The Helford
The Helford is an incredible expanse of water, that is flooded by sea water every 12 hours. When the tide retracts it reveals the hidden beaches, rock pools and mud flats that are inhabited by an incredible colourful underwater world. Spring is in full swing above the water and below too. Our guide Toby managed to capture some of the activity on our low tide Koru Kayak Adventure today.
Sea Hare
Unlike land hares, who can run up to 45 miles per hour, the sea hare on the land is very slow. Sea Hares were named by the Romans because of their rounded body and two long rhinophores that stand up from their heads, like the ears of hares. Sea Hares come inshore to lay their eggs, amongst the seaweed, at this time of year and are the size of a fist. Once underwater they become more agile. They are a mollusc and have a tiny remnant bit of shell on them like a slug does on land.
Thanks Sue Scott at Helford River Conservation Group for her help identifying the species and Tony Sutton for the photo of the sea hare in the water.
Matt Slater from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust has been out and about on the Helford and spotted some mating sea hares! Sea Horses can be both male and female and will make in chains when mating - It's a chain reaction! - often with the female at the front and male at the back!
Limpits and Breadcrump sponge
Bread Crumb sponge can be spotted along the Helford, growing in small and large clumps on the rocks. It's a living organism and lets off a gunpowder smell to deter predators! When you push it, it squeezes like any sponge, the holes in the sponge allow sea water to flow through and for the sponge to collect food, then dispose of waste.
The white cornicle shells around it are Common Limpets who hold on tight to the rocks on a low tide, but when the tide comes in they use their super strong tongues to eat the algae and have the World's strongest tongue!
