Chairman's Report

Another summer of outside events is nearly over and all were well attended and enjoyable. Indoor meeting topics ranged from climate change in the marine environment to the specialities of the HVMCA and attracted audiences of between 45 and 75. The shore events drew between 15 and 72 with the Annual Conservation Cruise maintaining a full 100 complement. Next year's events programme has, as usual, been imaginatively drafted by Pamela Tompsett and includes a wide variety of activities and talks.

There are about a dozen schools in the Helford catchment area to which Jenna Oakes, our schools liaison officer, sends HVMCA information. Jenna has also been talking with Alison Forward, education officer for Cornwall Wildlife Trust and they have agreed that there will be a mutual liaison in order to promote interest and awareness of our river in these schools. You may recall that over the past three years we have organised competitions (photographic, painting and poetry) to generate interest in the Helford. This year we have a drawing competition, both freehand and computer generated pictures, with the river as the theme. Details are shown in the current events leaflet. We hope that it will be as successful as previous competitions, but at present the take-up is very disappointing. If you are able to promote it, we would be very grateful.

Our membership remains much the same at about 200 with an income of some £1100, a significant and important addition to the grants, donations and sponsorship which enable the Helford Marine Conservation Group to function.

David Nightingale, Chairman HMCG, Members section.

Extract from HVMCA newsletter No.33 Autumn 2006