Funding is available through the Isles of Scilly AONB Sustainable Development Fund

Isles of Scilly Honeybee Project-Update

Bee-keepers in Scilly joined the Cornwall Beekeeper's President, Colin Rees, for a two day training course in Scilly organised by the AONB Unit.

The course provided local bee keepers with information and training on topics such as bee health, bee hygiene and queen rearing.
 

Clare Lewis, a resident beekeeper, said ‘Colin’s visit proved to be invaluable, providing a whole gamut of accessible and expertly delivered information and hands-on practical application for our small group of beekeepers across the islands. Our geographical location is a blessing with regards to the distance being a hurdle for bee-related diseases to breach; the downside is that our beekeepers have limited access to any kind of formal training and shared experiences in their field. Colin is very much ‘in the loop’ regarding up-to-date best practice on bee husbandry’.
 

Bee Alert Publication
 

The AONB Partnership has produced a new publication to support the Isles of Scilly Honeybee Project. Bee Alert informs local residents and visitors to the Islands about the aims of the Isles of Scilly Honeybee Project, as well as information on how to help Honeybees, for example, by planting bee-friendly flowers and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.
 

More information on the Isles of Scilly Honeybee Project can be found on the AONB website.

Spring into Scilly 2012

The Isles of Scilly AONB Unit, the Council of the Isles of Scilly Children’s Services team and the RSPB joined forces to bring together a three-day holiday club activity for Scilly’s young people.

The three days, organised over the Easter holidays, encompassed a wide range of environmental activities providing young people in Scilly with the opportunity to explore the amazing wildlife and habitats found so close to home.

On the first day the group made nest boxes to attract robins, tits and sparrows in the Abbey Gardens (Tresco), as well as carrying out a survey of bird species. The group also heard about the ‘Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project’ through which Scilly's important breeding seabird colonies are protected and conserved by Natural England, the RSPB and Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, with support from the AONB Partnership.

The wet weather on the second day may have prevented our trip to St Martin’s, but bad weather did not dampen the young people's spirits! Instead we carried out indoor ornithological activities, visited the Isles of Scilly Museum to find out about Scillonian heritage and in the afternoon headed out for a wildlife survey, whilst dodging the downpours! 

On the third day at Porth Hellick, St Mary's the young people discovered starfish and crabs in the rock pools on a rockpool ramble with the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust. The young people also helped protect the marine environment by taking part in a beach clean.

Well done to all those involved, we hope you had a great time!

Big Star Count 2012-The results

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) has published the results from the Big Star Count 2012, which for the first time includes the Isles of Scilly.

Local residents, and visitors to Scilly, were invited to take part in Big Star Count 2012 back in January of this year. Participants were encouraged by the AONB Unit to count as many stars, with the naked eye, within the constellation of Orion, producing varying results.

CPREs star count map 2012 shows that Scilly is on a par with other protected landscapes, such as Exmoor National Park. Most people in Scilly saw between 16 and 25 stars in Orion. By comparison some other parts of the South West, such as the area around Plymouth, have relatively high levels of light pollution, with most people viewing less than five stars in Orion.

Take a look at CPREs results and the Star Count Map 2012

Beach Clean Bonanza with BTCV

The AONB Unit organise beach cleans for visiting groups and local residents throughout the year.

The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), now known as TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) visited Scilly as part of a 'Conservation Holiday' during which they took part in a week-long programme of beach cleans.

The group cleaned beaches on St Agnes, St Martin's, Samson and St Mary's, with help from local volunteers and the AONB Unit, clearing an astonishing 60 bags of marine-borne litter, plus 30 large items such as nets, floats and fishing crates.

Thanks to BTCV/TCV and local volunteers for helping to

Keep Scilly Special

A Look Back at SDF Projects Supported by the AONB Partnership

The Isles of Scilly Veterinary Support Group (IOSVSG) is a small group of local volunteers dedicated to supporting the resident veterinary surgeon on the Islands. The group has, for the past 5 years, been raising funds to construct and maintain a new veterinary surgery on the Islands.

For many years sick and injured animals requiring surgery had to be sent to the mainland to be cared for. This is both expensive and distressing for the owners.

The previous small surgery, which was equipped with little apparatus, was not really fit for purpose. In 2008-2009 IOSVSG received funding through the AONB Sustainable Development Fund to purchase essential equipment for the new veterinary surgery, including an operating table and an overhead operating lamp. This equipment now allows the resident vet to carry out operations locally, making it more cost effective for the owners, and also providing the resident vet with a sustainable income.

In 2010 IOSVSG were awarded SDF grant-aid for rainwater harvesting, wood burners and insulation for the newly built veterinary surgery. These sustainable design measures minimise the surgery's carbon footprint and running costs, helping to secure the long-term viability of the veterinary surgeon on the Islands. 

Rebecca Steggles, the Isles of Scilly AONB Assistant, caught up with the Chairman of the IOSVSG, Bill Wilson, who said that without the support from the AONB Sustainable Development Fund, and other fund-raisers across the Islands and elsewhere, the completion of the veterinary surgery would not have been possible. Bill added that AONB SDF awards made to this project have helped secure an essential community service that continues to support residents, the farming community and visitors to the Isles of Scilly.

What's on in the AONB

Art Scilly 2012

Running from Saturday 12th May-Saturday 19th May, local and visiting artists to Scilly are hosting a variety of events and courses across the Islands to share their skills and inspiration drawn from the Islands.

Some of the things on offer include:

-  Beginners Drawing with Sue Lewington

- Photography Walk with Chris Hall

- Raku Pottery with Scott Thompson

This event has been supported by the Isles of Scilly AONB Sustainable Development Fund (SDF).

For more information, please visit the Art Scilly Website.

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