Kynance Cove - Lizard Peninsula

Kynance Cove is 'considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world' (National Trust). The cove is found two miles north of Lizard point which is the most southerly point in the British Isles. 


Kynance Cove is probably the most painted and photographed place in Cornwall. This beauty spot has been immortalised as the perfect cove by romantic poets and painters since the eighteenth century, due to the brilliant turquoise water and white sands, with islands, caves and unexpected views which are still as powerful today, as are rocks of green and red serpentine, polished by the sea over thousands of years and unique to the Lizard Peninsula.


Serpentinite rock weathers to a nutrient poor soil which is unable to sustain the plants, crops (even pasture) and trees that might otherwise be expected to grow in this area.  This presents opportunities to rarer plants which are tolerant of the soils and which are not out-competed or removed for agriculture.  As a result, the Lizard is of considerable international importance for its outliers of rare and endemic plants.  It has populations of 53 nationally scarce species and 20 species which appear in the Red Data Book.

The Lizard Peninsula has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation importance of its sea cliff, grassland and heathland vegetation.  


Many plant species are rare or unique including, for example, the Cornish Heath (Erica vagans, found only on the Lizard in Great Britain) and the fringed rupturewort (Herniaria ciliolata, sole British population). 
Other rarities include: yellow centaury (Cicendia filiformis), long-headed clover (Trifolium incarnatum, molinerii), upright clover (Trifolium strictum) and spotted cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris maculata, found above Kynance Cove). The Lizard is also of national importance for rare lichens, liverworts and invertebrates.  One example of the latter is Lasiacantha capucina, a nationally rare lacebug which feeds on thyme and is found only in Cornwall, mainly on the Lizard.  The Lizard is also the location of the only breeding population in Britain of the chough.


For more information on this unique coastal area, look at Plymouth University Site: http://www2.plymouth.ac.uk/science/cornwall/Sites/Site_Lizard_Peninsula.html


I visit the Lizard on regular occasions, both to Lizard Point and Kynance Cove. There has been little noticeable change to the habitat from November to March but i would like to look further into the unique habitat of the Lizard Peninsula and I will post my findings up regularly. 


I recently visited the cove in massive storms with swell reaching up to 10ft. The overall scenery was very dramatic with strong winds and emotive skies. Some of the images I captured on the day can be seen below and are copyright to Abbi Hughes. 

Both of these images were photographed using a standard 50mm lens with a Nikon D200 on the cliff paths above the cove. Both using a long exposure technique.

Hope you enjoy my images.

Abbi

Location : Kynance Cove
Date: 20th march 2011

Time: 3pm - 6pm (varies)
Weather: Strong westerly winds, large swells, evening sun set. 
Map Reference: SW684133