Happenings

The Poppies of West Pentire

Each year, at some point between mid-June to early July, the fields on the West Pentire Headland, erupt into numerous shades of red and yellow as the poppy and corn marigold fields flower.

View over West Pentire by Jamie Turnbull


These fields, found on the headland between Crantock and Polly Joke, are carefully managed by the National Trust. The Trust use old arable farming techniques to grow these fields of rare wildflowers, which in turn offer a haven for wildlife and a beautiful spectacle for human visitors.

Poppies Top Down by Duncan Scobie

I’ve been visiting the fields in flower for some years now, and I have to say that this year (whether as a result of management, or the weather) they were very dramatic ~ the red of the poppies being particularly sensational.

View to Crantock by Scott Fisher

As the wildflowers blossom, the fields attract aerial photographers looking to offer their own unique perspective on this remarkable phenomenon. This is not an easy site to fly at though: the majority of the land is owned by The National Trust, and it also boarders an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).

Poppies on the Coast Path by Jamie Turnbull

As the colours of the fields thicken and deepen, social media starts to populate with people taking adoring pictures of the fields. If you are visiting the poppy fields then please stick to the footpaths. Instagram is full of posts of people standing in the fields having their photographs taken, but as the National Trust point out: ‘Flowers Don’t Grow Where Feet Go’.

Corn Marigold Fields West Pentire by Jamie Turnbull

Skylarks also build their nests in the flower fields, and so it is important not to disturb them. When done responsibly, aerial photography is perhaps a more environmentally friendly way of photographing the beauty of these fields?

Flower Fields at Sunset by Jedd

If you're thinking of visiting West Pentire the following might be useful.

How to find the poppies at West Pentire?

The closest village to the flower fields in Crantock, which is near Newquay. There is a footpath leading from Crantock, through the flower fields, to the coastal path.

You can find the foot path by using the following:

  • What Three Words: clenching.outdoor.revamped
  • Google Maps

Where to park?

There are three carparks within walking distance of the poppy fields.

Polly Joke National Trust Car Park

  • What Three Words: countries.tasks.different
  • Google Maps

Polly Joke Car Park

  • What Three Words: commented.hatter.screening
  • Google Maps

The Bowgie Inn Car Park

Find Out More:

By Jamie Turnbull

Phacelia Field Race Track ~ Perranporth

In early June you will often see vast purple fields across Cornwall. People often assume this is lavender but it is actually phacelia, a cover crop plant native to the USA and Central America.

Phacelia is an environmentally friendly plant because it is fast growing, and provides food for bees and other insects. It also absorbs nitrogen, so when the farmer ploughs the plant back into the field it acts as a natural fertilizer. For this reason you might only notice a field turning purple for a week or so before it suddenly disappears again.

Phacelia fields have become a relatively common sight around Perranporth and Perranzabuloe. Last week there were a full five or six fields of purple around Polglaze Barton Farm, all but one of which were ploughed asunder.

Whilst driving back into Perranporth, I noticed that the remaining field had a pattern mown into it ~ a little like Perranporth's answer to a crop circle, or the Nazca Lines.

A friend told me that he had also noticed the pattern, and suggested that it might make for some good aerial photographs - and so I went along just after sunrise to take some photos. As you can see, I think the track pattern made for a great abstract shot.

Speculation was rife as to the reason why this pattern had been cut into the field, with suggestions ranging from: someone being drunk in charge of a mower, to a running track, to a race track.

The answer became clear when I got a message from the owner at the farm, explaining that it was indeed a race track for their 16 year old son Daniel Whear who loves Go Kart racing.

The track had been made so that Daniel could use his farm buggy to get some racing practice in for his Go Kart events. Check out this great video from Daniel's Facebook page of him racing through the Phacelia. I should imagine that the smell as you raced around the track would be amazing!

The field was due to be ploughed over, which was a shame as it would have been great to get some pictures of the buggy in action. I then got a message to say that the field hadn't been ploughed that day, and Daniel was going out for another practise! I jumped in the car and shot over to the farm to get some pictures.

As you can see, it was a beautiful evening - ideal for getting some photographs with the farm and Perranporth Beach in the background.

Getting down low for some close up cornering shots. Even though I was a long way a way from the buggy, being downwind I still got covered in dust.

Daniel has been using his temporary race track to practice for his next big race, which is round 3 of the Daniel Ricciardo Series UK. Best of luck in the competition Daniel. I doubt any of the other competitors have had such an amazing track to practice on.

More Information:

by Jamie Turnbull