Annual Report April 2006 – March 2007

NETWORKING

A significant 20 year milestone in the history of the Helford Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (HVMCA) will have been reached at the end of October 2007. This was the date when the results of 4 years of discussion, survey and consultation came together and the Cornwall County Council Planning Committee approved the creation of the HVMCA. This was followed in July 1988 by a public launch with naturalist, Tony Soper, and a poster competition for local children in Gweek Village Hall. Despite many changes in these two decades the central theme of ‘Community, Commerce and Conservation’, aimed at improving and protecting the sensitive marine wildlife of the Helford River, is as strong as ever and indeed the Group has had remarkably wide recognition.

Quarterly meetings have continued to provide a well-used local forum attracting an average of 21 representatives from the many different river user and conservation sectors who exchange ideas and information and learn from invited specialists.
Topics discussed in the last year include Finding Sanctuary – SW coast Marine Protected Areas, Ship to Ship Oil transfer, Fal River Links, water quality monitoring, the new pontoon and ferry, native oyster bed regeneration with the culture of other shellfish and seabed damage by scallopers near the HVMCA. Dolphins had been seen again in the HVMCA with one casualty at Durgan (the total cetacean casualty list for Cornwall in 2006 was 175).

A major European initiative, the Cycleau project (water cycle), which took place in the South West along with other water catchments in Cornwall, Brittany and Ireland, came to an end and the valuable lessons learnt about water catchment management, community participation, sediment movement and water quality were being disseminated widely. The project specifically included the involvement of specialist community groups such as the HVMCA Group and linked cultural activities.
HVMCA members have again been involved with local and national marine conservation issues through Cornwall County, District and Parish Councils; English Nature now Natural England; Environment Agency; South West Water; WWF (UK); the National Trust; Duchy Oyster Farm; Helford Moorings Officer and other River users. Locally the first-time sewage scheme at Helford village engendered some heated discussion, as did some water-side planning decisions, whilst nationally, the Chairman, David Muirhead, had linked the Group with ministerial discussion on the Marine Bill proposals.

Detailed reports of HVMCA meetings on request keeps some 55 email and 17 postal recipients in contact: not all attend meetings regularly. Numerous telephone requests had been received from other organisations and students of all ages.

PUBLIC AWARENESS

Attractive leaflets covering background information and current events publicised the Group widely on land and, through moorings and Harbour officers, many boat-owners. Thanks are due to all leaders of the monthly events and volunteer helpers.
Matching laminated A3 and A2 size posters have been prepared to sell for indoor display.

The National Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, has kindly offered to display the HVMCA boards and accommodate items needing storage following the loss of the Kerrier District Council’s Helston office.
Two simple A4 x8 newsletters, Spring and Autumn reported on species, habitats and people. Our thanks to Sheila McCann for her DTP assistance.

The HVMCA 10 leaflet information pack was being updated in two stages as resources became available. Support had been offered from the National Trust, Cycleau Project and the HMCG Members Section.

Substantial grants from the Esmée Fairbairn Trust, the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Sustainable Development Fund, the Duchy of Cornwall and the National Trust with additional support from other Associate Members and the HMCG Members section was gratefully received. Sincere thanks are offered to all our supporters.

Links with other VMCAs and various marine projects has continued, in particular the Cetacean Stranding project and the Seasearch divers’ recording scheme which is a valuable contribution to the Helford recording tradition.

EVENTS

The Helford MC Group Members Section Chairman, David Nightingale, reports that the section has been actively supportive taking a significant role in various events and promoting the marine conservation message widely.

Over 477 people had taken part in 11 events (one had been postponed)

In January, John Boyle of Shark Bay Films, presented some wonderful marine pictures from his award-winning films, to an enthusiastic audience of 44. A month later Doug Herdson, of the National Marine Aquarium, fascinated a group of 49 with how climate change might affect our marine environment as our northern fauna moved north and southern species moved nearer. A well attended AGM (72+) had the benefit of Dr Paul Gainey’s excellent Helford pictures and lively presentation. Winners of the Poetry Competition were presented with their prizes.

A sunny April day attracted a large number of families and friends 70+ to the Helford Passage shore to explore the rock pools and sandy beach with Pamela Tompsett.

The beautiful Budock Vean Hotel grounds and the adjacent road and shoreline was the unusual setting for the traditional Helford spring flower walk with botanist Keith Spurgin.

A lively group of families and friends (14) met Roger Butts at the National Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, to look closely at the river, the woods and the seals around them and make pictures in words.

In July a full complement of 100 joined the Enterprise boat for another Annual Cruise in glorious sunshine to learn more about the very special local marine scene. One highlight was the shelduck with their ducklings diving as we passed. National Trust volunteers with sea water tanks enabled everyone to have a close look at crabs, worms and molluscs, while Derek Goodwin, a bass expert, showed his first hand experience of young fish using his aerated tanks.

Ruth Williams, returned in August and her group of 21 adults and children constructed some strange monsters and mermaids on the Treath shore. Later in the month Dr Carol Williams gave a most interesting illustrated talk on bats at Trelowarren, but a sudden heavy drizzle curtailed the anticipated evening flight. A September event planned at Gear Farm unfortunately had to be postponed as the leader was called away.

A birds-eye view of the numerous ancient sites and landscapes of the Lizard and Helford River area shown by Steve Hartgroves of the Cornwall Historic Environment Service was enjoyed by some 75+ in October. Martin Rule and Duncan Lyne completed the 2006 programme with a lively expedition around Frenchman’s Creek.

A group of Helford MC Group members benefited from a evening visit to the Falmouth Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

PROJECTS

Derek Goodwin’s Helford juvenile bass investigation begun in 1994 has been scaled down but he was able to report that 2006 hatchlings were found, although in very small numbers. A wide range of other fish species were present.

Tony Sutton’s reports from dives made in the HVMCA indicated a generally healthy state of affairs although he had seen less fish than usual. His recent survey of the historic oyster beds would provide good baseline information as regeneration took place. Small patches of living maerl had been found again and the main subtidal eelgrass beds were spreading. Warning cards and buoys advising against anchoring in the beds to avoid damage to the eelgrass rhizomes have deterred many boat-owners.
Pamela Tompsett had been recording the welcome return of small patches of intertidal eelgrass on Bar Beach, Helford Passage. She had also published a list of marine algae of the Helford VMCA together with Stella Turk and Paul Gainey.
Student Rhiannon Mather, had produced an excellent review of HVMCA trigging activities 1996-2006.

HELFORD VMCA WEBSITE

With the help of Jayne Herbert the site manager, Ruth Williams, Pamela Tompsett and Rhiannon Mather, the HVMCA website has been updated and extended to include a children’s page. The Helford CD can be purchased on-line and the extracted newsletter, events and news can all be accessed at www.helfordmarineconservation.co.uk. Jayne provides regular monthly statistics.

THANKS

Co-ordinating the full range of HMCG networking and public awareness commitments has resulted in another busy year for me, Pamela Tompsett, so the help and enthusiasm of various members and some other organisations has been most welcome. Thank you to everyone.

Many individuals and organisations have generously contributed their time and expertise in a variety of ways for the benefit of the whole Helford VMCA – a real joint effort!

Pamela E Tompsett Helford MC Group Co-ordinator

Extract from HVMCA newsletter No.34 Spring 2007