Celebrating Heritage Hotspots

Celebrating Heritage Hotspots

Yesterday, BFER held an event to celebrate our Heritage Hotspots project.

Heritage Hotspots is a BFER project working to transform the quantity and quality of interpretation content available at key sites across the Brecks.

The Brecks is a fascinating and unique landscape, rich in biodiversity and heritage. However, many remote sites across the Brecks suffer from poor mobile network signal and connectivity.

Through the project, BFER have supported four partner sites across the Brecks to install new Wi-Fi enabled InfoPoints units. InfoPoint units are standalone Wi-Fi networks. Each unit generates its own local ‘off grid’ web that users can connect to using their phone or tablet via its Wi-Fi network in areas with poor signal and connectivity. This enables visitors to these remote sites to have new access to a wealth of information, helping them to better understand the history and significance the local area without having to use mobile data or download an app. From visitor information to tours and trails, audio recordings, fascinating facts, images, and videos, each unit offers visitors to the Brecks access to expert knowledge accessible from their very own device.

BFER supported InfoPoint units are installed at the following locations:

Ancient House Museum, Thetford

British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford

RSPB Lakenheath

West Stow Anglo Saxon Village

BFER additionally have a portable unit, allowing information about the project and the Brecks to be made available at event sand activities hosted by BFER and project partners. This has been used throughout the summer at events by BFER’s project partner, Norfolk Rivers Trust.

Heritage Hotspots Celebration Event

To celebrate the project, BFER invited project partners and stakeholders to a special event at the British Trust for Ornithology’s headquarters, the Nunnery Lakes Nature Reserve (Thetford). Dan Boys of Wildfi Ltd (the creators of InfoPoint) led a demonstration introducing InfoPoint. Participants took the opportunity to connect to the BFER portable InfoPoint unit, and explore the content.

InfoPoint at BTO Nunnery Lakes Nature Reserve

The group were then treated to a visit to the BTO’s own InfoPoint unit, which is situated on the Nature Reserve. Visitors to the reverse can now access information, spotters’ guides, and audio samples of bird song, while enjoying the panoramic scenery from the bird hide and viewing platform. The group had a go at connecting via their phones, enjoying the easy access to the hub of content.

InfoPoint across the Brecks

Following a delicious lunch supplied by Mama D’s (Thetford), the group heard from each of the Heritage Hotspots project partners about their experiences of using InfoPoint. Oliver Bone, Curator of Ancient House Museum showcased the wealth of digital heritage content now available on through their InfoPoint, and shared feedback from groups of visiting school children. Dave Rodgers of RSPB Lakenheath Fen showcased plans for their InfoPoint, which is located at the far side of the reserve site. The InfoPoint will connect to a live stream of nesting barn owls, allowing visitors to see the birds up close from their own device. Footage from additional trail cameras around the site will also allow visitors to see other species including Common Crane. An update was also shared from West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, where an InfoPoint Unit allows visitors to see footage of archaeological excavations, as well as additional information about the heritage of the site.

Find out more about the InfoPoint units, and see an interactive map of their locations HERE.

18/07/2024