OTEP Protected Area Planning for the Central Peaks

The final phase of this project has now been reached and workshops are planned for 6th and 13th July to agree the vision (10 yr) and shorter term aims (3-5 yrs), objectives and activities for the Protected Area Plan. We are using e-mail as a means of obtaining views from people such as Philip and Myrtle Ashmole, Howard Mendel, Martin Wigginton and Mike Pienkowski all of whom have contributed to the project.

The 10th Anniversary of the establishment of Diana’s Peak National Park was used as a focal point to promote the achievements of the ANRD in carrying out alien plant control and replanting programmes, to highlight the continued threats to the Peaks and to promote education and understanding. An informative and visually impressive temporary exhibition has been on display in the Museum since March and when it is taken down at the end of July some of the materials will be used to establish a permanent display about the Peaks. Many of the schools took groups to visit the exhibition and take part in guided tours to the Peaks.

Photos courtesy of Philip Ashmole : Myrtle Ashmole hard at work on a tree fern, Martin Wigginton with net

OTEP/RSPB Conservation of Wirebird project

The first quarter has flown by with Tony Prater, RSPB giving invaluable support and training to get the project underway. SHNT is most grateful to all stakeholders for their support through contributing to discussions and giving up their time to attend meetings etc. Survey work has been taking place on the key areas and of note is the repeated breeding pattern being observed as chicks are lost. The loss of chicks could be from a variety of causes but cat predation has been identified as a likely cause on Deadwood Plain where feral cat lairs have been found – an approach has been made to the Environmental Health Section of PH&SSD and A&NRD to undertake cat trapping in the area.

Eddie undertook his first “guided walk” during Environment Week and led a small group to Prosperous Bay Plain where they were given an informative talk as they viewed wirebirds and even found some of their tracks across a path where they had been chasing insects. We noted the numerous vehicle tracks criss-crossing wirebird territories where tungie pickers had taken their vehicles right up to plants. This is a concern to address before the next tungie season! Another visit to Broad Bottom with a volunteer SHNT helper and a work experience student assisting at the SHNT office, saw them finding two nests with eggs and seeing a total of 17 birds. Again, Eddie showed his knowledge of the wirebird’s habits when leading the walk – giving us such details as how the colour of the eggs changes as they near the time to hatch. Tenders have been invited for a trial restoration on Deadwood Pasture and it is hoped that once the licence has been issued to the syndicate, a contractor will be selected and work on fencing , removal of invasive plants and spike harrowing in specified paddocks can be carried out before the winter weather sets in. The Trust is grateful to the syndicate for their advice and support of this project which will benefit both cattle and wirebirds alike. During the next quarter we will be arranging a meeting with Farmers’ Association representatives as we would like to draw them into the circle and encourage another partnership to support the conservation of the wirebird. Planning for Eddie’s training at RSPB during his visit to the UK in September/October is going ahead and he will be joined by Cathy Hopkins at the UKOTCF conference in Jersey from 5th to 13th October. It is an excellent opportunity for spreading the word about the wirebird as well as about other island environmental issues. (Wirebird photo courtesy of Philip Ashmole)

Related Information

Project Reports May 2003

Projects Reports October 2003

Projects Reports January 2004

Projects Reports April/May 2004

Projects Reports August 2004

Project Reports November 2004

Project Reports Feburary 2005

Project Reports June 2005

Project Reports December 2006

Project Reports May 2007

Newsletter 17 Dec 2007

Flax Mill Museum

The Trust has approached the Tourist Office Heritage Sites Working Group to seek funding to complete repairs to a window and the relocation of the door (subject to Land Planning / Highways Authority approval). Audio-visual equipment has been purchased through GGF and has now arrived here. The story boards’ text has been prepared and the museum is scheduled to open in December as part of the Festival of Art & Culture being promoted by the Tourism Office.

St Helena Environmental Information System –SHEIS

This is gaining momentum with a flurry of meetings with stakeholders on island and the e-mails flying to and fro as consultants Alan Mills and Edsel Daniel prepare for their visit in August/September . Key to the success of the project is the resource on island of the Legal, Lands and Planning Department staff who have experience of GIS arising from a DFID funded project to digitise the Land Registry in 2005 and the support of IT to ensure the ongoing maintenance and advice they can offer. The implications of working towards an island-wide Information System are enormous and this project is but the first step towards eventually achieving an island wide system. It is hoped to obtain a training licence to enable up to 12 people to undertake training using the computer suite at Prince Andrew School.

Millennium Forest

This continues to grow –excuse the pun. Special attention was given to planting by the elderly during Environment Week (5th- 9th June) This tree planting was to kick-start the Hebridean Spirit Copse which has been sponsored by passengers and crew of the ship which called here in March of this year. The copse is being planted close to the road leading down to the forest so that on future calls passengers can easily access the area. Alongside this copse will be a further 100 trees sponsored through Richard Paice and further generous gifts have come from Vince Thompson.