Goonhilly Downs

Goonhilly Downs is a Site of Special Scientific Interest that forms a raised plateau in the central western area of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall. Situated just south of Helston and the Naval Air Station at Culdrose, it is famous for its Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station, the largest one in the world. The large satellite dishes are an iconic landmark, and can be seen for miles.

Goonhilly Downs is now also home to a 5.6MW wind farm consisting of 14, 400 kW wind turbines and a tourist attraction called Cornish Camels.

The downs themselves are an area of sparse heathland, based on serpentinite geology. This is home to rare plants, such as the Cornish heath, which has been adopted as the county flower. [Cornwall County Council, " [http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5430 The County Flower] ."]

A menhir can be found on the downs, near the BT site.

North Predannack Downs Nature Reserve

A couple of miles further west from the BT site is another SSSI and nature reserve, owned and managed by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. This reserve is prime Cornish heath with ponds and willow fen. Early Bronze Age barrows are present and there are several ancient 'turf-hut' circles. There are remains of buildings likely to have been used during the Second World War.
Both adders and stonechats are commonly sited here.

ee also

*Geology of Lizard, Cornwall
*List of topics related to Cornwall
*Wind power in the United Kingdom

External Link

[http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/naturereserves/Nature_reserves_Cornwall_Wildlife_Trust/Cornwall_Wildlife_Trust_North_Predannack_Downs_nature_reserve_Lizard.htm North Predannack Downs on the Cornwall Wildlife Trusts website]

References