New technology comes to the wilds of The Brecks

Visitors to The Brecks will be able to better understand the history and significance local area, thanks to four new Wi-Fi enabled Info-Points offering content straight to a mobile phone.
Published: 19 Jul 2024
People using one of the four Info-Points

The Brecks Fen Edge and Rivers (BFER) project, managed by Suffolk County Council, is installing the units, to help visitors better understand the importance of the unique landscape surrounding them. The installation is possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A number of remote sites around the area suffer from poor mobile network signal and connectivity, however the new Info-Points have their own WiFi networks, meaning visitors can download information, images, audio recordings and video.

I’m proud that Suffolk County Council has been able to bring together so many local partners... and that we have found a new, technological way to share information about The Brecks.
Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton
Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality

The Info-Points are located at:

  • Ancient House Museum, Thetford
  • British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford
  • RSPB Lakenheath

West Stow Anglo Saxon Village

Visitors accessing Info-Point data at the Ancient House Museum Thetford

Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality, said:

“The Brecks covers such a vast area, around 400 square miles containing thousands of species, with nearly 30% of the UK’s rarest species found there. There are also over 150 scheduled monuments, and over 1,000 listed buildings.

“So naturally, there will be areas which don’t have such great network coverage, but these new Info-Points will give visitors access to find out more about their surroundings, and its history.

“I’m proud that Suffolk County Council has been able to bring together so many local partners to share in protecting and enhancing this landscape, and that we have found a new, technological way to share information about The Brecks.”

As well as the four permanently located Info-Points, there is also a portable unit which can be used to complement them.