Earthwatch Institue, an organisation keen to get people involved in helping create a sustainable environment, is coming to Scilly with a view to monitor the seal population.

The project called ‘Seals of Scilly’ is a seven-day project operating throughout August and September. Interested members of the public are advised to contact Earthwatch early, as there are limited places. Full details of the research can be found in “2005 Earthwatch Expedition Guide”, which can be found on the Earthwatch website (see link on right).

From their press release: “Earthwatch is offering environmentally aware members of the public the unique opportunity to help protect the undocumented seal populations on the Isles of Scilly.

“With the support of Earthwatch volunteers, scientist and seal expert Stephen Westcott will be carrying out the first comprehensive baseline survey of grey seals in order to identify the pressures facing the species. All the information gathered will help to shape recommendations for a future grey seal monitoring regime and help to manage the pressures on the sites and in the waters they inhabit.

“Small volunteer teams will cross rugged yet spectacular terrain to search for seal pups and adults. Seals on land or in the adjacent waters will be discreetly filmed and photographed in order to gather data that will directly inform marine conservation managers and eco-tourism operators.

“?The grey seals give birth to an unknown number of white-coated pups while, at the same time, being subject to the stresses of human disturbance? says Westcott. ?The challenge for the Earthwatch teams will be to find out where and when they are born, to identify individual seal mothers and to associate them with specific sites. They will also help to examine perceptions of these seals and to quantify levels and rhythms of disturbance.

“Dr Roger Mitchell, Chief Scientist at Earthwatch added; ?Earthwatch is dedicated to furthering environmental research and, by encouraging member of the public to join our projects, we aim to engage the broader community in hands on conservation action. Not only do our volunteers play their part in helping to conserve our natural world but they also enjoy team spirit and learn new skills in the field?.”

A local conservation trust is hoping to raise ?120,000 in order to protect part of the wreck of HMS Colossus, which lies near Samson. The trust is hoping to preserve a piece of carving from the stern of the vessel.

The Colossus was famous for Lord Hamilton?s Etruscan vases, which went down with the ship in 1798. The vases were recovered in 1974. Part of the hull was discovered in 2001.

The Commission for Social Care’s inspection of Scilly left the Islands ranked in the bottom eight Councils in the UK for care. Of three stars, Scilly and seven other Councils were awarded zero.

Clive Mumford reported in the Cornishman: “Some of the inspection criticisms go some way to substantiating Scilly’s claim that it is an anomaly when set against standard criteria. Scilly is rapped for not publishing information relating to ethnicity of staff and applicants, yet the report accepts that no staff or applicants have been from minority groups.”

Read Clive’s report on ThisIsCornwall: http://www.thisiscornwall.com/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144143&command=displayContent&sourceNode=144131&contentPK=11417409&moduleName=InternalSearch&keyword=scilly&formname=sidebarsearch