Retire Common is a

Site of Special Scientific Interest A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of ...

, noted for its

biological Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary in ...

characteristics, in mid Cornwall, England, UK.

Geography

The site, notified in 1951, is located south west of the town of

Bodmin Bodmin () is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated south-west of Bodmin Moor. The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character. It is bordere ...

, falling mainly within the civil parish of

Withiel Withiel ( kw, Egloswydhyel) is a civil parish and village in mid Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish of Withiel is between the parishes of St Breock, Lanivet, Roche and St Wenn. The name ''Withiel'' comes from the Cornish word ''Gwydhye ...

.Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 200 ''Newquay & Bodmin'' The springs in the area of the Common form the

headwater The headwaters of a river or stream is the farthest place in that river or stream from its estuary or downstream confluence with another river, as measured along the course of the river. It is also known as a river's source. Definition The ...

s of a tributary of the River Camel.

References

Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Cornwall Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 1951 {{England-SSSI-stub