Ascension : Ascension Island Conservation Department
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 16.12.2010 (Article Archived on 30.12.2010)
Thank you to the RAF Movements team for their continued voluntary work clearing paths in the Green Mountain National Park
Volunteering with the Conservation Department
Thank you to the RAF Movements team for their continued voluntary work clearing paths in the Green Mountain National Park.
Report by Cpl Paul McLean.
My name is Cpl Paul McLean and I am part of a 4 man team currently on detachment in Ascension from 1 Air Mobility Wing based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. We’re normally on a rotation and can spend anything from 4 to 6 weeks on Ascension. Our primary tasking whilst on detachment in Ascension is to reinforce the permanent staff with the handling of the South Atlantic Airbridge during Op Shackleton.
WO Dave Drake who is the Base Warrant Officer and Officer Commanding Movements is keen for us to take an interest in the Conservation work on the Island. We regularly assist the Conservation Team with their work in the Green Mountain National Park, clearing the many paths around the mountain.
One of the paths we were tasked with clearing was Elliots. I was keen to get involved in this, as I have never been to the Island before and I don’t know whether I will ever get the chance to do so again.
Midmorning on Wednesday 10th November we set off on our excursion up to Green Mountain with our machetes in order to complete the task. We parked up at the car park and made our way upwards through the winding road to where Elliott’s pathway began. We were told that the path clearing would take a few hours at least, but as there was 7 of us this made the task at hand that much easier to accomplish.
There were some very narrow parts of the pathway we had to navigate through and clear in order to make peoples walking experience that much easier. Members of our team also assisted with the clearing of the path to the Dew Pond on the summit of Green Mountain.
All in all everyone thoroughly enjoyed path clearing on Green Mountain. Whilst up on the mountain there are spectacular views of the island to take in. This is something we have never done before. It is very different from our every day work, an experience I am certain not to forget.
Recycling
We are looking for used drink cans (not crushed) to use as plant pots for our endemic plants. If anyone is able to save cans please let us know so we can collect them.
Volunteers welcome.
Please contact Olivia Renshaw
olivia.renshaw@ascension.gov.ac
|
