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Geology
Praa Sands' story begins 370 million
years ago in a long since vanished sea.  The mud
deposited on the sea bed was subjected to great
pressure and heat, forming metamorphosed sedimentary rocks known as Mylor
Slates. (1)
Click on the map to the right for an
enlargement.
About 290
million years ago these were in turn invaded by
Cornwall's most characteristic rock, granite. (2)
Twenty million years later, molten
magma from the Earth's core again forced its way into vertical cracks in the
existing rocks. Folly Rock (a SSI), a fine
grained Elvin Dyke, (3) to the West of the
beach was formed at this time.
Much more recently, only 50,000 years
ago Cornwall was in the grip of an Ice Age. Conditions then were similar to the
modern Arctic Tundra.
Below the ground was permanently
frozen, but during short lived Summer thaws, the waterlogged surface was a muddy
mess which flowed down slopes, carrying earth and stones with it. This material
known as "head" was deposited onto the existing rocks. (4)
It can be seen clearly either side of the dunes, a brown layer of
earth and stones.
Wildlife
Most of the sand dunes and Praa Green
are formed  from shells broken into tiny fragments by the pounding seas. They are
rich in calcium, allowing a number of plants otherwise rare in Cornwall to grow
here. Look in the short rabbit grazed
turf for Yellow-Wort, Eyebrights, Ladies Bedstraw and Thyme.
The dunes themselves are held together
by the extensive underground stems of Marram
Grass. Walking on Marram Grass quickly kills it off so visitors are asked to
keep to the steps that are provided to help maintain the dunes themselves. Much
of the Marram Grass was planted by local children as a part of the on-going campaign to preserve the
dunes.
The Blackthorn, bramble and Elder
scrub is home to rabbits and badgers. During the Spring and Autumn, migrant birds stop off to feed and shelter here before continuing their
perilous journeys to and from Africa. The attractive Stonechat can be seen all
year round. Buzzards and other hawks are to be found just slightly inland.
In the bay it is possible to see
feeding Terns, Auks and Gannets or passing Dolphins and Porpoise.
From
Spring through to Autumn there are many Butterflies and Moths attracted by the
abundant wildflowers of the area.
History
At first glance, Praa Sands would seem
to be a collection of 20th Century buildings close to the sea. There is more to
the village however. Pengersick Castle dates back
several centuries and is to be found quarter of a mile from the modern centre of
the village. There is a fuller history of Pengersick Castle within this site. Click
here to read more and see the photos.
The unique geology of the area and its
mineral deposits gave rise to two industries now no longer apparent excepting
for the remains to be seen all along the coastal strip: engine houses and other
such ruins are evidence of the mining for tin, copper and even gold that was
common place in the late 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries. The China Clay industry
began close to Praa Sands when kaolin was discovered on the slopes of nearby
Tregonning Hill. (Further Details) More plentiful
deposits further East meant the relocation of the industry to the St Austell
area.
During World War II, Praa Sands was involved in
Coastal Defence and the War Effort generally coming to prominence when an RAF
bomber crashed on the beach towards the end of the War.
(Further
Details).
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