Scilly's Marine and Coastal Environment

Plastic Bag Free Scilly

The Five Islands School Green Team and the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit are working in partnership on a campaign to make the Isles of Scilly Plastic Bag Free.

In recent years there have been various efforts to reduce plastic bag use in Scilly. Some of these efforts were relatively successful. This time we would love to make real and permanent change.

It would be fantastic if all residents and retailers across the islands supported this campaign and helped to keep Scilly special by curbing unnecessary and hazardous waste such as plastic bags.

In the near future the students of the Green Team will also be conducting surveys on plastic bags use across the islands.

The AONB Unit are working closely with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) on this project. For more information on plastic bag free initiatives MCS have produced a Why Go Plastic Bag Free booklet.

If you would like more information on this project or would like to get involved, please contact the AONB Unit.

Island Light Festival

Over 150 children, young people and adults from across the Islands became involved in the inaugural Island Light Festival organised by the Council of the Isles of Scilly Children's Services team.

The Island Light Festival was led by mainland-based artist Reg Payne and his band of talented artists in partnership with collegues from the Eden Project, who run events such as the Truro Festival of Lights.

The AONB Unit were there to lend a hand during the lantern making sessions during which all things 'Scilly' were constructed from willow and paper. Participants were asked to create something that reminded them of the Islands. Some of the masterpieces included boats, birds, seals, stars and even a giant lighthouse!

The grand parade of lanterns took place on Friday 24th February with an incredible number of local residents watching the procession. 

Charity Shop Project Gains Brownie Points

The Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit, the Brownies, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company and the Council of the Isles of Scilly have come together to support Cancer Research UK. This collaborative project aims to minimise waste on the Islands and to extend the lifespan of unwanted quality items by making them available through mainland charity shops.

The church charity shop on St Mary’s, Scilly is well supported by the local community which regularly donates good quality unwanted items. However, the shop has limited storage so when new stock arrives there is nowhere to store unsold stock. The Council’s Technical Services Department transports these goods to Well Cross Lane Old Gig Shed. Here the Brownies, under the supervision of AONB staff, pack old stock into plastic crates (originally used to deliver groceries to Scilly) and the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company carries the goods free of charge to the mainland. As a by-product, plastic crates are also returned to the mainland for reuse by the supermarket.

If you are an Islander and get your groceries delivered from the mainland in plastic crates, then please leave them outside the Old Gig Shed, Well Cross Lane, St. Mary’s, where they will be packed with excess charity goods and distributed to mainland charity shops.

Projects Gain Funding Through the AONB Sustainable Development Fund 2011-2012

The AONB Partnership is pleased to announce that another three projects have been awarded grant-aid through the AONB Sustainable Development Fund (2011-2012).

Lighting Guide for the Isles of Scilly

This project, developed by the Council of the Isles of Scilly's Planning and Economic Development Department, seeks to inform and guide the choice of suitable external lighting for domestic, business and commercial properties to help mitigate the effects of light pollution.

The Lighting Guide for the Isles of Scilly will also be used to assess planning applications as light pollution is a material consideration during the planning process.

AONB SDF Grant Offer £658

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Bennett Boatyard-Improved Waste Facilities

The proprietors of Bennett Boatyard, Bryher are improving and upgrading their current yacht waste facility which is offered free of charge to visiting yachtsmen.

The project involves purchasing new bins, screens and signs for the current waste site. This will improve the service currently offered to visiting yachtsmen. The project will also greatly improve the aesthic quality of the area.

AONB SDF Grant Offer £1,012

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Isles of Scilly Fisherman's Association : Purchase of Ice Plant

The Isles of Scilly Fisherman's Association is purchasing a new ice plant for the fishing community of the Isles of Scilly. Currently the fishermen have to transport ice from the mainland at a cost to both the fisherman and the environment. The new ice plant, stored on St Mary's Quay, will enable fisherman from Scilly to store their catch in a more sustainable manner.

AONB SDF Grant Offer £4,146

Keeping Scilly Special: A New Publication from the AONB Partnership

The AONB Partnership is pleased to launch a new publication. Keeping Scilly Special is designed to inform visitors, whether here for a day trip or longer, of Scilly's unique environment and the ways in which we can all help to keep Scilly special.

This publication is currently available online from the AONB website.

Keeping Scilly Special posters and leaflets will also be available soon.

Monitoring Scilly's Dark Night Skies

The AONB Unit has recently purchased a Dark Sky Quality Meter to assess how dark the Islands' night skies really are.

As part of the AONB Landscape Monitoring Project, developed in collaboration with the Cornwall and Tamar Valley AONB Partnerships, the Isles of Scilly AONB Unit will use the dark sky quality meter to measure the darkness of Scilly's skies over a period of time.

This data will help inform future work on Scilly's dark night skies, and will also help to measure changes in light pollution levels.

More information on Scilly's dark night skies can be found on the AONB website.

Up and Coming Events in Scilly

Could you help clean Scilly's Beaches?

The AONB Unit is looking for volunteers to help clean the following Islands' beaches in March:

Monday 19th- St Agnes

Thursday 22nd - Samson

Friday 23rd - St Martin's

If you are interested in helping out, please contact the AONB Unit on 01720 424315 or email aonb@scilly.gov.uk for more information.

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'Spring into Scilly' 

The AONB Unit is working with the Council of the Isles of Scilly Children's Services team and the RSPB to coordinate an action packed, 3-day project designed to get Scilly's children and young people out and about in the AONB, whilst also having lots of fun!

We will be making bird boxes, taking part in a rock pool ramble with the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, visiting St Martin's to find out what its like to run a flower farm and discovering the wildlife right on our doorstep!

Who for: Young People from school academic years 5-11.

When: Tuesday 3rd-Thursday 5th April 2012.

For bookings please contact the Isles of Scilly Children's Centre on 01720 423680.