A message from our Chairman

An appeal ... small is beautiful!

Members will remember, I'm sure, the glorious moment in 2001 when Babs Atkins signed a 199-year lease for St George's Island, and Callum's team began conservation work. Simultaneously, a group of people have been meeting, with Babs' support, to discuss longer-term plans. These include using this small, beautiful and unique bit of Cornish coastline for observational and educational purposes. Another interesting challenge will be to explore the possibilities for alternative technology at this, the "Atkins Observatory". To these ends it seems probable that the Trust could obtain

funding, but first we must have detailed plans and feasibility studies in order to fulfil the criteria (for drawing down these monies). In the meantime there are many smaller jobs which have to be done.

One urgent task is to refurbish the accommodation on the island. It has been the custom in the past for Babs and her sister to invite interested guests to stay and help out with the maintenance of footpaths and other such work. We would like to continue this practice but first we must proceed with the necessary renovations to accommodate not only our reserves staff but Trust members who would be willing to live and work on the island for short periods (it is not possible to make a really significant impact on one-day visits).

Which brings me back to the title of this article. Looe Island is certainly small - 22 acres - and it is undoubtedly beautiful but we have reached a stage where our progress is being brought to a standstill because of a lack of working capital. This appeal, to you our members, is for volunteer handymen and women: carpenters, builders, plumbers, painters ... or if you are unable to offer your skills perhaps you could help with the acquisition of wood, blocks, cement, nails and screws, electrical switches and sockets, paint and the like? At this stage we will require both materials and volunteers if we are to make progress with the initial plans for the Atkins Observatory.

Please contact Callum Devency on (01209) 710272.

Howard Curnow

In December, Barclays Bank - through its Barclays SiteSavers scheme - added £500 to the £4,500 it had already given for access and public information work at Nansmellyn Marsh in Perranporth. The final touches to the project included a unique, vandal-proof, metal bird hide created by students from the Conservation Department of Duchy College at its Rosewarne Campus. David Rogers of Barclays (right) presented the cheque to Reserve Project Officer Bena Smith (centre).