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Isles of Scilly AONB E-NewsletterJuly 2013

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Tourism and Recreation in the AONB

The AONB Partnership is strengthening its ties with tourism on the Islands.

The new body dedicated to tourism and marketing for Scilly, the Island's Partnership, is now a member of the AONB Joint Advisory Committee (JAC). The JAC oversees the work of the AONB Partnership and the AONB Staff Team.

Scilly's landscape is crucial to the economic well-being of its communities. It is in all our interests to work towards promoting sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship across the Islands.

Nationally AONBs are set to receive a sustainable tourism boost. Last week, at the National Association for AONBs (NAAONB) conference, a new accord was signed by Defra Minister, Richard Benyon, the NAAONB and Visit Britain. The accord will encourage joint working between the tourism industry and protected landscapes and to encourage sustainable tourism.

Tourism makes an important economic and social contribution to the UK's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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Showcasing the Essence of Scilly

The Royal Cornwall Show is one of the highlights in the region’s calendar, attracting audiences of more than 100,000.

Around 6,000 people visited the Scilly pavilion across the three days. 5,000 also entered competitions to win a weekend stay for two, which included free return flights to the Islands. Prizes which were too hard to resist!

The Scilly stand really captured the essence of Scilly, from photographs of the Islands' natural beauty, wildlife and heritage, to information about activities on offer whilst visiting Scilly and the wide variety of accommodation available across the Islands.

Many organisations, individuals and businesses came together to showcase the very best that Scilly has to offer, as a collective stand. This saved money and allowed for greater Scillonian impact.

Scilly’s local produce shone through as locally grown flowers decorated the pavilion. Free tastings of clotted cream, fudge and Scillonian tattie cake, were available to sample throughout the three days, all going down a treat!

The pavilion was also visited by Richard Benyon MP (Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries). The Minister met with members of the Scilly Famers’ and Growers' Initiative, the Duchy of Cornwall and staff from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership. He welcomed the collaborative approach of all involved in showcasing the diversity of Scilly.

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AONB Sustainable Development Fund Awards 2013-2014

The AONB Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) proved popular again this year with the AONB Partnership allocating £20,307.84 to six projects across Scilly.

The AONB Sustainable Development Fund supports projects that enhance the local environment and contribute to sustainable social and economic development across the Isles of Scilly.

Projects awarded SDF grant-aid include: Market Improvement Scheme: Islands' Local Produce Market (£1,200), Development of Junior Rowing: St Mary's Gig Club (£4,755) and the Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project (£6,591).

You can view the full summary of SDF 13/14 awards here.

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Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project Update

A partnership project led by the RSPB, the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust and Natural England to remove rats from the Islands of St Agnes and Gugh to protect important Seabird colonies, is gaining momentum.

Elizabeth Bell from Wildlife Management International Limited (WMIL) has been on the Islands recently to complete a pre-rat removal assessment.  This is to ensure the Islands of St Agnes and Gugh are ‘rat ready’ when baiting begins in November 2013. 

Individual discussions with residents aimed to meet the community's needs regarding composting, waste management, storage of feed for animals and other aspects to minimise food availability to rats, and maximise the effectiveness of baiting.

Spalding Associates (Environmental) Ltd are carrying out an ecological assessment in order to understand the impact of the project on the abundance of other wildlife. Other island restoration work has demonstrated dramatic benefits.  Volunteers and project staff are helping with surveys of invertebrates, mammals (including Scilly shrew), landbirds and vegetation. This year represents the baseline survey, ending in September.  Volunteers will continue the surveys in 2014 and 1015 to monitor change after rats have gone. The Scilly shrew is of particular interest.

If you would like more information on the Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project, please contact Jaclyn Pearson (Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project Manager) at jaclyn.pearson@rspb.org.uk or visit www.ios-seabirds.org.uk

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Food Champion for Scilly

The Isles of Scilly Farmers' and Growers' Initiative has recently employed a Local Food Champion to help promote Scilly produce.

The Local Food Champion's role is to understand Scilly’s food industry, to provide support for local farmers, producers and growers, and to also encourage local residents and visitors to think more about purchasing local produce. For example, work has recently been carried out in developing a revised Local Food Directory. This aims to promote local produce outlets, so that residents and visitors can easily source products from Scilly.

Issy Tibbs, Local Food Champion says, ‘There are important links between local food and the Scilly visitor experience. It is well understood that visitors to Scilly love to purchase local produce where they can. It adds enormous value to their holiday experience. They really want to taste all of what Scilly has to offer’.

Food and farming is also 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.

You can find out more about Scilly's Local Produce by following Scilly Food on Twitter @FoodScilly and on Facebook.

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The Natural History Museum Discover Scilly's Wildlife Gems

During 2013 scientists and colleagues from the Natural History Museum will be visiting the islands on 4 occasions to document aspects of the islands biodiversity.

The first trip of these trips took place at the end of May. During this time, the museum team made the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust's Woolpack battery building their home. A key part of the scientist's work was to make collections of specimens for research purposes. The team collected flowering plants, lichens, fish, flies, land and marine molluscs.

Further trips will collect specimens from other taxonomic groups. The team also broadcast via satellite a series of ‘Nature Live’ events and blogged their activities. You can read the team's activities here.

The local community and tourists were also invited to meet the scientists during a series of walks during their stay – most importantly local children at the Five Islands School were able to meet two of the scientists and participate in a squid dissection!

This project was part funded by the AONB Sustainable Development Fund.

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Lobster and Crawfish Tagging Project

This exciting project will see a number of tags fitted to lobsters and crawfish as part of a two year project to demonstrate the sustainability of Scilly's fisheries.

When these lobsters and crawfish are later caught by fishermen around the Islands, the tag information will be sent to the Isles of Scilly IFCA team, who can then use the information to monitor the lobster and crawfish populations and movement, as well as growth and recapture rates.

"We're incredibly lucky on the Islands that the local fishing community has got completely behind the project. They have been really helpful in allowing us to come on board their vessels and begin the tagging process." said IFCA Officer Doug Holt. "This project is made much easier thanks to the helpfulness of the local fishermen."

It is hoped that the data will show that crawfish and lobster stocks are sustainable. "Proof that our stocks are sustainable could lead to an increase in the value of local produce as restaurants and food sellers place higher priority on supplying customers with fresh food that is sourced in a sustainable way." commented Doug Holt, IFCA Officer.

The Isles of Scilly has been selected as part of an EU pilot study to see the impact of introducing crawfish that were bred in captivity. The scheme that includes locations in mainland Europe includes Scilly as the only English region for the project.

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What's On in the AONB

Islands' Summer Fetes- AONB Staff and Wildlife Trust Staff will join the Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project team as we inform Scilly about the Seabird Recovery Project.

We will be providing on the spot information about the project, craft and badge making and we'll also be bringing along fun games for the children to enjoy!

We look forward to seeing you there!

St Martin's Fete- 31st July

St Agnes Fete- 5th August

Bryher Fete- 18th August

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Bronze Age Project- Can you dig it?

Experience Scilly like never before on a 3 day voyage to discover Bronze Age Scilly.  This is a joint project with the Council of the Isles of Scilly Children's Services team and led by Somerset based Archaeologist, Marc Cox.

Dates:   6, 7 & 8 August
Time: 9.30am to 3.30pm (approx)
Age:    8 to 14 year olds
Cost:   £22.50

Please contact Children's Services on 01720 423680 for more information or to book a place.

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Beach Clean- Join staff from the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust and help clean Old Town beach. Marine borne litter poses a huge threat to our much loved marine wildlife; it doesn't look too pretty either.

Help the AONB Partnership to keep Scilly special.

When: Saturday 27th July, 2.00p.m.

Where: Please meet on Old Town Beach 

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

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