The amazing thing about this pan of North Cornwall is the wealth and diversity of its birdlife. From the inconspicuous Wren to the regal Mute Swan the birds come in all shapes and sizes. While on the Wadebridge to Padstow stretch the birds that catch your eye are flocks of Curlew and Oystercatchers present throughout the year and flocks of Golden Plover and Lapwing in the winter months.

A few images from the Camel Trail in spring.

It is not possible to start to describe the richness of the flora along the trail. It would take a volume of expert work just to scratch the surface.

From close to Bodmin Moor, through wood and forest. Then wetland.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest and more.

Eventually the coast, a vastly diverse ecosystem can be cycled past in a few brief hours.

These pictures just show glimpses.

Slowing down and looking is a reward, taking pictures - good, taking samples - bad! Sorry to be blunt but you could be prosecuted.

The flora and fauna on the trail is always changing with the season, the blossoms shown here will be berries later in the year. Elder flower to elder berry and then maybe the wine from the berries

As much as we might make a small harvest from the trail and use it so does the fauna which lives close to the trail.

A small creature we might marvel at may have a greater need than us.

The more we leave things alone the greater potential for abundance in wildlife next year, and of course the more for us to be amazed at.

There are guidelines about using the countryside, the trail and the foreshore.

A cutting ...
... and then a closer look
Just a verge ...
... then a close up of one plant
Riverside plants, first a view from the trail ...
... and then increasing depth
... closer
Another cutting ...
... this is the honeysuckle you can smell
Hawthorns
Rhododendrons
Gorse
Smaller Scale Flora

 

There is an extraordinary array of wildlife to be appreciated along the Camel Trail

Look for signs of secretive mammals such as fox, badger, rabbit, deer and rarities like otter and great horseshoe bat. Coppiced hazel is the home of the dormouse

A few wild service trees have sprung up among the oak, spindle and sycamore. Foxglove, campion, mullein, madder, violets and snowdrops appear as early as December in some years. Thistle seeds provide food for goldfinches

The River Camel supports salmon and trout, dipper and kingfisher; on the estuary live bass and mullet, curlew and shelduck; an ever increasing number of little egrets now live alongside the local herons