Exploring the Camel Estuary....new book out now!!!!
Available from local bookstores or online at:-
A brief introduction follows........
Mike and I live on the same hill overlooking the Camel Estuary, an area famous for its outstanding natural beauty. Everyday we have the privilege of being able to experience its splendours and ever-changing moods. Living at Wadebridge has made it easy for us to explore all the main places of interest in and around the Estuary at different times of the year.
The river Camel winds its way from its source high on Bodmin Moors down to Padstow and Polzeath and into the Celtic Sea , a journey of about 30 miles. At Polbrock, where freshwater meets seawater brought in by high tides, the river becomes an estuary. The Camel Estuary extends down to Newland and Gulland Rock at its mouth, a distance of about 6 miles as the cormorant flies.
Averaging under half a mile wide, it is not a large estuary, but it is nevertheless magnificent. Within its small confines, the Camel has many habitats. This diversity provides a wealth of scenery that not only varies with location, but also changes dramatically with the state of tide and seasons.
During the largest spring tides over 30 million cubic metres of seawater move in and out of the estuary. In the course of a year, millions of tonnes of sediment are transferred from one place to another causing channels to shift by up to 30 metres. This makes the Camel Estuary extraordinarily dynamic and variable, a source of delight to ramblers and naturalists, and an inspiration to artists and poets.
In the following pages we are going to explore the Camel Estuary from the wood-lined banks at its tidal limits to the open waters and exposed shores at its mouth. We will encounter various estuarine habitats, find out about the diverse communities of animals and plants they support, and meet some of the people whose lives affect and are affected by the wildlife of the Camel Estuary. Our aim is to share with readers the joy of discovering new insights about life in this outstandingly beautiful area.
Mike Kent and Adrian Langdon
Wadebridge 2007
Website
built & maintained by Adrian Langdon
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