to the present day. At Trethellan Farm a Bronze Age village once existed that has revealed much information on life at that time whilst overlying the site was an Iron age burial ground that also provided many interesting finds. Also at Trethellan a lead mine operated until about 1860 whilst on the southern shore there was a lead and silverThe Gannel Estuary has something to interest everybody from the beautiful salt marsh plants to the mystery of the Gannel Crake and provides a home for many different plants and animals.

Algae and Asters
Shifting sands and mud and changes in salinity make the Gannel a hostile place for all but a few specialised plants. There several areas of salt marsh on both sides of the main river channel and at Penpol Creek including pioneer communities with only a sparse covering of green algae as well as well developed vegetation. During the spring these areas are alive with the fragrant scurvy grass, thrift , sea aster and sea purslane form painted edges to the channels of mud where the wading birds feed on shellfish worms and crabs. Towards the sea on Pentire Point East cliff vegetation takes over and spring squill, kidney vetch and wild carrot provide displays of colour.

Godwits and Greenshanks
Up to 5000 birds have been recorded here sheltering from harsh northern winters including dunlin, ringed plover, redshank, whimbrel, grey plover, greenshank, godwits curlew, widgeon and teal. The different bill shapes and lengths allow the different waders to feed on their own particular favourite animal living in the soft mud.

History
There is much of historical interest on the Gannel with evidence of mans occupation from the bronze Age to the present day. At Trethellan Farm a Bronze Age village once existed that has revealed much information on life at that time whilst overlying the site was an Iron age burial ground that also provided many interesting finds. Also at Trethellan a lead mine operated until about 1860 whilst on the southern shore there was a lead and silver

l areas of salt marsh on both sides of the main river channel and at Penpol Creek including pioneer communities with only a sparse covering of green algae as well as well developed vegetation. During the spring these areas are alive with the fragrant scurvy grass, thrift , sea aster and sea purslane form painted edges to the channels of mud where the wading birds feed on shellfish worms and crabs. Towards the sea on Pentire Point East cliff vegetation takes over and spring squill, kidney vetch and wild carrot provide displays of colour.

Godwits and Greenshanks
Up to 5000 birds have been recorded here sheltering from harsh northern winters including dunlin, ringed plover, redshank, whimbrel, grey plover, greenshank, godwits curlew, widgeon and teal. The different bill shapes and lengths allow the different waders to feed on their own particular favourite animal living in the soft mud.

History
There is much of historical interest on the Gannel with evidence of mans occupation from the bronze Age to the present day. At Trethellan Farm a Bronze Age village once existed that has revealed much information on life at that time whilst overlying the site was an Iron age burial ground that also provided many interesting finds. Also at Trethellan a lead mine operated until about 1860 whilst on the southern shore there was a lead and silver

where the wading birds feed on shellfish worms and crabs. Towards the sea on Pentire Point East cliff vegetation takes over and spring squill, kidney vetch and wild carrot provide displays of colour.

Godwits and Greenshanks
Up to 5000 birds have been recorded here sheltering from harsh northern winters including dunlin, ringed plover, redshank, whimbrel, grey plover, greenshank, godwits curlew, widgeon and teal. The different bill shapes and lengths allow the different waders to feed on their own particular favourite animal living in the soft mud.

History
There is much of historical interest on the Gannel with evidence of mans occupation from the bronze Age to the present day. At Trethellan Farm a Bronze Age village once existed that has revealed much information on life at that time whilst overlying the site was an Iron age burial ground that also provided many interesting finds. Also at Trethellan a lead mine operated until about 1860 whilst on the southern shore there was a lead and silver

ver, redshank, whimbrel, grey plover, greenshank, godwits curlew, widgeon and teal. The different bill shapes and lengths allow the different waders to feed on their own particular favourite animal living in the soft mud.

History
There is much of historical interest on the Gannel with evidence of mans occupation from the bronze Age to the present day. At Trethellan Farm a Bronze Age village once existed that has revealed much information on life at that time whilst overlying the site was an Iron age burial ground that also provided many interesting finds. Also at Trethellan a lead mine operated until about 1860 whilst on the southern shore there was a lead and silver

to the present day. At Trethellan Farm a Bronze Age village once existed that has revealed much information on life at that time whilst overlying the site was an Iron age burial ground that also provided many interesting finds. Also at Trethellan a lead mine operated until about 1860 whilst on the southern shore there was a lead and silver smelting works. Iron ore from the Great Perran Iron Lode was brought to the Gannel for shipment to Wales whilst Welsh coal for the Truro smelting works was unshipped at Trevemper and Penpol. The old packhorse bridge still exists at Trevemper, the tidal limit of the estuary, having been rebuilt with one arch in the last century.

Reeds Boatyard
The old boatyard area at Tregunnel is now a delightful spot to stop a while and enjoy the view. In the 1800's you would have seen ships of up to 250 tons being built here, launches took place in the evening on a Spring Tide and were great events locally. Today smaller boats are still moored and repaired in the area.

Penpol Creek
Once known as the Port of Truro, goods were brought into the Gannel and taken up the track leading from the Creek by cart or packhorse. remains of the quay are easily visible as are the remains of a lime kiln where limestone was unloaded and burnt before being spread on the land to improve soil quality. Today the Creek provides a home for wildlife - great spotted woodpeckers can be heard "drumming" in the spring, whilst recent years has seen the graceful little egret, a large white wading bird from the continent, feeding here at low tide.

Treringy Round
This is an Iron Age round surrounded by earth banks and ditches.

Crantock
Crantock is deligh