The Isles of Scilly is the third most unspoilt county in England, a survey has revealed.

Just 26% of land on the Islands is disturbed by buildings, transport and noise.

A ‘tranquillity map’ compiled by the Campaign to Protect Rural England shows that more than half of the country is affected by nearby roads, towns, pylons, aircraft and trains.

The map does not include areas within two-and-a-half miles of a power station, two miles from large roads or towns, or half a mile from a main railway line.

Northumberland is the most unspoilt county with 17% of land disturbed, followed by Herefordshire with 21%.

The charity warns that the last remaining tranquil areas may disappear by the end of the century if the current trend continues.

CPRE chief executive Shaun Spiers told the Daily Mail: “The findings are a wake-up call for the Government. The impact of development spreads way beyond its immediate footprint. More must be done to protect what is left from further fragmentation.”

In the early 1960s, 26% of England was disturbed by the sight and sound of urban development, growing to 41% by the 1990s and to about 50% by this year.

The IOS Bird Group has erected a new hide at Great Pool on Tresco.

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 IOS Wildlife trust have been granted ?233,000 by the National Lottery to support their five-year project called “Waves of Heath”. The aim is to restore the heathland around the Islands.

The grant celebrations coincided with the Trust’s birthday. Celebrations were held at Carn Thomas Hall, where local children were invited to be creative, making kites and t-shirts.

Sadie Rhodes, a biology student at Bath University and a volunteer warden with the Trust told The Cornishman: “It is important to show local people what the trust does and to get children involved. The children will remember that they used natural materials to make kites and decorations and to print t-shirts - that’s a step towards appreciating the importance of the heathland habitat.”

North Hill on Samson has been closed to the public until 31st August. The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust has taken the action due to the large number of Common Terns that are breeding on the island.

The Wildlife Trust say that by restricting access they hope to “minimise disturbance.”

Posters that have gone up around the islands also state that by protecting these birds it’s hoped that Europe’s rarest seabirds, the Roseate Tern, will return to the island to breed as well.

The warm weather may attract tropical birds but things were going a bit far when a loose parrot was spotted on the islands.

The bird was seen on St Mary?s by local couple Georgia and Rob Hale who saw it on their roof last week.

Georgia told Scilly News: “It was really strange to see it.”

According to one islander on St Agnes there several people saw a wild parrot last summer although it is unclear whether it is the same one.

A local bird enthusiast also has revealed that he believes it is an escapee from a Cornish Zoo.

Bird watchers have been making their way out to Annet after a local boatman spotted a particularly rare seabird.

Joe Pender from St Mary?s saw a Black Guillemot, which has only been seen on Scilly on about 5 occasions.

The black duck like bird has white wing patches and red feet and are related to puffins. They are mostly found in the Setland Islands and Ireland.

This news comes as RSPB experts have been installed on the Scillonian to offer help and advice to keen birdwatchers hoping to spot some interesting species.

Picture: RSPB.org

A new survey has revealed that the number of seabirds in Scilly is falling.

The survey called Seabird 2000 found that although numbers have risen over the last 3 decades the South West?s numbers are dwindling. One of the most shocking results is the tern population which numbers are falling somewhere between 10 and 30 per cent. The roseate terns are said to be particularly worrying.

On Scilly conservationists have already been tackling the falling numbers of Roseate Terns by creating special breeding areas on Samson.

Dr Norman Ratcliff, a senior RSPB research biologist says that “The presence of eight million sea birds provides living proof of the richness of the seas around our islands, but these birds are also sensitive living barometers and the declines of some species are highly worrying.”

Picture: Chris Hawes

For the third year running the RSPB and the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group have joined forces to make the journey to the Islands a bit more interesting with the help of an on-board wildlife guide every Friday from 2 April.

A team of five enthusiastic volunteers (mainly from Cornwall) have been recruited by the RSPB to put their birdwatching skills to the test.

Passengers travelling to the islands on board The Scillonian III any Friday from 2 April onwards [excluding July and August] will have the chance to ask for help identifying seabirds and other marine wildlife as the ferry makes it way to the islands.

One willing volunteer, Paul Roberts from Mount Hawke, is looking forward to his second season as a regular guide. ?I moved to Cornwall four years ago after being redundant from my job at Heathrow airport and have been volunteering for the RSPB ever since I arrived.

?I volunteer on Marazion Marsh nature reserve and help protect the choughs at the Lizard but working on The Scillonian is definitely the most challenging - and the most fun!

?As a regular visitor to the Isles of Scilly for over 20 years I?ve got to know the route pretty well and it never fails to turn up one or two surprises. Last year I got everyone looking out for birds from the top deck and we all had great fun working out what things were and where they might have come from.?

?Having a wildlife guide aboard has been an enormous success and we get lots of feedback from passengers about how much they enjoy looking out for all the different birds?In addition to regular seabirds like gannets and gulls, last year Paul spotted an Artic skua, black guillemot, Manx shearwater, kittiwakes and a storm petrel. Also on the list were sea mammals like basking sharks and harbour porpoises.

Lisa Soper from the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group says, ?Having a wildlife guide aboard has been an enormous success and we get lots of feedback from passengers about how much they enjoy looking out for all the different birds. The Scillies are a very special place and many of our passengers go there specifically for its wonderful wildlife.?

Apart from the amazing birdlife that the trip to Scilly offers you RSPB members get a better incentive with special day return tickets from just ?16 (instead of ?32), on Fridays from April to June and again from September to October.