Hayle Towans

The Towans, Cornish for dunes, mainly comprise broken-down seashells which have been blown onshore. They are calcareous and support lime-loving plants rarely found in Cornwall, which is predominantly made up of acidic granite.

It is the richest botanical site west of the River Fal, supporting a quarter of all the plant species ever recorded in Cornwall.

A great example of sand dune succession and an opportunity to investigate primary, secondary and tertiary dune bio-diversity for KS2 & KS3 geography topics.

Free