CELEBRATING ONE YEAR SINCE OUR INAUGURATION

It has been some time since you heard from us officially, but this is due to my attendance at the Bermuda Conservation Conference. Due to the shipping schedule, I had to be away for two months. This seemed like a long time to begin with, but the benefits of the visits and meetings I was able to make before and after the Conference will be a great asset, I feel sure, and the time was well spent. As a teacher and latterly researcher, I had not met many of the people connected with environmental issues who visited the island, so it was a great opportunity to do so. Personal contact is so important, and at last St. Helena is realising this, and more people are travelling, meeting others and hopefully enriching our experience and making contacts who can help us, and we them.

We celebrated the inauguration of the SHNT, along with the museum on St. Helena Day. We had a table in the museum for payment of membership fees, sale of MF T-shirts and Peaks Pamphlets Although 21 May 2003 was the first anniversary of the Inauguration, the Office has not yet been going for a year, but during the 6 months ( +2 away) that we have been operational I think we have achieved quite a lot.

Many people are leaving the island, and it has been difficult to find an Administrative Assistant. This post has at last been filled, and I am so glad that we have now been able to engage the experienced services of Vanessa Yon to this part time post.  Vanessa works 3 days a week, and is a great asset. She has a BTEC National Diploma in Business and Finance (1990-92) She was Senior Accounts clerk with Small Industries authority – renamed St. Helena Development Agency, of which she became the Tourism Manager. She left work to bring up her children, but has been busily self employed meantime.

Chris Morris, our student volunteer from UK, finished work on 12 February, and returned home soon after. We thank him for his help, with much typing accomplished while he was here.

Our first 6-monthly Report and Financial Summary have been submitted to FCO as required under the terms of the grant. The Director has a half hour programme on local radio weekly, and is negotiating to have a monthly slot on local TV, to publicise the work of the Trust and the importance of our unique environment. Now that Vanessa is here, we hope to get on with the National Heritage Register, to include antiques etc .and other Projects

As the first year ends for the Trust Council, I would like to thank them for their attendance and support. Our AGM has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances – my visit overseas, and now the Chief Auditor’s leave – having made it impossible to have the accounts audited on time. We have lost our Vice- Chairman, as Stedson Stroud is now assistant Conservation Officer on Ascension, and “at large” member, Michael Stevens is resigning from the committee. We thank them for their help. We have appointed a Nominating Committee, as required by the Ordinance, to receive nominations to replace them.

Three of the Inaugural Projects are going well, as you will see inside. The fourth awaits a Flax Mill, but we hope to have a working group meet soon to discuss wallboards etc., if the possibility of the Pipe Building in town being given to the SHNT becomes a reality.

Annual Subscriptions are now due and we hope that you will continue to support us.

I enjoy my work as Director of this new Trust, and look forward to the future with optimism.

Barbara B. George, Director

BERMUDA CONFERENCE

I left home on the RMS on 14th February. I stayed on Ascension for 10 days – the Conference was not till 22 March. There I met with the various groups concerned with the environment – Wildlife Management International rep., Mike Bell, dealing with the feral cats, the RSPB Project Conservation Officer, Richard White, my daughter, Tara George as AIG Conservation Officer, went to the RAF plant nursery, met the group of volunteers who do the turtle tours, and post graduate student from Edinburgh University employed by the American Base to do an environmental impact study on a proposed new road. I visited the museum, and on the last day there, I met the American environmentalist, who had just flown in from Antigua..

Arriving at Brize Norton, I was met as always by Dorothy Evans, who extended her warm hospitality to me as usual. She drove me to Cheltenham to visit with Trevor Hearl, and we had lunch with Jenny Pattenden, Chair of the St. Helena Association,en route. Jenny invited me to attend the Committee meeting of the St. Helena Association when I came back to Oxford, which I did. Trevor is ever an amazing source of St. Helena history, and any meeting is never long enough – he knows so much and is indeed thrilled that the National Trust is now taking on Resource packs for the schools. Trevor always tried to bring local history to the children, as it is so important to know about one’s roots.

London was the next big experience – after St. Helena it is so huge and impersonal when on your own. However, I had a full timetable of meetings, and that was what I was there for. I met with Clive Warren, Head of the Overseas Territories Department, at DFID for a long and productive chat. I met with Denise Dudgeon and Russell Phillips at FCO, then later met with Denise and Joelene Foster, and representatives from other OT’s, along with the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum, to discuss how we can all work best together. The UKOTCF commended the present FCO people with whom they have contact, in the Environmental Department, who are approachable and helpful. I went to Kew where Colin Clubbe kindly showed me around; to London Zoo where Paul Pearce Kelly was delighted to talk about St. Helena and hopes we are still looking for giant earwigs, and spent a weekend at the Eden Centre in Cornwall, where I was very well looked after by Juliet Rose. These were all amazing experiences for me, as I had never been to any of these places before. Juliet will be back on St. Helena later this year, to continue her PhD research on Crown Wastes. We are indeed well connected to the scientific world and have some wonderful friends who are willing to help St. Helena through the National Trust. They are thrilled that it is up and running. I learnt a lot and was always seeking advice on finance for the future.

I also visited the National Trust Centre in London, and gave a talk there.

I spent 3 days with UKOTCF and RSPB, doing some computer catching up, visiting a Bird Sanctuary, to look at the set up and the educational materials, and doing a shortened course on applying for Funds..

I paid a visit to The Office of the St. Helena Government Representative and went to see Paul Mathew at Cambridge Fauna and Flora International.

There was a group going from London to Bermuda, and we flew on 22 March – direct flight to Hamilton, 7 hours, with 4 hour time difference. Next day we met and toured the island by bus, with 2 walks in between to see how the endemics have been preserved intact on a tiny island off the coast.

The Conference itself was very intensive. We started at 8.30 sharp and did not finish till 6 most nights, and 7 on one, with usually only a few minutes to wash and change for the evening. The first evening was a formal welcome dinner with an amazing speaker from Canada – David Suzuki. Next evening we had a reception at Government House, where Governor, Sir John Vereker, welcomed us

I gave a 15 minute presentation to the Conference, on the topic I was asked to speak to – Establishing a National Trust on St. Helena.  It was well received, but most people were more fascinated by the fact that it had taken so long away from home to get there!

On the final evening we had a dinner at the aquarium – surrounded by fish swimming in huge tanks!

The last day, before we flew out that night, we were treated to a sail in a catamaran around the islands, and this was the only opportunity to buy souvenirs. The sea was so blue, the sun so hot, the food so good, and the yacht so nice that I had to pinch myself to see if I had really come all that way and arrived there!

I did invite them all to St. Helena for the next Conference, though – wouldn’t that be great?  They would all love to come. There were about 70 delegates, plus Bermudan contacts and officials.

Dr. Ian Baker, and his wife put me up for 2 nights, then drove me to Heathrow for the flight to Capetown.where I stayed at the Garden Centre, and managed to meet Adam Kossowski for a long and productive chat on future funding for the Trust, and a benefactor who would like to send a legacy our way.

The journey home on the ship was very pleasant as always, although I had lost my voice!

As the new Director of the newly formed St. Helena National Trust, I was privileged to be the NGO rep at this Conference. Each Overseas Territory had 2 representatives at least – one Government and one non – Government ( NGO).  The trip was financed jointly by the UKOTCF and Bermuda Government, FCO, Bermuda Audobon Society, Bank of Bermuda, Bermuda National Trust, Capital G and Fidelity Investments, Bermuda Zoological Society and XL Capital. It was an opportunity not to be missed.

The topics covered were:-

Environmental Charters and Strategic Planning

Managing Conservation Organisations

Implementing Management Plans

Field trip to implement management planning

Climate Change

Dealing with Invasive species

I can honestly say that the whole trip was a wonderful and very worthwhile experience. Despite what some people may think, going away from the island to such events helps to broaden our vision, and lets us see things in perspective – it gives us new ideas, and best of all, new contacts, so that we are no longer limited in our thinking, and we can find out and choose what is best for ourselves.

INAUGURAL PROJECT REPORT

What’s happening at the MILLENNIUM FOREST? – Dr. Rebecca Cairns-Wicks

Moving under the umbrella of the St Helena National Trust

The first meeting of the revised Millennium Forest Committee has taken place. The Committee are responsible for the management and development of the forest and establishing the structure and timeframe for the full transference of management to the St Helena National Trust. The revised membership of the committee is:

Project Co-ordinator: Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks, Chair St Helena Nature Conservation Group

Secretary: Mrs Vanessa Yon, NT Administrative Assistant

Members: Honourable Brian Issac, a Councillor for Longwood and a member of Harford Middle PTA; Ms Monica Scipio, a member of Longwood First School PTA; Ms Isabel Peters, Environmental Co-ordinator; Mr Derek Henry, Deputy Head Curriculum, PAS; Mr Vincent Williams, Senior Forestry Officer (Conservation)

The National Trust now provides administrative support to the Project and also promotes the Project through the NT website and the sale of trees and tee shirts.

500 trees planted in the Colchester Plantation

The area originally designated for the Millennium Forest is filled with Gumwoods, so planting as part of the celebrations of the Island’s Quincentenary took place in the new Colchester Plantation. Planting began on 16th June 2002 and was sponsored by the people of Colchester and Fauna and Flora International.

Tree planting begins in our new Plantation

Tree planting for 2003 began in earnest on the 3rd May with a visit from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office team, Alan Huckle, Ian Hendry and Michael Bradley who between them planted 30 trees!  Mr. Ian Hendry joined the Trust also, and wrote a very encouraging letter praising the work we are doing. A week of thought provoking activities on the subject of Water was organised on the Island to celebrate World Environment Day - 5th June 2003. Nursery and Reception pupils of Longwood First School planted 32 trees and have been asked to name this new area of the Millennium Forest. They were followed by a visit from the whole of Jamestown First School. Reception and Nursery pupils planted their own trees in the forest whilst older pupils were able to explore and see how their trees were growing.                          

St Helena National Trust Members have a tree planted in their name in the forest. But you don’t have to stop at one you can continue to support the project by:

• ‘Buying’  a tree or trees costing £5 each, or
• Sponsoring the planting of an area of the forest
• The cost of £5 per tree reflects the costs of raising, planting and caring for a Gumwood (with its own tree guard) in the forest. The name of everyone who has a tree or trees in the forest is recorded.

Information boards go up in the gatehouse

Seven information boards describing the Millennium Forest Project and 17 boards listing the names of all those people who planted a trees or trees in the forest in person or by proxy between 2000 and 2001 are now on permanent display in the gatehouse entrance to the forest. More panels will be added as new plantations are filled.

MUSEUM – Curator Sarah Holland

We are delighted to welcome Lucy Caesar as the trainee curator of the new museum. She is young, has an Honours degree in Environmental Science, and is full of ideas and enthusiasm. At present she is seconded from the Education Department, and still does some teaching. With much appreciated voluntary help from Peter Yon ( husband of our Admin Asst.) in setting up a database, and Mary Flavell, doing the typing, the museum now has an Accessions Register. They have progressed with the idea that “ the museum is for everyone” and, with help from Social Services, hosted the various Day Centres for the  elderly. The RMS Charity Fund has come up trumps with a lift to be installed there, and the students from Olive Cottage do some of their history lessons in the museum.

Three exhibitions have been held throughout their first year – the Schools Dolphin Project, Simon Bannister’s photographs and a local art exhibition, only the third one I remember on St. Helena. This displayed some amazing local talent.

So – Happy First Birthday indeed, and congratulations to Sarah and all those involved. The museum is fast becoming a place that more and more people want to visit, and on St. Helena Day hundreds passed through, many spending a lot of time looking at the exhibits, and later enjoying the Birthday Cake, which seemed to expand to satisfy everyone.

SCHOOLS PROJECT

After meetings with all the Middle Schools staff, we determined that what would be most useful to them at this stage is Resource packs to back up the National Curriculum Syllabus. One teacher commented that it was easier to teach British History because of the Resources. We hope to turn this around. So far, since Barbara was away, Sarah started work on an initial general pack. We are working together from now on in a systematic way, and hope to complete many more. Having Vanessa as Admin Asst. will enable the Director to give this more time. These are folders containing numbered photographs, with a Teacher’s Notes list explaining them, and a children’s questionnaire. I am very excited about this as it is something I wanted to do when I took up research, but did not have the time. I think they are going to be very impressive. The photos are laminated, on 100 year photo paper, and there is one pack per school. Of course they can make more if they have money to do so.

The Director was recently asked to address Year 8 students at PAS to tell them about the St. Helena National Trust and what it does and aims to do.

FLAX MILL

We have asked SHG to let us have the Pipe Building in Jamestown, which still has an engine there. This would at least be easily accessible to tourists, and we could have display boards describing the industry. A working group should be set up soon. We continue to pursue the idea of Scott’s Mill as a working Flax Mill Museum, if it becomes available.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT  - HISTORIC BUILDINGS CONCERNS

Since we are very new and cannot address everything that needs doing at once, we have only recently taken up the challenge of how to restore our old buildings. As many will be aware, the Crallen Report of 1974 graded all the buildings. Most of the listed buildings are owned by SHG, and we need to begin to help people to see the importance of restoring them rather than repairing. Those which are in private ownership need financial help, as restoration is much more expensive. This needs approval by SHG of funds for such a purpose, and  we do not expect that this will be easy at this time. Therefore, we are writing to ExCo to start discussing this important issue, and also hope to identify a person who can come and work alongside local tradesmen, to help teach restoration skills. In the present financial climate, it is going to be difficult to convince people of the importance, although as someone commented at the Conference, people need to see the economic value to the community, in terms of tourist income, of our natural heritage. Without it no-one would want to come.

ARCHIVES

We are requesting a meeting with SHG, along with the Museum Curator, the Archivist, Michel Martineau and myself to discuss the way forward here. It is proposed to move the Archives to a new building, but we feel that these valuable books should not be moved from their present stable environment, even if a new building is provided with computerised records.

REPORTS ON MEMBER ORGANISATIONS

SNCG – SPIKY YELLOW WOODLOUSE – Dr. Rebecca Cairns-Wicks

The Spiky Yellow Woodlouse is an amazing little creature found on the endemic plants at High Peak. Unusually for a woodlouse it likes to climb around the branches of tree ferns and other endemic trees. It has been called a 'living' fossil because it is an ancient species. It has distant relatives as far apart as South America, Madagascar, South Africa and Australia. It is because it is so unique and 'ancient' that it is highly important and it could help in the study of how today's continents came to be formed.

Unfortunately however the Spiky Yellow Woodlouse has only ever been recorded from High Peak in recent times. Only a tiny fragment of Tree-fern thicket and Cabbage trees survive at High Peak and they are heavily invaded by Flax, Fuchsia, Bilberry and other invasive plant species. Occasional observation suggests that the Spiky Yellow Woodlouse is not as common as it was just 10 years ago. To find out more about the abundance of this special little creature the SNCG has initiated a programme of surveying and monitoring around High Peak (and in other similar habitats) to see whether it has a wider distribution than we think. As well as highlighting the plight of the Spiky Yellow Woodlouse we're hoping the work will be a useful trigger for highlighting the plight of the habitat which is disappearing at High Peak.

On our first 'practice' survey we found 19 Spiky Yellows and of these four were juveniles. All were found just below the summit of High Peak, mostly on the planted Hybrids and a Redwood and others on the endemic Tree ferns and Dogwood.

What does this mean?

Well, its impossible to derive any conclusions from this survey regarding the status of the Spiky Yellow, but it does give us some clues as to how we should establish a regular programme of monitoring in terms of the procedures we should adopt and where to look so that we can find out more about the range of the woodlouse, it's habitat requirements, life cycle and population trend.

 What next?

The establishment of a regular monitoring programme.

NAPOLEON’S HOUSE

The opening of the restored living quarters of Generals Gourgaud and Montholon , at Longwood House, took place on 15th April, during the stay of a party of important French visitors. The Fondation Napoleon had provided most of the funds for this Project. The significance of this Project was to firmly establish Longwood House as part of St. Helena’s heritage accessible to everyone. M. Martineau said it would no longer be considered the exclusive preserve and dwelling of the French Consul, but become fully embodied as an entity in St. Helena’s historic heritage with the maximum sense of ownership possible for islanders and visitors alike.

ARTS AND CRAFTS ASSOCIATION

The newly refurbished Centre looks great, and gives a more professional atmosphere. It is becoming well established now, and the less cluttered environment encourages sales. The AGM took place on 28th April. This enthusiastic group is always willing to display skills on community occasions and they were once again contributing on St. Helena Day.

DIVE CLUB

Graham Sim continues teaching diving to groups of young and old, and is warmly commended for this quiet, dedicated contribution to the community over many, many years. His reward is surely in opening the eyes of his trainees to the wonderful world under the ocean, which, many of us forget, is also part of our heritage and responsibility.

ST. HELENA FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION – Mr. Terry Richards

Fishermen are currently enjoying one of their better seasons for a number of years with catches improving by the month. For the past five months to the end of May, catches have totalled 225,323 kilograms or 225.323 metric tonnes, the bulk of which has been Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). Catches on a monthly basis were:

January 03          -           11,800 Kilograms

February            -           16,530

March                -           53,500

April                 -           67,381

May                  -           76,113

On average there are eight boats fishing on a full-time basis with a total of seventeen to twenty fishermen including skippers.

Both the catchers and the processors are hoping that the run will continue for a few more months and that there will also be a run of the Albacore (Longfin) tuna (Thunnus alalunga) in August/September.

Plans are in hand to organise a fishing competition this month (the date is still to be finalised) and will be run under the organisation of the St. Helena Fisheries Corporation. It is hoped that this will also be a successful day as far as fish landings are concerned and that the eleven individual trophies for various species of fish will be highly contested.

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW – Miss Juliet Rose

We were thrilled to read the following account sent by Juliet Rose, who will be here later this year to continue her PhD. studies

Every spring in the UK the Royal Horticultural Society presents the world famous Chelsea Flower Show to celebrate horticultural excellence. The show is televised and covers everything from introducing new plants to elaborately constructed show-gardens. The week-long show sees thousands of visitors every year and therefore as you might expect every Chelsea Flower Show has a first aid tent. This year however saw the first ever first aid stand for plants.

Featuring plants in bandages, plant x-rays and trained staff on hand the ‘Species Recovery Unit’ was actually in the Life Long Learning section of the show. The exhibit was designed to showcase the conservation work carried out on islands in collaboration with Reading University and the Eden project.

The St Helena Boxwood and Ebony were displayed alongside plants from the Seychelles and the Canary Islands. Visitors were genuinely fascinated by their uniqueness, for some it was the first time they had seen plants from these islands. Everyone who visited the stand left with a sense of appreciation for the unique ecological heritage of these small islands and an admiration for the efforts that were being employed to preserve our global biodiversity.

The visitors weren’t the only ones who were impressed. The judges awarded a prestigious Silver-Gilt medal to the Species Recovery Unit for the inspiring and engaging way it presented the importance of conservation work on small islands to the British public.