Millennium Forest

The Governor’s Discretionary Fund donated £741.95 towards improvements to surrounds at the Forest, which was created as a community project to celebrate the Millennium, by returning through shared effort, lost natural habitat in the eastern part of the Island. The Project continues to be developed as a community conservation initiative through the Millennium Forest Committee.

The Committee will work with SHG and the Trust to agree the Management Plan for the future of the Forest that is now ready for submission. It is hoped that shortly after this the Committee will come fully under the umbrella of the Trust as a Committee of the Trust. The Trust has already made a big step towards this by taking on the administration of the project through provision of secretarial support, management of the accounts, address base and promotion through the NT website, and the sale of trees and tee-shirts.

Musuem of St Helena

Clive Stewart finished his working model of the Inclined Plane, and this is now a welcome addition to the “hands on” items in the museum. Warm thanks to Clive for his dedication.

The second Art Exhibition is again a big success. We are amazed by the hidden talent of those we know, and it is great that they have the opportunity to display it publicly in the museum. Displayed are works related to the following medium categories:

Photography and Digital Imaging by Robert Newman, Christina Stroud and Michael Thorpe.

Ceramics and Pottery by Corinda Essex and Serena Thorpe

Sculpture by Johnny Drummond and Corinda Essex

Drawing by Johnny Drummond, Mark Brooks, Sue Fisher, Aubrey Stevens, Christina Stroud, Laura Lawrence and Emma-Jane Yon.

Painting by Dan Coutts and Laura Lawrence.

Needle Point by Mary Flavell and Muriel Gardiner.

Multi and Interactive Media by Robin Richards

Jewellery by Sandie-Jane Walters.

Collage and Mixed Media by Emma-Jane Yon, Dan Coutts, Mark Brooks, Christina Stroud, Corinda Essex and Sophie Joshua

Fine Wood Craft by Jackie Essex.

Film by Nichola Bruce

A wonderful donation of two original books of Old Records ( and Magnetic Tables) from the Magnetic Observatory at Longwood, and a silver trowel, made on St. Helena, to the museum by Trevor Hearl, our valued historian in England, was another highlight of the past months. The silver trowel was presented to the wife
of Governor Alexander Walker in 1826, on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone for the Ladder Hill Observatory, which was abandoned when the Crown took over the running of the island. The Longwood Observatory dates from 1840. It was appropriate that Mrs. Hollamby, wife of the present Governor, was able to present this trowel back to St. Helena, on behalf of Trevor Hearl

The St Helena Nature Conservation Group along with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds have raised money and organised the construction of two life size models of the Red-billed Tropic bird (Trophy) and the Cape Hen (Pomarine Skua) especially for the museum.  The models have just arrived and are now displayed in the natural history section of the museum.

Tropic Bird             

Pomarine Skua

Liz Young, Curator of the former museum since 1998, and valued assistant during and after the move to the new one, is leaving her job at the museum, for a well deserved long holiday.  She will be sorely missed, as she has an intricate knowledge of the exhibits, and provided invaluable continuity during and after the move.

This dynamic facility continues to grow and develop. Since the opening on 21st May 2000 the Museum has provided much needed focus for visitors to the Island and, for many, a base point for further Island exploration. It has also become an important focal point for schools and its temporary displays provide further stimulation for educational activities both during term time and as a basis for holiday activities.

Related Information

Project Reports May 2003

Projects Reports October 2003

Projects Reports January 2004

Projects Reports August 2004

Projects Reports November 2004

Project Reports Feburary 2005

Project Reports June 2005

Project Reports July 2006

Project Reports December 2006

Project Reports May 2007

Newsletter 17 Dec 2007

Flaxmill Museum

Following on from last Newsletter - The Flax Mill working group had agreed that the restoration of a Flax Mill was too ambitious at present, and agreed to extend interpretative displays in the museum. Subsequent to their meeting and a visit to the Pipe Building – a former working Flax Mill in town, behind the jail, with its original engine still in-situ, which impressed and enthused the group, we had a reply to our letter of May 03, from the Office of the Chief Secretary informing us that we can share the building with the Police, who want part of it for a prisoner workshop. They were promised the Pipe Building over 2 years ago, and had secured funding to repair it. This arrangement seems ideal for us as they will spray and clean up, re-roof the building and build a wall to separate their part from ours. Funding for Display Boards will need to be found, but this help is a great start, and there may be room for more machinery to be on display. We are delighted that Ken Denholm has given us permission to print his research, so a book on the Flax Industry is in the pipeline too.

School Resource Packs

A presentation of the first five packs took place on Thursday 18 March 04, to Education Officer and Heads of Middle Schools. The remaining packs to be completed hopefully by September 04. The packs provide local historical information and illustrations to support the National Curriculum. The production of the packs is intended to be dynamic. We are expecting to receive feedback from the teachers on their content and usefulness and respond accordingly and we will continue to add more information to develop the packs. The Director hopes to find time to complete the others soon. This has been a huge, but rewarding task.