Situated in Falmouth, Cornwall, the Swanpool Nature Reserve is one of the eleven most important brackish lagoons in Britain.
The brackish conditions (a mixture of fresh and salt water) enable a wide variety of wildlife to thrive.
HISTORY - Swanpool originated as a creek which, at some point in the past few thousand years, was cut off from the sea. A freshwater lake was formed that was ten feet higher than the current water level, and the lake was three times as large
Swanpool remained a freshwater lake until 1826, when an outlet to the sea was constructed, allowing sea water to enter during high spring tides and bringing the level of the lake to that of today.
When the water level fell, the area to the north-west of the lake became marshland. Willow and alder invaded to create the present woodland. Today this area is a Cornwall Wildlife Trust reserve, bounded by a stream and its adjacent path at the side of the woodland.
MINING - In 1852 a lead mine was opened behind the beach at Swanpool. A tunnel was contstructed to Pennance Point where there was a tall chimney stack to remove toxic fumes. Another tunnel and chimney were later constructed for better ventilation. The mine was locally known as "Wheal Swamp-All" and Pennance Point as "The Stack", a name still used for this area.
The mine was closed due to high running costs, and all that remains today is the lower part of one of the chimneys and part of the tunnel found beside the footpath along the headland.
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Swanpool Nature Reserve
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