Ascension : Ascension Island Conservation Department
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 11.03.2010 (Article Archived on 25.03.2010)

Green Mountain path clearing

Green Mountain path clearing

We would like to thank the RAF Movements team for their continued assistance over the last few weeks with clearing the Green Mountain paths. Their hard work is much appreciated.

Report by SAC Gav “Geordie” Barr

Shortly after arriving on the Ascension Island for my second visit, I was given the task of organising a conservation day for the lads on the movements team here. I gave Stedson a call at the conservation centre to ask what he needed help with. We decided on a bit of path clearing up Green Mountain, he said there are a few paths path up there getting well overgrown.

The lads and I went up there on Wednesday after work. The team included Flt Lt Aide Penwill and Sgt Dave Lockett, both of H flight; Cpl Carlos Slater, me Sac Geordie Barr and Sac Rory Verrill all of E flight on 1AMW. Dave and little Carlos had never been up Green Mountain before and were looking forward to getting up there to see what it was like. Little Carlos was so excited that he hardly slept the night before so he was quite tired like. However, when we got there and Stedson got the old machete choppers out he was full of energy. We had a quick safety briefing, probably because young Rory was swinging his little chopper about everywhere, and then went along Elliott’s path. We sent little Carlos to the front as his was the biggest and worked our way through the overgrown path.

Two hours later we got to the end of the walk. It was a nice little walk and the views were amazing. We had a really good time and so I organised another path clearing session for the following week.

This time we cleared Bishops path, unfortunately Flt Lt Aide Penwill had to go back to Lyneham England to file some papers, but thankfully WO Dave Drake was back and joined us for the clearing. Cpl Dean “Tweakie” Buckingham had also came back from some leave in England, he was going to join us but he had a very important meeting with a sun bed so couldn’t make it.

Bishops was a lot more overgrown than the previous path a week earlier, but it was shorter so we had it done in no time.

We really enjoyed our two days of conservation work up Green Mountain and the lads are going to carry on the conservation days in the following weeks. Below is a picture of the five of us having just completed the first walk, with me and Rory throwing out the E flight sign. Although Rory seems a bit confused about it, at least he’s happy.

From left to right: Geordie, Rory, Carlos, Dave and Aide.

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