The National Nature Reserve at 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. The downs themselves are an area of sparse heathland, based on serpentinite geology and is home to rare plants, such as the Cornish heather, which has been adopted as the county flower. It is also archaeologically significant for its large concentration of Early Bronze Age (c2500 to 1500 BC) round barrows.
The grassland is often used for grazing cattle and horses. Mounds across the downs were placed there during WW2 to deter enemy gliders from landing and attacking the adjacent radar station at RAF Dry Tree, later Goonhilly Earth Station. The scanners are now used for other purposes including deep space exploration.
This cache has been placed with the kind permission of Natural England who manage Goonhilly Downs and many other local scenic areas.