near the exposed coasts to being broad and well vegetated in the sheltered valleys. These hedges support occasional surviving and regrown elms. In some locations the outlines of early strip field systems are preserved in the current field patterns. Woodland occurs on steep valley sides, alongside streams and in valley bottoms often in combination with other valuable wetland habitats such as fens and rush pasture strengthening these ribbons of semi natural vegetation that weave through the agricultural land. Coastal rough ground including scrub and bracken emphasises the wildness of the cliff tops.
This markedly tranquil landscape is relatively free of man made land marks or structures. However it is rich in discernable pre-historic features from the largest Bronze Age burial mound in Cornwall at Carne Beacon to the County’s largest prehistoric enclosure at the Iron Age cliff castle at Dodman along with numerous other traces of ancient human occupation and activity.
Estates and ornamental parklands are a feature
of the countryside most notably at Caerhays
and Heligan taking advantage of the sheltered
valleys. Some attractive coastal villages shelter
in the coves at stream mouths or have developed
around picturesque small harbours as at
Mevagissey and Gorran Haven. Inland apart from
the churchtowns of Veryan and Gorran settlement
is a sparse but even distribution of hamlets
and farmsteads linked by narrow winding lanes
with high hedges and blind corners. Traditional
black and white painted metal finger signs are a
distinctive feature amongst these rural lanes.
Management
• The National Trust manages significant and extensive sites around the coast of the Fal Ria at Trelissick Gardens, Turnaware Point, Nr. St Mawes, and St Anthony Head and along the exposed south facing coasts at Portscatho, Gerrans Bay, Nare Head, Dodman Point, Near Gorran Haven and Black Head.
• Parish Plans are in place at Feock, St Just-in-
Roseland, Gorran and St Ewe. Parish Plans are under
preparation in Mylor, Veryan and Tregony. The Parishes
of Carlyon, St Austell Bay and the Pentewan Valley
(along with St Austell Town Council) were created in
June 2009.
• St Just-in-Roseland Parish Plan is adopted as a
Supplementary Planning Document in the Cornwall
Council Local Development Framework.
• The Truro and Threemilestone Action Plan seeks to
guide development of these large settlements that lie
close to the AONB.
• Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative aims include ‘All of the
Coast’ improvement for bird life and catchment area
farming.
• The ancient sessile oak woodlands have largely fallen
out of their previous long historical productive and
economic management.
• The Fal Estuary is included in a candidate Special Area
of Conservation, one of only two being proposed for its
large shallow inlets and bays. (the other being Plymouth
Sound). The designation is also for saltmarshes,
intertidal mudflats and subtidal sandbanks.
Condition
• Holiday sites around Mevagissey, Gorran
Haven, and Pentewan are unnecessarily visually
intrusive by their location, layout and design.
• The design and scale of some modern
development for example on the fringes of
Falmouth, Malpas and at other small water side
settlements is visually intrusive.
• There is poor or non existent footpath access
around much of the Fal Ria and Carrick Roads.
• Change is taking place at some farmland to
non agricultural uses – e.g. keeping horses.
• Native deciduous woodlands of the Fal Ria and
sheltered local valleys throughout the Roseland
to Porthpean are generally unmanaged and in
places fragmented.
• In parts of this section there was significant
loss to disease of hedgerow elm trees with
impact on habitat connectivity and landscape
character.
South Coast Central - Guiding Principles
It is intended that these local guiding principles will support the actions of the AONB Partnership and other stakeholders and that their actions will be informed by them. Note: Some local issues may be addressed by strategic policies.
| GP09.1 | Ensure that the conservation and
enhancement of the special qualities of the AONB
is fully taken into account in development proposals
for expansion of Truro, Falmouth and Penryn and
at waterside small settlements in order to retain the
character of the Fal Ria landscape. Particular care
should be taken to ensure that no development is permitted inside or outside the AONB which would damage its natural beauty, character and special qualities. |
| GP09.2 | Seek reduction in landscape and visual
impacts and better integration of existing holiday
sites, visitor infrastructure, car parks and signage.
Pay particular attention to the increase in scale,
massing, associated development and respecting
local character in external works, landscaping, site
design and layout at Mevagissey, Gorran Haven and Pentewan. |
| GP09.3 | Support provision of affordable housing in
settlements such as St Just in Roseland; St Mawes;
Gorran Haven; Mevagissey and Pentewan provided that there is access to local services, identified local need and that by location and design this fully respects historic settlement pattern and local vernacular including locally characteristic materials and that this conserves and enhances the natural beauty of the AONB. |
| GP09.4 | Seek consideration of the cumulative landscape and visual impact from individual developments on local character and tranquillity for example along the shores and slopes of the Fal Ria. |
| GP09.5 | Require assessment of the landscape, visual and cumulative impacts of future proposals for tall structures such as farm scale, community and commercial wind turbines along with masts and utilities infrastructure within the context of the evidence base including the emerging Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Supplementary Planning Document. Those proposals which have an adverse impact on natural beauty should not be supported. |
| GP09.6 | Support consideration of landscape and visual impacts on the AONB landscape around the Fal Ria, Carrick Roads and associated creeks from increasing or changing patterns of water based access, leisure and commercial activity and their related infrastructure such as moorings, jetties, car parks and yards and seek conservation and enhancement of tranquillity, dark night skies and local character. |
| GP09.7 | Support consideration of improved car free
access options including, foot, cycle, bus and boat
for example from Truro, Falmouth and Penryn in a manner that conserves and enhances the AONB. |
| GP09.8 | Support appropriate improvements to footpath access around the Carrick Roads and its creeks with respect to the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 which does not encourage an increase in traffic levels or the provision of further car parks in the area. |
| GP09.9 | Support management of visitor car parking
in quiet and remote tranquil rural areas in the Fal
Ria and throughout the Roseland up to Porthpean such that levels of use do not increase and visual impacts are reduced by use of carefully located unobtrusive small scale dispersed rural car parks set back from the coast for example as managed by the National Trust at Vault Bay and Dodman Point. |
| GP09.10 | Seek protection of the landscape setting of key landmarks such as St Mawes castle, St Anthony’s Lighthouse and others from negative impacts by new development including housing and lighting and seek enhancement of their settings. |
| GP09.11 | Encourage the productive management of broadleaved woodlands for example around the Fal Ria in a manner that is consistent with conserving and enhancing local landscape character and biodiversity. |
| GP09.12 | Encourage in the context of a wider
landscape scale approach the extension of Sessile
Oak woodlands around the Fal and its tributaries |
| GP09.13 | Encourage the management of hedges to allow elm and other hedge tree regeneration or, where appropriate, planting of native or locally naturalised tree species on hedges in order to restore landscape character following the impacts of elm disease including raising awareness that such local hedges were previously considerably more treed. |
PDF of this chapter - which includes all photos, maps and images