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Isles of Scilly e-newsletter | September 2013

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An Update from the Isles of Scilly AONB Partnership

The summer has been a busy time for the AONB Partnership. The AONB Sustainable Development Fund is now in full flow with many projects well on their way to completion by next March.

The AONB Staff team have been busy delivering beach cleans, educational activities and showcasing the Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project with colleagues from the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust at off-Island fetes.

Looking into the autumn and winter months, the AONB Partnership and Staff Team will begin focusing on the AONB Management Plan Review and project work for 2014.

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Isles of Scilly AONB Management Plan Review

Every 5 years the Isles of Scilly AONB Management Plan is reviewed to set out the AONB Partnership's priorities for this outstanding landscape.

The AONB Partnership will soon be developing the 2015-2020 plan for Scilly.

Public consultation is a vital part of this process. When the public consultation begins in 2014, please do have a look at the draft Plan or dip into the bits that interest you and let us know what you think.

The AONB staff team will keep you informed as to exactly when the public consultations will take place.

Local residents, stakeholders and visitors to Scilly will all have the opportunity to put forward thoughts and comments as part of the Isles of Scilly AONB Management Plan Review.

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Nature and Tourism – Opportunities in Scilly

Sarah Mason, Manager of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, offers some reflections on nature and tourism in Scilly.

The unique position of the Isles of Scilly, off the south-western tip of the British Isles, with warming from the Gulf Stream, gives rise to unique environmental conditions. Home to some unique species (such as the Scilly shrew) the nature conservation importance of the islands is reflected in its 26 SSSIs and in the designation of much of the area as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA).

Tourism contributes massively to the Scillonian economy, attracting 90,000 to 100,000 visitors every year. Visitors repeatedly highlight the Islands’ exceptional environment as the primary reason for choosing Scilly as a holiday destination (Isles of Scilly Visitor Survey, 2007 and 2012).

So what does this mean for the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust?  Quite a lot actually!  The Trust looks after most of the areas which are most popular with visitors, such as the heathlands, coastline and foreshore, as well as the uninhabited islands.  All of these places require management to get them into the best condition, but also they require access for visitors to enjoy.  The coastal paths are (bar a few small areas) under the management of the Trust and can require 2 cuts per year to ensure safe passage.  That is many miles of paths!  Some might argue that path clearance for visitors is not a job for the Trust; I would disagree.  How can people understand and appreciate the environment around them if they can’t actually get to it?  Access to the countryside is an intrinsic part of a UK holiday (along with a bucket and spade) and you can enjoy both on the Isles of Scilly!

A large proportion of visitors to Scilly decide to holiday here for the stunning landscape and interesting wildlife.  With this in mind, there are good examples of wildlife-friendly tourism from which Scilly can learn. For example, the Channel Island of Alderney is pioneering a “Living Islands” concept led by the Alderney Wildlife Trust. The programme is working with islanders to highlight the value to the economy of the natural and historic environment and to deepen the involvement of island communities in direct conservation activity.  The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust will be watching with interest……

More information on Living Islands is available here.

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A Bronze Age Bonanza in Scilly

The Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Staff Team, in partnership with the Council of the Isles of Scilly’s Children’s Services Team, recently inspired 17 young people to delve into Scilly’s rich Bronze Age Heritage.

Somerset based archaeologist Marc Cox, and heritage interpretation officer Katie Findlay from the Blackdown Hills AONB, led three days' activities with help from the Scilly AONB Staff Team.

During day one, the young people learnt about ‘Community Living in the Bronze Age’ with a visit to Halangy Down on St Mary’s.

On day two the Bronze Age group colonised the Island of Gugh, off St Agnes. Here the group met with St Agnes artist Emma Eberlein, and local historian Rachel Lewin as they cast Bronze Age arrow head replicas out of metal.

Rebecca Steggles from the AONB Staff Team said ‘The Bronze Age Bonanza Project has helped engage young people with their local environment and heritage. Scilly’s Bronze Age heritage is exceptionally rich – a past which has helped shape the landscape and the communities we see in Scilly today’.

A young person who took part in the Bronze Age project said 'I really enjoyed making the Bronze Age arrow heads and taking part in the Bronze Age Entrance Grave Competition’ another participant said ‘We learnt loads! We learnt that there is a Bronze Age Village eroding out from cliffs on St Mary’s and that Scilly’s archaeology is really important’.

Read the full press release here.

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New gateway signage to promote the Islands' stunning landscape

The AONB Partnership and the Islands' Partnership have come together to produce new gateway signage for Land's End, Newquay and Exeter airports, as well as on board the newly refurbished Scillonian III ferry.

This combined effort is to showcase the outstanding landscape of the Isles of Scilly at the Islands' south-west gateways. Using the new Isles of Scilly branding, developed by Islands' Partnership, we have joined forces to market the Islands' in a creative, dynamic and focused way.

We are really pleased with the design and hope you like them too. 

Look out for the new displays as you travel to and from the Islands.

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Stepping Stones to the Neolithic?

The Neolithic is the term used for the period in our past when the shift from hunting and gathering wild animals and plants to a farming lifestyle occurred. This change happened at different times and in different ways throughout the world, beginning 4,000 BC in Britain and Ireland.

The process by which the Neolithic arrived in Britain and Ireland is currently a hotly debated topic.

What is agreed is that some contact between Britain, Ireland and the European mainland must have occurred in the centuries around 4000 BC for the change to happen at all, and that this most likely happened across the ‘western seaways’ – an arc of sea extending approximately from the Channel Islands in the south, through the Isles of Scilly, the Isle of Man and the Hebrides, around to Orkney in the north.

Archaeologists from Liverpool and Southampton Universities are working with local museums, including the Isles of Scilly Museum, to try and uncover the facts surrounding this hotly debated topic.

What's happening in Scilly?

Stepping Stones Talk- 5.00p.m on Wednesday 11th September at the Isles of Scilly Museum;

Archaeological Open Day- 11a.m-4p.m, Saturday 21st September at the Old Quay, St Martin's. View excavations of a Mesolithic and Neolithic settlement site ( c.8000-3000 BC).

You can find out more about this fascinating project here.

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Scilly Seabird Ambassadors

The Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project has launched its Seabird Ambassador volunteer programme.

From 3 to 5 September, island residents and visitors joined forces with a team from RNAS Culdrose 824 squadron.  They helped prepare St Agnes and Gugh for the forthcoming brown rat eradication by removing items found on beach cleans. 

Removing waste reduces options for food and nesting by brown rats, and helps make the winter operation more effective.

Over thirty people joined in for the beach cleans, and the three days saw a whopping total of over 230 ‘volunteer-hours’, with other volunteers contributing delicious home-made cookies and cakes!  Over 100 black bags were filled with waste on the beach cleans alone, which just shows what can be achieved.

The cost of disposal was generously covered by the Council of the Isles of Scilly. Thanks also go to the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust and Isles of Scilly AONB Partnership for their support. 

For more information on how to become a Seabird Ambassador visit www.ios-seabirds.org.uk or contact Bob Dawson, Community Engagement Officer on bob.dawson@rspb.org.uk or 07899 682411.

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Tresco and Bryher Food & Drink Festival

Local food in Scilly is once again hitting the foodie headlines as Tresco and Bryher host their second annual food and drink festival.

Some people might not think of Scilly as being famous for its food and drink, but for a small cluster of Islands, they pack a mighty punch.

Some of the things to sample during the festival:

September 14th on Tresco

 > Discover the delights of Tresco beef;

> Forage for food with Wild Food Forager, Rachel Lambert;

> Indulge in some tasty Scilly ice-cream

September 15th on Bryher

> Enjoy local ice cream milkshakes and Mexican food with a local twist.

Sample homemade Bryher fudge;

> Freshly baked Bryher goodies.

Look out for the new Local Produce Directory too, which will tell you where you can buy Scillonian produce from across the Islands.

For more information on the Tresco and Bryher Food Festival, please click here

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Food and farming is integral to the AONB landscape, for example, in conserving and enhancing the natural environment, adding value to the tourism offer, helping to create sustainable communities and encouraging a sustainable green economy.

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Landscapes for Life

Isles of Scilly AONB Partnership, Old Wesleyan Chapel, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, TR21 OJD

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