Ascension : Conservation Weekly
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 25.08.2011 (Article Archived on 08.09.2011)
Last week we took the Explorers to the old Two Boats Gardens, where they were shown the endemic and indigenous plants of our beautiful island.
Ascension Island Conservation Department
Ascension Explorers
Last week we took the Explorers to the old Two Boats Gardens, where they were shown the endemic and indigenous plants of our beautiful island.
The children learnt about the different types of plants growing on Ascension. Endemic - found only on Ascension. Indigenous – naturally occurring here and in other parts of the world. Introduced - brought to the island.
Explorers meet every Wednesday morning throughout August. Please note that the last activity will fall on Tuesday 30th August. Please meet at the Conservation Centre or Two Boats School for 9.45am pick up. Letters and permission slips are available from the Conservation Office.
Volunteering
We would like to thank volunteer Jannette Allison for her help on Green Mountain and clearing invasives from Long Beach.
‘Hello. I am on Ascension as part of a 10 month trip following Charles Darwin’s voyage of the Beagle. There’s a nice map of his world voyage in your museum. While here, I’ve had the privilege to volunteer with Stedson and his team and they have given me a taste of what it is like to work in conservation. I visited the lush and cool Green Mountain where re-establishment of endemic plant species is underway. I saw tropic bird chicks sitting in cliff cracks each with its own GPS address (not sure about Facebook accounts though) and above were frigate birds balancing on the air looking for a tasty chick dinner. I pulled out lots and lots of weeds on the beach but there are still plenty left so feel free to do the same. Things have changed a bit since Charles Darwin stopped off here in 1836. He remarked on the numerous seabirds sitting on the lava, so tame that you could pick them up. The feral pussy-cats did just this and today in some parts of the island only the guano-encrusted rocks give a clue as to the huge numbers of birds that have disappeared. But hopefully, the great efforts of the Conservation Department to eradicate the feral cats will allow the birds to come back. I have enjoyed my stay on Ascension and learned heaps about this unique island. Thanks a lot to all in the Conservation Department for making me welcome and a special thanks to the kind and friendly people on Ascension Island for making my stay so pleasant. Cheers, Jan’.
Please be advised that due to on-going field work the Conservation Office will open from 7.30am -10am during week days. We open as normal on Saturdays, 10am-12noon, signs will be posted on the door when the office is closed. Volunteers welcome. Please contact Olivia Renshaw or Natasha Williams. Ascension Island Conservation Department. Georgetown. Tel: 6359. Email: olivia.renshaw@ascension.gov.ac natasha.williams@ascension.gov.ac
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