Bissoe Reserve- a hidden gem

(Written by Dr Mark Nason, Head of Cornwall College Newquay) 

I’m not ashamed to admit that I like contaminated dirt. With more derelict land than any other county, Cornwall suits me fine. Our Duchy has nearly 4000 hectares of spoil where lack of organic matter and the presence of toxic metals inhibits and slows recolonisation by plants and wildlife. Who decides what happens to post-industrial land? Should we intervene and if so what methods can restore it, and who pays? Questions any restoration programme must address whilst balancing competing priorities of stakeholders. Do we wish to enhance biodiversity, preserve industrial archaeology, or restore ecosystem services? Can a mixture of different land-uses satisfy all without resulting in too much of a mishmash to do any one thing properly? 

Common Darter- photo by Duncan Viner

During a recent cycle along the coast-to-coast trail from Portreath to Devoran I passed Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Bissoe Reserve near Point Mills Arsenic Refinery. Thinking it a prime location for a field-trip with ecology, conservation and plant science students I met volunteer warden, Duncan Viner, and had the privilege of accompanying him on a tour of the 7.5 acre former mine site.

Bissoe is a hidden gem, a mosaic of hummocks, hollows, ponds and flowing water, managed in part for its spectacular flying critters. Damselfy and dragonfly species here include golden ring, emporer, southern hawker, common darter and demoiselle. Lucky visitors might spot the grayling butterfly with its cryptic camouflage. Streams flowing through the reserve are managed and ponds maintained to promote biodiversity. They are spring-fed and appear relatively clean, in sharp contrast to the adjacent Carnon River, into which the County Adit discharges phenomenal quantities of metals from over 100 mines. 

Grayling butterfly- photo by Duncan Viner

On an outcropping of sandy soil the presence of stunted alder, rowan, sycamore and cherry hint at the difficult growing conditions on contaminated land. There is bare ground in and around the reserve and rather than ‘greening it’, it is valued as a haven for some of Britain’s rarest species of invertebrates and plants. Pushing through undergrowth we reach the top of a hummock and are treated to the incredible sight of thousands of ivy bees, a species first recorded in Britain in 2001. As the name suggests they feed almost exclusively on ivy, nesting in dense aggregations in sandy soil. 

We pick our way very carefully through their nesting site, bees buzzing harmlessly around us. Amongst reedmace at the northern edge of the reserve I reach down to gently remove an impressive water scorpion clinging to my boot. Ripe seed pods of Himalayan balsam explode against our legs with surprising force. This is one of many invasive non-native species in Cornwall and controlling it is essential to ensure our native plants and associated insects thrive. I make a note to offer Duncan help from the committed volunteers in our Student Invasive Non-Native Group. 

Invasive Himalayan Balsam growing at Bissoe Reserve

Bissoe Reserve and the surrounding area provide a unique opportunity to study the legacy of mining in Cornwall and discuss the opportunities and difficulties of land restoration. 

I’ll be bringing our students here soon.


For more information on the range of Ecology, Conservation, Zoology, Marine and Surf   courses available at Cornwall College Newquay visit www.cornwall.ac.uk/newquay or call 0330 123 2523.