Wildlife Watchpoint
I started in March when we were busy making preparations for the new wildlife watchpoint. The old serpentine store at the Point became available and we decided to renovate it and open it as a wildlife information centre to support the outdoor watchpoint at Lizard Point. The watchpoint is run entirely by volunteers, with a little help from me, and is open daily from April to mid September. So far this year the team has talked to well over 12,000 visitors about seals, choughs and other local wildlife. Here’s a before and after shot:
 |
| Pics 1&2 - Wildlife Watchpoint - before and after renovations Pic 3 - Crowd seal watching at the outdoor watchpoint |
March came with a very unexpected surprise that broke the ‘chough rulebook’*. The new Lizard pair who nested for the first time at Lizard Point in 2014, decided to move round the corner, whether the view was better or the neighbours friendlier who knows, but we had to think quickly to get our nest watch plans in place for a new site. The new nest was no longer visible from the watchpoint which meant we were going to need twice as many volunteers to cover the round the clock nest watch from March until June. Despite the initial difficulties for us, the choughs had a bumper brood with 5 healthy chicks fledging in early June. Thanks to sightings sent into the RSPB (cornishchoughs@rspb.org.uk) we know, and are delighted to report, that all 5 chicks are all still alive.
(* Normally choughs are faithful to their nest site for life). Here’s a video of the chicks on their first flights:
 |
| Local poop poster |
Friends of Poldhu
I also work with the Friends of Poldhu who carry out regular beach cleans at Poldhu and Church Cove. Some of the Friends are about to embark on a mission to reduce the amount of dog waste left along the coastpath in the area. Watch this space for the new friendly Dog Rangers! If you are interested in getting involved please get in touch: catherine.lee@nationaltrust.org.uk
 |
| Mullion Harbour Day 2015 - for more pics click here |
Rosie, from the visitor services team, and I organised Mullion Harbour Day this year, It was the first time we’d ever done but with help from the Ranger Team we had great day and a very successful event. Already we are looking forward to next year.
 |
| Elle (Countryfile), Joe and Wireless Station volunteer John Davies |
As well as coordinating all the volunteers for nest watch and the watchpoint, part of my new job is to work with the volunteers at Lizard Wireless Station. This fascinating museum celebrates Marconi’s ground breaking experiments in radio. It is here that he proved that wireless technology could be used to communicate over the horizon, he also went on to prove it could be used to communicate with the Americas from his station at Poldhu. Marconi has shaped communication as we know it today and a visit to the Lizard Wireless Station will send you back in time and give you a real sense of The Lizard’s history. The building is over 110 years old and is set up with replica equipment so that it looks just as it would have in Marconi’s day. Volunteers host museum tours for visitors from 12-3pm (on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays) from March until October.
Sound of our Shores
 |
| Elle from Countryfile talking to Joe at Kynance - photo Steve Haywood |
Because of the obvious links with sound, Marconi’s Lizard Wireless Station (LWS) has been in the limelight regularly this summer, so far we’ve had Countryfile and Radio 3 come for a visit to talk about Marconi and the ‘Sounds of our Shores’ Project. This coming week we have a Sound Artist and Musician called Joe Acheson (from the Hidden Orchestra) coming to LWS. Joe will be staying with us for a few days recording various coastal sounds as well as sounds from the museum in preparation for creating a piece of music to celebrate Marconi’s work on the Lizard. You can find out more about Joe’s other work here.
 |
| Petroc Trelawny (BBC Radio 3) visiting Lizard Wireless Station |
Unfortunately the Lizard episode of Countryfile is no longer available on iPlayer, but you can listen to the BBC Radio 3 broadcast here, featuring the Lizard Wireless station, sounds of our shores and the Cadgwith singers.
And the rest...
So those are the exciting bits that everyone wants to hear about, but to keep things running smoothly in the background I’m in the office most days. If I’m not doing emails then I’m often in meetings to discuss events and opportunities on the Lizard. One of the things that has taken up quite a large chunk of time this year is the launch of our new online volunteering system, which I must say is brilliant, it means a lot less paperwork for me and makes all of our processes much quicker. It has taken time and a touch of effort for the staff and volunteers to get used to the new system, but overall we’ve had a hugely positive response. I can certainly say that it makes keeping in touch with and looking after our 90 plus volunteers, here on the Lizard, a lot easier. It also gives our volunteers more flexibility in booking shifts, claiming expenses as well as easier access to information. WIN WIN WIN!
If you are interested in volunteering with us, please do get in touch: catherine.lee@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Cat
No comments:
Post a Comment