IN THE WILD AT PERRANPORTH
From afar, it’s Perranporth’s miles of sand along Cornwall’s rugged north coast that grabs your attention, but dive a little deeper into the intricate details of the dunes behind the beach to reveal a thriving habitat for shoreside wildlife
Camera in hand, Gemma Gilbert gave us an endearing insight into nature’s diversity at Perranporth and Penhale Dunes, one of Cornwall’s largest sand dune habitats.
Gemma is a wildlife filmmaker based in Cornwall, capturing the seamless essence of the charming biodiversity that resides here.
“I think film and photography is such a good way to tell those conservation stories. Gemma says. “It really can capture people’s attention who might not otherwise be involved with that kind of thing.”
A large habitat, home to rare butterflies, ground nesting birds and sand martins, Penhale is especially unique for bringing together a mixture of biodiversity that Gemma captured through her lens.
With its untamed waters and mossy cliffs, the key to capturing the heart of Perranporth’s wildlife on film always comes down to extensive research.
“I contacted Cornwall Butterfly Conservation, who are really useful and really helpful.” She tells us. “They pointed me in the direction of butterflies I might find and where to find them.
Documenting rare species that make their home in the dunes and along the coastline is a thrilling part of Gemma’s job.
Tranquil sights that extend into the distance set the perfect backdrop too. “There’s a beautiful view and the sunsets here are just incredible,” she tells us.
But it’s really the unpredictability of her work that keeps her constantly on her toes.
“I love that every day is different – one day I could be filming and the next day I could be in a forest or out on a boat or in my home studio.”
Watch how Gemma captures Perranporth’s nature throughout the day.
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From the rolling waves to wandering through golden dunes among abundant nature, could this be your beach?
Your Beach. Found
From the feel of the sand underfoot to the anticipation as you near the sea, your beach is the one that stays with you. Find your beach with the Beach Match Quiz.
Beach Match Quiz