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.

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.

Delegates at the Bermuda Conference

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