| Wildlife in Cornwall - The Gannel Estuary The Gannel | | | | track leading from the Creek by cart or packhorse. |
| Estuary has something to interest everybody from the | | | | remains of the quay are easily visible as are the |
| beautiful salt marsh plants to the mystery of the | | | | remains of a lime kiln where limestone was unloaded |
| Gannel Crake and provides a home for many different | | | | and burnt before being spread on the land to improve |
| plants and animals. | | | | soil quality. Today the Creek provides a home for |
| Algae and Asters | | | | wildlife - great spotted woodpeckers can be heard in |
| Shifting sands and mud and changes in salinity make | | | | the spring, whilst recent years has seen the graceful |
| the Gannel a hostile place for all but a few specialised | | | | little egret, a large white wading bird from the continent, |
| plants. There several areas of salt marsh on both | | | | feeding here at low tide. Treringy Round This is an Iron |
| sides of the main river channel and at Penpol Creek | | | | Age round surrounded by earth banks and ditches. |
| including pioneer communities with only a sparse | | | | Crantock |
| covering of green algae as well as well developed | | | | Crantock is delightful old village with a fascinating |
| vegetation. During the spring these areas are alive with | | | | church, magnificent beach and sand dune system. |
| the fragrant scurvy grass, thrift , sea aster and sea | | | | Taking its name from St Carantoc or Caratocus a |
| purslane form painted edges to the channels of mud | | | | Welsh or Irish bishop who studied under St Patrick, the |
| where the wading birds feed on shellfish worms and | | | | village dates back to 460 AD when a group of Irish |
| crabs. Towards the sea on Pentire Point East cliff | | | | hermits founded an oratory here. |
| vegetation takes over and spring squill, kidney vetch | | | | The Gannel Crake |
| and wild carrot provide displays of colour. Godwits and | | | | This name is given to a terrible sound heard on the |
| Greenshanks Up to 5000 birds have been recorded | | | | Gannel at different times of the day and the night. |
| here sheltering from harsh northern winters including | | | | Some say it is the call of a vixen or perhaps an |
| dunlin, ringed plover, redshank, whimbrel, grey plover, | | | | unusual bird while others say it is the cry of " a |
| greenshank, godwits curlew, widgeon and teal. The | | | | tortured human soul ". A man who heard it in the 1800's |
| different bill shapes and lengths allow the different | | | | said " it was like nothing on earth, like a thousand |
| waders to feed on their own particular favourite animal | | | | voices pent up in misery, with one long wail dying |
| living in the soft mud. | | | | away in the distance" .Who knows what this strange |
| History | | | | phenomenon could be?. |
| There is much of historical interest on the Gannel with | | | | Walking and Riding on the Gannel |
| evidence of mans occupation from the bronze Age to | | | | There are numerous walks to be enjoyed around the |
| the present day. At Trethellan Farm a Bronze Age | | | | estuary including the two circular walks shown on this |
| village once existed that has revealed much | | | | leaflet. Please follow way marked routes as some |
| information on life at that time whilst overlying the site | | | | paths are permissive and exist only through the |
| was an Iron age burial ground that also provided many | | | | goodwill of the landowning community. A delightful day |
| interesting finds. Also at Trethellan a lead mine | | | | out is a walk around the estuary to Crantock where a |
| operated until about 1860 whilst on the southern shore | | | | cream tea provides welcome refreshment. For horse |
| there was a lead and silver smelting works. Iron ore | | | | riders there are rides daily from Trenance Stables that |
| from the Great Perran Iron Lode was brought to the | | | | use the bridle ways and take in parts of the foreshore |
| Gannel for shipment to Wales whilst Welsh coal for | | | | Please try and avoid riding on areas of the vulnerable |
| the Truro smelting works was unshipped at | | | | salt marsh as it takes many years to re establish if |
| Trevemper and Penpol. The old packhorse bridge still | | | | badly churned up. |
| exists at Trevemper, the tidal limit of the estuary, | | | | Tides and Ferries |
| having been rebuilt with one arch in the last century. | | | | The Gannel is tidal and a dangerous place to swim or |
| Reeds Boatyard | | | | wade, in order to walk right around the estuary you will |
| The old boatyard area at Tregunnel is now a delightful | | | | need to avoid high tide. There are two foot bridges, at |
| spot to stop a while and enjoy the view. In the 1800's | | | | Trennance the bridge is covered for about an hour |
| you would have seen ships of up to 250 tons being | | | | either side of the high tide whereas the Penpol bridge |
| built here, launches took place in the evening on a | | | | is covered for about 2 1/2 hours either side of high |
| Spring Tide and were great events locally. Today | | | | tides. Ferries operate primarily on a seasonal basis |
| smaller boats are still moored and repaired in the area. | | | | from Fern Pit to Crantock Beach and the Gannel Ferry |
| Penpol Creek Once known as the Port of Truro, | | | | Service provide a service from Trethellan Steps and |
| goods were brought into the Gannel and taken up the | | | | opposite Penpol to Penpol Creek. |