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. An example can be seen from the GZ.
The cache is located close to a layby ajoining a wooded area popular with dog walkers. The Downs in this area often has a herd of cattle grazing on it. The farmer who owns the herd says that the nutritional value of the grass is comparatively low which means that the cattle grow more slowly and apparently produce better beef. On the Downs on the other side of the road there is often a herd of some 25 ponies although these are taken off the Downs in mid-winter.
This cache has been placed with the kind permission of Natural England who manage Goonhilly Downs and many other local scenic areas.