Tourism
Sector Case Studies
Penhale Sands Special Area of Conservation Project
Perran Sands Holiday Park, Cornwall
Perran Sands Holiday Park, owned and managed by Bourne
Leisure on the north coast of Cornwall, lies within the Penhale
Sands Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The Bourne Leisure owned
land encompasses 500 acres of the SAC, which was originally designated
because of the important sand dune habitats and rare plant species
such as Shore Dock, Early Gentian and the rare liverwort Petalwort.
Sand dunes form a vital and unique natural resource as a habitat
for rich and diverse communities of highly specialized plant and
animal species. These dunes support around 20% of Cornwall’s
native plant species as well as many species of butterflies, moths
and other insects in the range of habitats from mobile fore-dunes
through to more stable fixed-dunes and seasonally wet dune slack
areas. In addition, they provide a coastal protection role by absorbing
the impact of wave energy on the shore.
The Holiday Park has been managing their section of the Penhale
Sands SAC through the Countryside Stewardship scheme funded by DEFRA
for 10 years, but has additionally been involved with the Penhale
Sands Management Committee. This committee manages the SAC as an
entire unit and includes all relevant parties from the statutory,
voluntary and business sectors, in the decisions of the SAC. Some
of the organisations involved include Cornwall County Council, Bourne
Leisure, English Nature, Defence Estates & Penhale Training
Camp. Through the project, practical management work is carried
out, protected and rare species are monitored and any management
issues dealt with. The Penhale Sands SAC Ranger funded by the project
also works with local schools and leads events for locals and visitors
to increase public knowledge and appreciation of the dunes. One
of the success stories of this scheme is a doubling of the skylark
population since 1995. More recently, the project was mentioned
as an example of good practice in David Bellamy’s new book
Conflicts in the Countryside, the New Battle for Britain and has
been used as a blue print for other successful partnership projects.
To see other relevant case studies on Business and Biodiversity
from the Tourism Sector, please visit the website of the Tour
Operator Initiative - a network of tour operators committed
to sustainable development, sponsored by the UNEP. For more information
please contact Giulia Carbone, Tourism Programme Officer from the
United Nation Environmental Programme at gcarbone@unep-fr.
Photo Credit: Loch Fyne Oysters Ltd
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