A BBC natural history producer visited Bryher this week as part of a series of talks around the islands.

Andrew Cooper who is also Vice President of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust spoke to a packed out audience at the Community Centre. The talk focused on the importance of protecting the biodiversity of Scilly. The presentation was part of a week of events organised by the Wildlife Trust after they were granted funding to protect heathlands on the Isles of Scilly.

Islander Kris Taylor told Scilly News that the talk was ?wonderful and illustrated clearly how important Scilly is in the world of natural history broadcasting.?

Mr Cooper has been a wildlife film-maker since 1979 and has made thirty natural history films for BBC television.

English Heritage has commissioned a survey, the Isles of Scilly Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment survey, which will examine shipwreck sites within a 12-nautical mile radius of the Islands. The survey will look at the history of the wrecks and consider issues such as threats to their preservation on the sea bed. Cornwall County Council’s Historic Environment Service has won the six-month contract.

The Isles of Scilly’s Council, Museum and Wildlife Trust will be consulted as a part of the survey. The survey might add 300 more shipwreck sites to the 715 already known.

The project will end in December, and a report will be presented to English Heritage with the survey’s findings.

Picture: MV Cita, Scilly?s second most recent wreck.

It has been announced that more than ?500,000 is going to be spent on the heath of the Isles of Scilly.

Professor David Bellamy visited the islands with the intention to launch the project to protect Scilly’s heath land. He spent Tuesday judging various competitions and games that had been set by the Wildlife Trust.

The rare species, which have been formed by exposure to the weather, can be found on many of the islands. Centuries of storms and grazing have shaped the 600 hectares of heath land.

The project, which will cost more than ?500,000 was announced after the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust won grants.
It is thought that grazing will be re-established in some areas and tourists will be encouraged to find out more about the heaths on Scilly.

Officers from the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary have for a third occasion this summer, been involved in a substantial maritime counter-terrorism/anti-smuggling initiative, jointly with officers from HM Customs and Excise, centred around the Isles of Scilly.

The islands and surrounding waters are visited by several hundred vessels during the summer months, many from the Europe and Irish Republic. Several pass through the islands without visiting any other UK mainland ports. It has been recognised that the islands may be seen by some as a quiet ?back door? opportunity to access the UK. Therefore the operations are designed to reassure the public that the security and policing of the islands is an integral part of the Force?s efforts towards a National Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The purpose is to prevent and deter those engaged in criminal and terrorist linked activities from making use of the islands.

The most recent week long initiative ran from Tuesday 19 August 2003 and included the busy Bank Holiday weekend. As with similar initiatives during June and July, Special Branch officers, assisted by local officers and HM Customs officers, have stopped yachts and vessels in the vicinity the islands and checked others moored in the bays and coves. Owners and crews have been spoken to, identification details have been checked and some searches carried out.

This has been a true partnership effort over the summer with shared resources being utilised to the full. The use of the Customs? cutter ?Seeker? and its crew, have enabled officers to intercept vessels at sea and the police underwater search team with their own boats have been utilised in and around the inshore waters and islands.

During the three weeks of operations 222 vessels have been boarded and 723 checks carried out. Whilst no arrests or significant seizures have resulted, much intelligence and information has been gained. Owners and crews have generally responded positively to the initiative, recognising that countering terrorism and anti-smuggling are major priorities for the agencies involved.

Such initiatives will continue in the future to reassure islanders and residents of Devon and Cornwall that Britain?s ?back door? is a secure one.

iPress Release, Police Press Office/i

The organiser of this year’s Bryher Fete has announced that the charity event raised more than ?4,500.

The event, which took place on August 10th, saw hundreds of people flock to South’ard Green on Bryher despite the cloudy weather. Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo opened the fete with a speech highlighting his love for one of Scilly’s smallest islands. The author has written numerous books about Bryher including ‘Why the Whales Came’. The author then spent the afternoon signing copies before judging the children’s painting competition.

Organiser Marian Bennett told Scilly News ‘In spite of the dull weather, or perhaps because of it, more people than ever turned up to enjoy the traditional fun afternoon of Bryher Fete. This means that, not only do we keep Bryher Community Centre and Reading Room going for another year, but we can commence the replacement programme of the four main stain glass windows in Bryher Church.’

The new roofing work on All Saint’s Church on Bryher has recently been completed which was partly funded by previous Bryher Fetes.

There is to be a Broadband Roadshow Day in the Town Hall on 18 September between 10 am and 8 pm to promote the concept of broadband on the Islands.

The Show is being put in by ACT NOW - an Objective One initiative that has joined up several Cornish towns and is now looking at extending the project to more remote or rural areas. There will be a satellite link-up on the day so everyone can see what it is like, how fast it is and it?s benefits.

Off-islanders will have their boat fares covered by the Council.

St Mary?s Carnival went well on Bank Holiday Monday. There was a sand castle competition, many stalls were set up on the Strand and Holgates Green. The bouncy castle was also there.

The highlight of the event was the live music playing. This year, there is to be no Camel Rock, so several local bands played live on Holgates Green.

The weather was fine to overcast until 9 pm when the music was cut short by rainfall. The music equipment on stage had to be turned off and packed away out of the rain.

See “Media Index” (link below) for video of some of the evening?s live music from Quick Exit, Patrick Walker and The (IOS) Blues Brothers.

A couple of weeks ago, the half-season results were published for the weekly domestic races between local crews.

The men?s Golden Eagle crew are leading the total points and swap points. The ladie?s Bonnet crew are leading total points and swap points.

Men?s Swap points:
Bonnet (40)
Dolphin (28)
Galatea (15)
Golden Eagle (45)
Men-A-Vaur (30)
Nornour (23)
Serica (42)
Shah (35)

Ladie?s Swap points:
Bonnet (56)
Czar (34)
Dolphin (46)
Galatea (20)
Golden Eagle (38)
Men-A-Vaur (42)
Nornour (34)
Serica (36)

Men?s total points:
Bonnet (92)
Czar (29)
Dolphin (61)
Galatea (37)
Golden Eagle (111)
Men-A-Vaur (75)
Nornour (58)
Serica (77)
Shah (91)

Ladie?s total points:
Bonnet (112)
Czar (66)
Dolphin (88)
Galatea (36)
Golden Eagle (91)
Men-A-Vaur (92)
Nornour (64)
Serica (59)

Old Wreck Race, 2003

The 3?-mile 30-minute slog half-way from Bishop Rock to St Mary?s Quay is an impressive endurance.

The St Mary?s Golden Eagle crew won the race convincingly, followed by the Shah (St Agnes), and the Emperor (Tresco) which had done a lot of catch-up in the later stages, overtaking the other gigs after a bad start. The other gigs finished:

4. Men-A-Vaur (Tresco/Bryher),
5. Bonnet (St Mary?s),
6. Czar (Tresco/Bryher),
7. Serica (St Mary?s),
8. Galatea (St Martin?s),
9. Nornour (St Mary?s) and
10. Tregarthen?s (St Mary?s novice crew).

Scilly News has begun the second stage of the Greatest Scillonian vote. Please vote for who you think is the greatest Scillonian. Click on the link below.

The Steamship Company have had a busy week. On top of the mist and fog that had delayed some Skybus flights, the two ferries have been in need of repair.

The Gry Maritha had a small corrosion hole which is now fixed. The Scillonian
managed all the freight in her place, however, the crane did sustain some damage and is now fixed.

The Gry left dry dock this afternoon (pictured).