Wow!

Wow! Something different to feast your eyes on. In order to protect Cornwall's natural habitats, its archaeological, mining and geological heritage – modern monitoring techniques are being deployed. Here you will find recent and upcoming projects contributing to the conservation and monitoring of Cornwall's natural and historical heritage.

Helman Tor Nature Reserve

Below, you can find some interesting aerial drone data from Helman Tor nature reserve and County Geological Site. Helman is on  The Saint's Way, within the Helman Tor Nature Reserve own ed by Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Helman is also within the recently designated Mid Cornwall Moors SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). None of Breney Common, a post-industrial site, was included in the area of this first survey because of the constraints of time. Helman is a fascinating place, interesting for its plants, its Neolithic and quarrying history and its geology – plus the fabulous views, but flying a drone over it gives a new perspective and potentially new information. 

The geology of the area is defined by intrusion of the St Austell granite , forming the Tor, into the surrounding country rock of the Bovisand Formation, which is predominantly composed of slaty mudstone (BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units - Result Details, 2020).

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) heatmap of Helman Tor nature reserve and County Geological Site that has been generated from a 3D model. The total elevation change is approximately 50 m, colder colours represent lower elevations, whilst hotter colours represent higher elevations. Created in Agisoft Photoscan Professional.

Orbital video created from a 3D model of Helman Tor. Created in Agisoft Photoscan Professional.  

Aerial drone image of Helman Tor nature reserve and County Geological Site, presented as an orthomosaic. Constructed from 370 individual photographs from a flight altitude of approximately 30 m (100 ft). Created in Agisoft Photoscan Professional.  Click the button above to access the image and use your mouse to zoom in and out!

We have also flown drones over the cliffs at Wheal Penrose, between Porthleven and Loe Bar, and over the Cheesewring, Cheesewring Quarry and Stowe's Hill. The initial results have been posted on the FB page.

Palaeogeographic animation showing how Cornwall has relocated from the Southern Hemisphere over the past 450 Ma

Click the image below to access the animation. Animation credited to Frank Howie.

Sea Level Rise - Animation showing 11,000 years of sea level change on the Isles of Scilly

Click the button below to access the animation.

Cliff failure around the Cornish coast

Nothing offers more peace and solace than taking a walk around the Cornish coast. The views, the crisp ocean air, and the crashing of the waves upon the shoreline - but beware, cliff failure is common in many areas around the Cornish coast. Fractures often extend, invisible, tens of metres beneath our feet...

Click the buttons below to access some spectacular cliff failure videos from around Cornwall. Do not attempt this at home! Cliff failure can occur at any time and without warning. Some of these videos show people filming far too close for comfort.