Improving Communication on Tree Cutting

We recently asked the Chief Secretary to call a meeting of all parties concerned in the cutting of trees. The Trust had been contacted by the public on a number of occasions when they have concerns about tree felling, and we thought the best way forward was to get everyone together. This Mrs. Ethel Yon, Acting Chief Secretary, arranged, and we had a useful meeting, at which we emphasised the importance of having Civil Society behind whatever project SHG proposes. We see this as our function – representing the voice of Civil Society; the people see this as our function as they contact us, and now Government departments realise better why we need to know what is happening.

This meeting proved very fruitful and reached an agreement that we should all cooperate. The Highway Authority accepted that more publicity was needed before tree felling took place, explaining the reasons, and we agreed to work out a policy which everyone can use, within the laws already set down. This will be discussed with Adrian Mallia during his visit.
We also published some articles in the local paper, from the "Trees are News" Magazine of the International Tree Foundation, looking at tidying up dead wood and preserving old trees from a different perspective, and Rebecca has prepared a Questionnaire to help us learn what people think about trees and what trees are important to them. This will be in the local paper and widely distributed to schools and Government Departments.

Award for our Treasuer

We must also congratulate Olive Williams on her M.B.E. Award, in this year's Birthday Honours. This is in recognition of her long and dedicated service to SHG as well as her consistent and ongoing contribution to Civil Society. This has involved the committee of the Jamestown Community Centre, the Rifle Club, the Girl Guide Association, Church activities, and she is always a willing helper in island wide activities. In 2002 she became one of the founder members of the St. Helena National Trust Council Olive retires soon after 44 years in public service, but will still continue helping the Trust.

Related Information

Related News October 2003

Related News January 2004

Related News November 2004

Related News February 2005

Help from Friends Overseas

The St. Helena Association gave us a lovely surprise in the mail received early August. They donated £250 to the St. Helena National Trust, £250 to sponsor a Plantation of 100 trees at the Millennium Forest, dedicated to the Association, and £200 to sponsor a showcase in the museum. We were overwhelmed by this generous gift, in response to our appeals, and thank the Association warmly for this much appreciated contribution to St. Helena's environmental efforts.

The Friends of St. Helena have agreed to collect Gift Aid donations on behalf of the St. Helena National Trust, the Millennium Forest and the Museum, which they will then send on to us. This is a great step forward, and we thank their Treasurer, Mrs. Vicki Beal for the extra work this will entail. Details will be published later, but meantime donations marked for a group can be sent to the Friends.

Transferring money TO St. Helena has suddenly become much easier. You simply go to Lloyd's TSB bank, and make the amount payable to the Bank of St. Helena at Lloyd's TSB, giving the St. Helena Account name and number to which it is payable. This is a big improvement, and should reduce transfer costs. Of course sterling cheques can still be sent direct to us as usual, for subscriptions etc.

Visit of the Netto family from Brazil

In July, the Office was busy with tourists, one party of which was made up of 3 of the daughters , a grand-daughter, and a great grandson of Winnie Joshua, aged 97, the St. Helenian who married the Brazilian called Odwaldo Netto who came here on the  "Blossom" scientific survey vessel  when she was 19. He was an amazing person, as people still talk of him and his innovative ideas – he set up the cinema, and imported the Charabanc and other cars, and was always thinking up some project. They left here finally in 1944, with 4 children, for Brazil, and this is the first time that Anna and Barbara had returned to their birthplace. They hosted a tea party of people who remembered them at Ann's place, and the old people had a great time together, reminiscing. At the National Trust office they kept us busy too, seeking information, buying MF T-shirts, Q5 souvenirs, and we helped organise the tea party as they did not know how to contact everyone. The Director of SHNT also proof read their mother's story – of an absolutely amazing life – which is published in Portuguese, and which they hope to publish in English. We hope they do as it is a fascinating part of our living history too.

Winnie (Joshua) Netto aged 95

National Heritage Register

Progress on this is inevitably slow due to pressure of work, with only one full time employee. The Director plans to manage time to finish the School Packs for the new school year, and then NHR will hopefully become a weekly routine. However it is a massive job, and we have been grateful for the advice and help given by Adrian Mallia, who set up a similar record in Malta. We advertised what we are doing in the local paper, let all the Government Departments know, and look forward to everyone's cooperation. Tim Wonnacott our contact from the Antiques Roadshow, is always ready to identify articles, and we just need time and help to get it going.

Adrian spoke on this at a meeting of the Trust Council, and explained that it is indeed a long term process, taking over 10 years in his experience.

Public talk – Floods and Ice and Changing Climates

These meetings have become a feature of the Trust since July of last year, when our own Professor Dan Yon started them off with his talk on the South Africa - St. Helena Link. We try to keep the topics related to Tristan, St. Helena and Ascension, and to use visiting speakers when we can. Last month – marking one year since they started, we were privileged to have with us Professor Colin Lewis from Rhodes University in South Africa. His special love and area of research is climate change, and he inspired the 22 people present with his enthusiasm for his subject.

It began as a child when his parents drew his attention to the beauty and history of his surroundings on a farm in Wales, followed later at school by a wonderful teacher, showing the huge importance of parents and teachers in the education of children. Then we travelled with him around the world to see what he has seen of evidences of changing climate over the last 35,000 years. His visit here was prompted by his reading of Drs. Philip and Myrtle Ashmoles' marvellous book on the Natural History of St. Helena and Ascension Islands. He came here to try to find as old a sediment as possible that contained bird bones or other organic materials which could be dated to give an approximate time of when the sediment was formed.

We thank Professor Lewis for giving his time to explain this to us, and look forward to hearing from him when he returns to South Africa.

Air Access Meeting with Atkins

The Trust Council met with the Atkins team briefly. The Consultants were meeting with stakeholders to discuss issues associated with access by sea and air, although with us they only discussed air access. The meeting provided an opportunity to raise concerns but Council members felt disappointed that the team was unable to answer many of the questions raised at this stage.

OTEP Bid

The Bid from the Marine Scientific Officer for OTEP funding to establish a monitoring scheme and public awareness programme for seabirds and turtles has been successful in the second round, so all three Bids put in from St. Helena have received approval.

The Protected Area Plan for the Central Peaks is being coordinated by Dr. Cairns-Wicks, in partnership with the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, and administered by the National Trust. The Project could significantly expand the area of the Peaks under management, and this will be linked to improved access to information, education and enjoyment of the Peaks environment, increased potential for tourism, and other related small scale economic opportunities, and improved water catchment management.

Visiting Trainers

The Trust has been involved in the visits of Mr. Adrian Mallia and Dr. Mike Pienkowski in recent weeks, both of whom have held a series of Workshops. Adrian works as an Environmental Consultant in Malta, his home, and his work here is sponsored by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He has been on island for 7 weeks, so we have had time to consult. He is providing guidance at Strategic Planning level to staff in the Environmental Planning Department of SHG, and any others who wished to attend, including NGO's. We have found his advice very helpful.

Mike is Chairman of UKOTCF and, accompanied by his wife, Ann, as Secretary, has come to help SHG implement the Environment Charter signed up to by SHG and HMG in 2001. Heads of Department, Councillors and SHNT have been represented at the Workshops to identify what has been done so far and highlight what needs to be done in future. This has been an informative exercise for all as we do not often appreciate what work others do. Mike will return early next year to continue the process.

Land Planning and Development Control Agency (LPDCA)

The St. Helena National Trust is represented on this Agency by the Director. A Town Planner, Mr. Jack Peeters, was contracted from UK to help the LPDCA devise a replacement to the Strategic Land Use Plan by Graham Rogers, which is currently in use. The new Draft Land Development Control Plan has now been sent for comments to the Agency and will eventually be taken to the public in a series of meetings and surgeries, before being finally adopted. Adrian Mallia's visit is timely as he has experience of this sort, and can advise us on the draft while he is here. Mr. Peeters will return to oversee the public consultations and give advice. This is necessarily a long process to get it right, and it is proposed that the new LDC Plan will be in place by July 2005.

Promotional Efforts

We will soon be selling SHNT key rings, coasters, fridge magnets and caps, as a start to our income from souvenirs.
We will also receive another limited edition of 200 Calendars from the UK St. Helenian Printers, Printsetters, hopefully next ship, in September.  These will be sold at £8 each as last year. They will contain some really beautiful photographs of unusual scenes, so place your orders soon. Last year's was a sell out, and we expect them to be even more popular this time as they will be here early enough to post overseas for Christmas presents.