The downland surrounding Goonhilly was purchased by the Nature Conservancy Council (now known as English Nature) in 1976, as Cornwall's first nature reserve. BT works closely with English Nature to preserve the natural character of that part of the downland for which we are responsible.

The area has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with some of the rarest plants in Britain, including the fragrant orchid and the hairy buttercup.

Just outside the Goonhilly site, there's a standing stone called a menhir, which has been there for more than 5,000 years. It weighs about 15 tonnes and was transported at least two miles from Crousa Downs.

How bpproximately 22,300 miles from earth. The signals travel at the speed of light : 186,000 miles per second or 3 x 108 metres per second - call it 5 times around the world in the time it takes to say "Rice pudding".

Why are the antennas named and who are they named after?
Contrary to some people's belief, they were NOT named after the Lottery machines but after those in Arthurian legend. They were named to give the antennas individual identities and because Cornwall is strongly linked with King Arthur and Celtic mythology. The main site staff (engineers) know the antennas only by their original numbers and not by the names.