Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust Newsletter August 2016
Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust
A thought from our Chief Executive Officer...
Brexit: What does it mean for our natural environment? The EU referendum result could have wide-reaching implications for our natural environment, but at time of writing (15th August 2016) it’s just too early to say. However, we are increasingly being asked what our view is and what might happen. Here is our current statement:
“It is likely that the Birds and Habitats Directives and their corresponding Regulations will remain in force until such time that the UK exits the European Union. This is a point that has been reiterated by Defra and the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies- at present, it is business as usual. There are possible implications for environmental legislation as a result of the UK’s exit from the European Union, not least the Nature Directives which have provided the highest levels of protection for the most vulnerable habitats and species for the past 30 years. At present, those implications are very unclear and are highly dependent on the outcome of the negotiations that now follow the outcome of the Referendum.” The Wildlife Trusts are clear that the vital role of protected sites and species to help arrest the decline of biodiversity across the UK must be maintained. Vitally, whatever the outcome of the negotiations, it is essential that the UK’s environmental framework and its enforcement should remain strong and robust.
ve r We st e rn C lo Pa rs low ry By R o s e m a
www.ios-wildlifetrust.org.uk
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Brexit: What does it mean for our natural environment? continued...
What can you do? 1. There is currently a petition calling for the UK to keep the EU’s environmental protection laws after Brexit; please sign so that a parliamentary debate can be held (closes January 2017): https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/141005
2. The Environmental Audit Commission has also launched an inquiry into the future of the natural environment once the UK has left the EU. Agricultural landowners (including Wildlife Trust’s and other environmental charities) are important stewards of the UK’s natural environment. Financial incentives from the Common Agricultural Policy aim to promote positive actions and outcomes in biodiversity, water quality, and flood risk management. These payments represent one of the most important funding sources for environmental schemes in the United Kingdom. With the UK poised to the leave the European Union these arrangements may not remain in place - and the Government would need to decide whether or not to continue financial support for farmers and agri-environment schemes. The Commision will be investigating how the Government’s future policies on agriculture can ensure that protecting the environment remains a key goal. You can input to this inquiry by following the link below (deadline for submissions is Friday 9th September 2016): http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/ environmental-audit-committee/news-parliament-2015/future-of-natural-environment-afterthe-eu-referendum-launch-16-17/
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Brexit Update: With the historic EU referendum vote in June, I thought I’d bring you up to date with what is happening and how things might affect this Trust. After a period of uncertainty, on 13th August 2016, the Treasury announced that payments currently received via agri-environment schemes will be honoured at least until 2020. This is great news for nature-friendly farming and for the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust. The announcement which came after significant lobbying of the Treasury by nature charities and farming groups, gives this Trust the certainty it needs to deliver good quality, effective land management on the islands. However, this is not the time for complacency and in the coming months I will be talking to local businesses, visitors and other stakeholders who benefit from the Trust’s work to see how we can increase support via other means, so that our vital work can continue beyond 2020.
Sarah Mason, Chief Executive
Ranger Team Update: Summer is always a busy time for our Ranger Team, there is no such thing as a lazy summer day in the world of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust and this year has been no exception! The Ranger Team have cut more than 50 miles of paths (that’s from Scilly to Lands End and back and a bit further!) throughout the summer months in order to ensure that access across Trust tenanted land is open to the public. This equates to just over 20 miles of permissive paths being cut two or even three times and they are still scheduled to do more before the season ends!
Pic ~ BareFoot Photographer
In addition to this the Rangers have also carried out Bracken control on over 50 hectares of land (the equivalent of approximately 61 football pitches), to improve conditions and create habitats for our rare plants and breeding seabirds; managed vegetation around our known archaeological sites as well as uncovering a number of new ones, for all to enjoy; and installed just under 50 meters of recycled plastic bridge and boardwalk to improve access across Lower Moors!
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On top of this they have also assisted with educational activities and events, such as RockPool Rambles, Tresco Walks, Wildlife Safaris and Fetes; assisted in returning rogue cows (not ours) to their correct fields, cleared fallen trees, fixed broken boardwalks, helped out at Community Archeology Group Events, assisted the Seabird Recovery Project in their work, carried out survey work, been on some training courses, answered questions from passing residents and visitors and taken the odd days leave! They’ve done this all with a spring in their step and smiles on their faces in the blistering heat, through sideways rain, in thick fog and buckets of wind. We don’t know about you but we reckon they’re pretty awesome!
Education & Events: This summer has also been jam packed full of educational activities and events. We have provided weekly guided Walks on Tresco and Wildlife Safaris with St Agnes Boating, as well as RockPool Rambles and BeachCombing activities and attended each of the Islands Fetes. Not including the Fetes (because we’re not entirely sure how many people we spoke to on those days) our events and activities have been attended (so far) by just under 900 people! That’s a lot of people who have supported us by turning up to events and finding out about what the Trust does; many of whom also went on to give us donations to support our continuing work. We’d like to take this opportunity to say a big “Thank You” to all of those people who turned out in all weather conditions to poke around in rockpools, bimble around Tresco or wallow about around the Western Rocks. It was lovely to meet you, we trust you had as much fun as we did and we hope you support us during next years events too!
Pics ~ BareFoot Photographer
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Some of the nice things people have said.... “I wa s fo rt un at e en ou gh to be on a wa lk on Tres co with you la st Tu esda y, du rin g w hich your enth us ia sm “Thank you. Ned fo r co ns ervatio n (a s well as fi nd in g pl astic thin gs!) REALLY enjoyed wa s infe ct ious.”
himself”
“We had fun!”
“We had a love ly tim e tha nk you so mu ch for all you r pat ience with the little one s and for ans wering all the 'wh y' que stio ns, the re's always lots of tho se!” Great wa lk rou nd the no rth ern sid e of Tre sco thi s mo rni ng. In clu din g lou sewort, torme ntil , flotsa m ark an d arm y, 30 da ys of wil dn ess, Oxford Jun ior dictio na ry an d eg gs an d ba con. Am azing!
A won derful afte rnoo n - tha nks v mu ch. I have bee n nurdle hunting twice, have fou nd 174 altoget her!
Top ~ Po ni es e Woo lpack Botto m ~ Po niatesthbe in g tra ns po rt ed by G ry M arith a
It’s not “Goodbye”; it’s “See you later” Earlier this year we said “see you later” to our Dartmoor & Shetland Ponies. Pridham, Widdy, Flash, Titch, Beauty, Mayflower and Princess have moved on to pastures new; and what fantastic pastures they are! We’re pretty sure that they didn’t know what to do with themselves, other than run and run, when the gates opened and they explored their new home. No longer confined by electric fences to small areas along Scilly’s coast they now have the vast expanse of Penhale Dunes to explore and let their manes down in.
og ra p h e We will miss these characterful living lawn mowers and hope ics ~ Ba reFoot Ph ot P that they have a lovely time running free in the wide open spaces managed by Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
r & Da rre n
H a rt
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Other news
Community archaeology
The Community Archaeology Group (CAG) have been continuing their fantastic work throughout the summer months, with site clearances taking place on Tean, St Helen’s and the scheduled St Mary’s clearance unfortunately being cancelled due to transport difficulties. The work on Tean around the early medieval chapel, cist graves and 18th Century Farmhouse nicely complemented the work carried out by our Ranger Team earlier in the year, to clear the Entrance Grave on Great Hill. The work on St Helen’s was completed prior to the St Elidius Day Pilgrimage and meant the Pilgrims got a fantastic view of the religious archaeology when they visited the Island; once again this perfectly complemeted the work previously carried out by our Ranger Team. The next event is scheduled for the 11th September; if you’re on the Islands why not join in? To ensure you stay up to date with the CAG events check back to either the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust’s FaceBook Page or “like” the CAG one; details of which are below. For more information about the work that CAG are doing check out their FaceBook Page : www.facebook.com/groups/473127096149620/
Bat Group Scilly Bat Walks 2016
The Isles of Scilly Bat Group are coming to the end of their programme of Bat Walks for the year; if you want to learn more about Scilly’s batty world, the work of the Isles of Scilly Bat Group and even see some bats in action then you have one last opportunity to join them this year. Wednesday 14th September 2016
19:40
For information about the group as well as locations and costs of walks see www.ios-wildlifetrust.org.uk select Scilly Wildlife and then Isles of Scilly Bat Group.
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Seabird Recovery Project
Pics ~ C h
ris Prow s e
The Seabird Recovery Project (SRP) Team have had a busy summer monitoring pitfall traps and carrying out ecological surveys around the Islands whilst keeping a close eye on our breeding seabird populations. Recently the SRP have announced that this years Manx Shearwater chicks are out of their burrows and “stargazing” prior to their migration to Argentina; with photos appearing on their website, FaceBook and Twitter. Stay up to date with the progress of our Manx Shearwater chicks on St Agnes & Gugh by following the SRP on FaceBook and Twitter, or just by checking out their website! www.ios-seabirds.org.uk
M an x Sh ea rwat er @seabirdrecovery
Chicks ~ 2016
Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery
AONB
Outstanding Week 2016 September has always been an outstanding month in our countryside, with harvests being brought safely home, trees and meadows taking on their autumnal colours, skies offering a full palette of hues, musky bonfires lingering in the evening air and a welcoming calmness for visitors. September this year, however, promises to be even more outstanding! Outstanding Week is 17th-25th September this year and is a fantastic reminder (if you need reminding?!) why our AONB’s are so special. Many of AONB’s are offering events and activities; why not check out the NAAONB website and see what’s organised in your area? If you can’t find any planned activities just go for a walk and appreciate the beauty of your local AONB! Keep an eye on our FaceBook Page and Twitter feed to see what’s planned in Scilly. http://landscapesforlifeevents.org.uk @Scilly AONB Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
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Autu mn is here and Winter is coming..... Well, we woke up this morning and there is a distinct Autumnal feel to the air. Autumn in Scilly is magical; the colours are fantastic, the light is amazing and for many people it means the work rate slows down a little after the summer madness.
Pic ~ Sunris e on the 1st Septe mber by Sarah Maso n
Not so for our Ranger Team or the office staff! The Rangers are now looking ahead to their Autumn & Winter work schedule and the office staff are starting to prepare for next season!
Over the winter months we will provide information and pictures of the Ranger Team in their natural environment (showing that it’s not all sunshine and blue skies!) keeping you updated regarding the work that they are doing via our website and social media channels; make sure you check back regularly to get your Scilly-fix!
To finish.....
What better way to leave you than with some lovely pictures of where we live and work....
Pic ~ Kay Banfi eld
Pics ~ BareFoot Photograph er
Keep in touch We’d love to hear your feedback about this newsletter or on any topic: 01720 422153
@ScillyWildlife
www.ios-wildlifetrust.org.uk
enquiries@ios-wildlifetrust.org.uk Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, Trenoweth, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0NS
Registered charity number 1097807 Registered company number 04726698
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