Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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How to best help our precious and amazing grey seal pup
Grey seal pups are an amazing wildlife spectacle around the Lizard peninsular at this time of year…as little and then big barrels of white fluffy fur with huge appealing eyes. But they need our help. They are only fed milk by their mothers for three critical weeks that determine their survival prospects.
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Comma
The delightful Comma butterfly, with its raggedy wings, can be spotted through the summer months and into early autumn. Photo: Dougy Wright
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Glossary of geological terms
Dyke: A fault or crack in rocks that has later been intruded by other rock types during magmatic activity Gabbro: A coarse-grained, dark, intrusive, igneous rock Gneiss: A metamorphic rock, formed from the metamorphosis of granite or sedimentary rock under high temperatures and pressures. It shows distinctive layering of different minerals Granite: An intrusive, coarse-grained…
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Kennack Sands – Beaches
The beaches at Kennack Sands are a great place for families to visit. The western beach (the one closest to the car park) is the sandier of the two, and is a well-known surfing beach. The shallow incline creates a large tidal range and some good surfing waves. Kennack Beach Walk over small headland (The…
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Kennack Sands – Heritage
The history of Kennack Sands goes back a long way. Kennack is itself a mediaeval Cornish placename. The hill behind the Towans was recorded in 1510 as Carn Cunek, and the beach is recorded in 1538 as Porthkunyk. This comprises the elements of porth, meaning cove or harbour, and keun, meaning reeds or rushes. The…
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Kennack Sands – Flora and Fauna
The varied habitats at Kennack Sands – rockpools and marine communities, sand dunes, streams, scrub, with woodland and the heathlands of Goonhilly beyond – mean there is a wealth of wildlife to be found here, at any time of year. Enjoy exploring! Western cliffs Keep an eye out for Rock Samphire. Even out…
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Kennack Sands – Geology
Kennack Sands is a fascinating site for investigating the geology http://www.the-lizard.org/index.php/lizard-geology of The Lizard. The Lizard The southern part of the peninsula is a complex mix of serpentinite, schist, gabbro and granite. These rocks are over 600 million years old. The serpentine rock for which The Lizard is famous is all that remains of an…
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Kennack Sands
It is easy to understand why Kennack Sands is one of the most popular family beaches on The Lizard. Extensive beaches, impressive cliffs, dunes and woodlands, and the opportunity for some rockpooling or summertime surfing on the waves – there is plenty to do and explore. Literary buffs among you will be interested to know…
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Wasp Spider
There’s no mistaking a Wasp Spider. Photo: © Natural England/Allan Drewitt
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Inspiring people about nature, conservation and local heritage
Local conservation organisations offer a variety of guided walks, events and education days across The Lizard. Helping out with these events is the perfect way to get out and about, learn more about the area and meet other like-minded people. Volunteering in this area can also help if you are trying to build your skills…
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Volunteer Wildlife Watching and Survey
New to surveying General wildlife surveys Cornish Choughs Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust Marine Surveys If you don’t know much about wildlife but you’d like to learn more and build on your wildlife ID skills, a good place to start is at the National Trust Wildlife Watchpoint, where they can offer you the opportunity to…
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Volunteering on the coast and in the countryside (practical)
National Trust Natural England Cornwall Wildlife Trust Lizard Ancient Sites Network (LAN) Our conservation work covers over 1,000 hectares of diverse land, from beaches and cliffs to inland heathlands and wooded valleys. Our work aims to maintain a delicate balance between protecting important wildlife habitats and landscapes and providing good access to enable people to…
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Introduction to volunteering
There are lots of volunteering opportunities in conservation here on The Lizard. Click on the icons above to find out what’s on offer. Volunteering is a great way to learn more about a place, its people and its wildlife. It is the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and play a vital role in caring for…
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Lizard farmers win a national ‘Farming with nature’ award
One of our local farming families were awarded one of the food and farming industry’s highest honours, a National Trust Fine Farm Produce Award at BBC Countryfile Live earlier this summer, with the Lizard’s Tregullas Farm, the most southerly farm on mainland Britain, winning the National Trust’s first-ever ‘Farming with Nature’ award.
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National Trust scything a way forward
National Trust Rangers on the Lizard are turning back the clocks, by putting their faith in the humble scythe. These simple tools, which were the only way to gather in the harvest of hay and corn just a few generations ago, are making a come back for tasks such as cutting footpaths. Martin McDowall Ranger…
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Introduction to volunteering on the Lizard
Pillwort There are lots of volunteering opportunities in conservation here on The Lizard. Click on the icons above to find out what’s on offer. Volunteering is a great way to learn more about a place, its people and its wildlife. It is the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and play a vital role in caring…
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