Hiking, Walking & Rambling

The Welsh Wildlife Trusts have completed the purchase of one of the UK’s most spectacular wildlife havens.

Skokholm Island, a 247-acre island three miles off the Pembrokeshire coast, has been bought following a six-month fundraising drive. Grants were received from the Countryside Council for Wales, the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and the Tubney Charitable Trust. Donations from wildlife-lovers across the world helped push the total to £650,000. The appeal remains open to raise further funds for future management of the mile-long island.

The island was once owned by the Earl of Pembroke and last changed hands in 1646, when it was bought for £300 by William Philipps, a barrister and one of the founders of the Dale Castle Estate.

The family estate has owned it ever since, and reluctantly decided to offer it for sale last summer following the death of Mrs Osra Lloyd-Philipps. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) has managed the island for the past 50 years, and was given preferred purchaser status by the executors.

Roger Turner, chair of WTSWW said: “We are thrilled to be the new owners of the island, and would like to thank everyone who has made this possible. “

“As well as donations from major organisations, we received more than £150,000 from individuals. They included Wildlife Trust members, people living throughout Wales, and those from further afield who had either visited the island in the past or had some other connection.

“It was a huge challenge to raise the funds required in the timescale given but, with the support of the whole Wildlife Trust movement and our funders, we did it.”

Norman Tyler, of managing agents Chester-Master, expressed his delight at the successful sale “after so long and happy an association”.

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales also manages neighbouring Skomer Island on behalf of the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW). Roger Thomas, CCW’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted that Skokholm has been bought by the Wildlife Trusts and we were pleased to be able to help with the purchase.

“Both Skokholm and Skomer are internationally-important for birds and other wildlife and we look forward to seeing the Wildlife Trusts continue to care for these very special islands.”

Stephen Johnson, head of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, added: “The National Land Fund was set up 60 years ago to buy areas of countryside in memory of those who had loved, fought and died for their country in both world wars.

“The NHMF has taken on this role, so it is very fitting that we have helped safeguard the future of this ‘dream’ island. Like every piece of heritage we have saved, Skokholm Island is a national treasure of immense richness, shown here by its spectacular history and wildlife.”

Skokholm, which is Norse for “wooded island”, was made famous by the naturalist and author Ronald Lockley, who set up the first bird observatory in Britain there in 1933. It is one of the most important seabird breeding sites in Europe. The island is internationally recognised for its importance to wildlife, classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

• To make a donation to help the Wildlife Trusts care for Skokholm Island, please send a cheque or postal order payable to “Skokholm Appeal” to: WTSWW, The Nature Centre, Fountain Road, Tondu, Bridgend, South Wales CF32 0EH. Credit/debit card donations can also be made by ringing 01656 724100.

The six Wildlife Trusts in Wales work together to protect wildlife for the future. The Trusts – Brecknock, Gwent, Montgomeryshire, North Wales, Radnorshire, and South and West Wales – are all registered charities.

The Trusts have more than 30,000 members and manage 230 nature reserves, covering more than 6,000 hectares of prime wildlife habitat, from rugged coastline to urban wildlife havens. We also campaign at local, regional, national, and international level for better protection of wildlife, the environment, our landscapes, and our heritage.

Skokholm facts

• Visitors can stay on Skokholm in Wildlife Trust accommodation between April and October, but there are no day trips, and private boats are not able to moor alongside.

• The island is excellent for birds, supporting species like puffins, Manx shearwaters, storm petrels, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, herring gulls, lesser and great black-backed gulls, and ravens. Porpoises can often be seen feeding around the island, along with bottle-nosed dolphins, Risso’s dolphin, and minke whales. Grey seals breed in the autumn on the island’s tiny beaches and in secluded caves.

• Skokholm may mean “wooded island” in Norse, but nowadays the only signs of woodland are indicator species like lesser celandine and bluebells. The vegetation is wind-pruned and trimmed by rabbits, but inedible plants like thrift, sea campion and golden rod provide carpets of colour in spring and early summer.

• There is a lighthouse on the exposed western headland. The light is run by solar power and is tinted red on the landward side to help prevent birds being dazzled and damaged at night.

• When Ronald Lockley lived on the island, he rebuilt the farmhouse with timber from the wrecked schooner, the Alice Williams. He also salvaged tons of coal and other useful items. The ship’s wheel and ornate figurehead remain on the island.

Skokholm appeal major funders
Generous donations were received from:
The Countryside Council for Wales: CCW advises the UK Government, the National Assembly for Wales, local authorities and others on sustaining the natural beauty, wildlife and the opportunity for outdoor enjoyment. CCW is the national wildlife conservation authority. www.ccw.gov.uk

The National Heritage Memorial Fund: The NHMF was established in 1980 as a memorial to those who gave their lives for this country and it continues to operate as a fund of “last resort”, focussing on saving heritage which is under threat, whether from sale overseas, the break-up of collections, or, in the case of land, from unsympathetic development. The Fund’s current budget is £5million per annum which comes from government grant-in-aid. www.nhmf.org.uk

The Tubney Charitable Trust: The Tubney Charitable Trust is a grant-making charity focussing on conservation of the natural environment in the UK and the improvement of the welfare of farmed animals both in the UK and internationally. www.tubney.org.uk

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 7th, 2012 at 10:14 pm and is filed under The Wildlife Trusts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.