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The beautiful Cornish coast is covered by a lush carpet of colourful wildflowers from May to October, with June and July being particularly spectacular when Cornwall is in full bloom. Nestling on the southwest coastline of England, the county of Cornwall is truly the jewel in the crown of Great Britain. Located at the centre of the Southwest Coast Path, there is a beautiful and bracing coastal walk, which is more than 630 miles long. One of the great pleasures of walking along the Coast Path is the wildlife you will encounter on the way including many birds, plants and flowers. Most of the path, outside the villages and towns, is managed as part of an agricultural environmental scheme. Landowners receive advice from Natural England about how to look after the land at their location so that it benefits wildlife, the landscape and England's heritage. The scheme is run to ensure the path remains a world-class natural site. Many different wildflowers can be found along the coastal route. Read on to find out the beautiful blooms you'll be likely to see when you take a stroll along the Cornish coastline...   Yellow-horned poppy Easily recognised by its long, curved seed-pods that resemble horns, the yellow-horned poppy has beautiful, golden-yellow flowers. It grows in a beach habitat and can reach a height of up to 50 cm. One of our more common coastal plants, it can be seen between June and September. There are no threats to its conservation status. The seed pods can grow up to 30 cm long. Give it a wide berth if you see a broken yellow-horned poppy, however, as the plant's yellow sap can be toxic, especially to dogs.   Fen violet A pale member of the violet family, the fen violet is also known as the milk violet. A rare species of wetland plant, it has a delicate appearance. Sadly, its population has declined in recent years due to the disappearance of its natural habitat. It is now classed as an endangered species and is on the red list for Great Britain. Growing to a height of up to 30 cm, it is protected under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act.   Common sea lavender Despite its name, the common sea lavender isn't actually a lavender, so it doesn’t have the distinctive aroma you would expect. It is seen around the UK coast on mudflats, salt marshes and creek banks between July and October. Its flowers have many hues, ranging from blue to lilac and even pink. They provide a dense carpet on the ground, creating a stunning effect as you walk through them.   Common rock-rose The common rock-rose grows in golden banks on chalk and limestone grasslands in summer. A creeping shrub, it attracts bees, butterflies and moths. It can grow up to 40 cm tall and is classified as a priority species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework because of how useful it is to pollinators such as bees. Providing plenty of nectar for various species of bee, it is also eaten by numerous species of butterfly including the green hairstreak, brown argus and rare silver-studded blue. Although it is around all year long, it flowers between June and September, brightening up the green landscape with flashes of bright yellow.   Pyramidal orchid The pyramidal orchid produces a bright, pinky-purple pyramid of blooms on a vivid green stem. Growing on sand dunes, chalk grassland, quarries, railway embankments and roadside verges, it can reach a height of 55 cm. It is in full bloom in June and July. A common species, there are no threats to its conservation status at present. The most fascinating thing about the pyramidal orchid is that one densely packed flower spike can hold up to 100 flowers. It attracts various species of butterfly and moths as a result.   What other wildlife can you encounter along the way? From birds to sea life, there’s plenty to be spotted along the Cornish coastline during the summer months. The success of the Natural England scheme, where landowners are given grants to improve the environment, is apparent with the welcom return of the chough in Cornwall. A member of the crow family, this fascinating little bird hadn’t bred in southwest England for more than half a century, but land management of the coastal region has led to its return. They like short, springy turf and since it has become more prevalent in Cornwall, so has the chough. It returned to the Lizard peninsula during the past two decades and is now spreading farther afield. It appears on the Cornish coat of arms. Take a walk along the cliff-tops and harbours of the southwest coast and you may be lucky enough to spot a pod of dolphins. They arrive to feed off the fish stocks and are often seen in large numbers. Numerous grey seal colonies also live around Cornwall's coves and caves. As one of the world's rarest seals, it can be seen on the Cornish shores all year round. One of the best places to watch them is Mutton Cove, at Godrevy Point, where there is a resident colony of about 100 seals. If you're lucky, you will spot a leatherback turtle, which can grow to more than two metres long. Although normally found in numbers in the Central Pacific ocean, it travels thousands of miles from its breeding area. Cornwall is a popular destination for the turtles, which can be seen between August and October. Around the River Camel and the Camel Valley, the large salt marsh areas are a haven for bird-watching, as there are large flocks of waders and smaller numbers of osprey and peregrines. Around the bridge at Wadebridge, mute swans and ducks can be seen. The little egret is quite a rare species of bird, although it can often be seen at low tide on the mudflats of the coast of West Cornwall. You may also see the odd cuckoo and puffin on the Cornish coast, the latter between March and August. Now that summer is here, it's time to get out and explore the Cornish coastline and enjoy some fresh air. Whether you're a local resident or looking for a staycation destination, Cornwall has something for everyone.