The transmission of live images of the Peregrine Falcons has been made possible by the engineering skills of City City College Plymouth and the time, effort and contributions made by the following corporations:
ADT who have provided the camera. Martin Harvey (General Manager) and Brian Sprague (Systems Security Consultant), both from the Plymouth branch of ADT, are pleased to have worked closely with the National Trust and City College Plymouth to ensure a suitable camera was provided and commissioned for the project.
The camera finally selected and supplied by ADT was a PTS/Pelco "Esprit" fully functional (pan, tilt and zoom), colour, low-light technology (light sensitivity down to 0.07 Lux) DSP (Digital Signal Processing) camera, which has a 22 x optical and 8 x electronic zoom lens. This camera will closely monitor the safety of the Peregrine Falcon, its eggs and the subsequent progress of the chicks.
The camera transmits the live images to the Internet via a microwave link from the quarry to the Wrigley's factory and a series of other microwave links onward again to the City College Plymouth.
The BBC Devon website runs a message board for public comments about the project.
Cosalt: marlift based at Langage Industrial Estate Plympton, are pleased to have worked with the National Trust providing both rigging materials and expertise. David Dyke, Workshop Manager and Martin Unsworth, Site Manager assisted in the erection and rigging of the pole and wind generator mast.
Devonport High School for Boys who have been involved with the design and preparation of notice boards and projects relating to the electronics of the web camera.
English Nature who, via the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, made a substantial financial contribution to the project. English Nature is the Government agency that champions the conservation of wildlife and geology throughout England.
Fine Tubes Ltd suppliers of high quality stainless, nickel allow and Titanium tubing for specialist applications, are pleased to have been able to supply product and engineering skills for this worthwhile local project.
ESSA, Saltash who supplied the microwave transmitter equipment for the transmission of the video link to The Wrigley Company's factory.
The Forestry Commission who kindly allowed the siting of the wind turbine and solar panels used for electricity generation, on land adjoining Cann Quarry.
Leigham Primary School is a 'Caring Learning Community'. We are based near Plymbridge Woods and enjoy our relationship with the National Trust, which has been developed through a guardianship scheme. This enables us to develop learning in our environment and about our environment. We foster our children's understanding of issues that can impact on the world around us as this can support their development as global citizens. We have been thrilled to be part of the development of this website as we see it as yet another step in their involvement in their community and in their growing environmental awareness.
London
Camera Exchange has been trading In Plymouth for over 30 years,
and is a specialist in new and used photographic equipment and optics.
A keen supporter of National Trust and RSPB initiatives,
LCE holds Optics Days throughout the year at Trust properties, where
visitors have the opportunity to use, and if they wish, purchase Binoculars
and Telescopes.
The National Trust who instigated this project.
Opticron is one of LCE`s principal suppliers, and unlike many other Companies, embraces the fullest possible range of optics from budget to the very highest quality. Both beginners and enthusiasts can be catered for within the Opticron ranges of equipment. LCE and Opticron are delighted to be involved with, and support the Peregrine watch scheme at Plymbridge
Plymouth Caravan Centre who have supported the project and kindly supplied the caravan accommodation for ther surveillance team.
RSPB who have provided a wealth of information for this site. The RSPB has been involved with the peregrines since 1999, when an attempt was made to poison them. We have provided telescopes and publicity for the project, and volunteers from the RSPB Plymouth Local Group have helped run the peregrine watch.
Soar Mill Seeds who have provided us with bird feed.
Sustrans who have permitted the use of the viaduct on the Plym Valley cycle trail as a viewing and visitor centre. Sustrans – the sustainable transport charity – works on practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport in order to reduce motor traffic and its adverse effects.
5000 miles of their flagship project, the National Cycle Network, were officially opened in June 2000, this will increase to 10,000 miles by 2005.One third of the Network will be on traffic-free paths, the rest will follow quiet lanes or traffic-calmed roads. It is co-ordinated by Sustrans, with generous support of over 450 local authorities and other partners.
Woodland Tree Services a long established Forestry Contractors and tree surgeons who assisted with the siting and erection of the wind turbine and microwave transmitter.
Telewest,
who quickly installed the ISDN link, to allow the streaming pictures
to be displayed on the website in time for the project launch.
Wireless Eye Ltd of St Albans is delighted to have been able to help the peregrine project by supplying and installing a new 1km radio link between the camera and the Wrigley building. The company specialises in cable free camera solutions using wireless and 'green' technology to bring live images to an internet audience.
The Wrigley Company have made a generous financial contribution to the project. The Wrigley Company relocated its UK operation - factory and headquarters - from Wembley in London to Plymouth in 1970. This is an attractive part of the country with the type of skilled workforce we need and being in Plymouth offers our staff a quality of life which they might not get in a more traditional manufacturing area.
Wrigley's 42-acre site at Estover in Plymouth is without doubt a superb location, overlooking on one side the Plym Forest and Dartmoor, on the other - from the factory roof! - Plymouth Sound. It is an Approved Wildlife Conservation Area, a designation originally granted by the Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT).
The grounds contain a stream and wildlife pond, a four-acre wood, orchard, thickets & coppices, wild flower meadow, specimen trees, bird, bat and owl boxes. Foxes and deer roam freely.
The Wrigley Environmental Committee, with occasional help and advice from DWT, has managed projects for the creation of a wildlife site and the grounds have been used in the past by local schools for environmental studies. The overall aim was to develop different types of wild habitat; to attract as many species as possible; and to make it a place to enjoy for employees.
The Woodland Trust, with almost 1,400 trees of 8 different native species, planted the woodland area in 1987. This is now maturing well & makes for a superb lunchtime stroll. Butterflies abound in the warm sunshine and over 20 species have now been recorded. During recent years, a further planting programme has been carried out -sixteen large specimen trees, including giant redwood, cedars, maidenhair and handkerchief varieties, were planted, -as well as the orchard of 25 apple, plum and pear trees.
The stream watercourse & pond were restored, with a reed bed filtration system controlling any potential pollution. A boardwalk overlooks this tranquil scene, a pair of mallards nest nearby and dragonflies, newts and other insects are in abundance.
Three perimeter hedges were thinned and laid traditionally and two coppices - of species such as beech, oak, hazel, elm and blackthorn - were planted as pocket habitats. Gorse & thorn thickets are an additional feature around the edges of the site.
There has also been extensive planting of daffodils, snowdrops and primroses around the boundary hedges and a wildflower meadow has been recreated through extensive ploughing and reseeding.
Seated viewing points have been installed around the grounds and an all year round feeding programme ensures that there is a wide variety of bird life to observe.
Over a period of 10 years or so, the site has been transformed from a green sterile desert, with little of interest or variety, to today's very rich and diversified landscape, an area to be proud of, and to be enjoyed by wildlife and employees alike.
Having been in Plymouth for over thirty years now Wrigley feels very much part of the community. The Company is a major employer in the city, providing jobs for over 700 people. In addition to contributing to the local wildlife environment, we also seek to contribute to the wider community by, for example, providing sponsorship for local sports teams and competitions, especially for local children, providing work experience opportunities for local schools and collecting for local charities.
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