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Search forCroyde farmer watches over his flocks — via the internet
Thursday, November 27, 2008, 07:09
Mike Cotton, 50, of Baggy Lodge, Croyde, uses a webcam on his property to count his flock of black Hebridean sheep in Lime Kiln field, overlooking Croyde Bay.
Mr Cotton, who also runs a bed and breakfast and cafe at Baggy Lodge, said: "I originally put the camera up so I could check the surf when I'm away. It's at the top of my garden, and I can control it to look at the surf at different stages of the tide."
But as soon as Mr Cotton started using the camera he realised he could use it to check up on his livestock and property as well.
Mr Cotton said: "One of the most fun things we've used it for is to film a family of guests playing on our trampoline in the garden, so their mum, who was working up country could see them playing by the sea.
"Three years ago I was surfing at Outer Banks in North Carolina, and I checked the camera to check up on the sheep, and I could actually count 14 new lambs arrive."
Now Croyde film maker Mark Brindle, of Maniac Films, has won an award for a piece he put together on Mr Cotton, about how he uses technology in his home and business.
Mr Brindle said: "Maniac Films have just been announced as a brand winner in the Cisco Digital Cribs film competition. The competition is run by international filmmaker and California-based Cisco systems, and was designed to produce short films showing the use of technology in the home, in someone's crib in an entertaining way."
Mr Brindle added: "I'm really pleased to win this competition and not just for the $7,500 prize money, although that's a real incentive, I am hoping that the exposure generated by Cisco will help to raise our profile and perhaps lead on to some good things, it might also bring Mike some more visitors to his bed and breakfast and cafe too."
LOOKING SHEEPISH: Mike Cotton on Baggy Point with his Hebridean sheep. Picture: Mike Southon 0811-160_07
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