Annual Conservation Cruise

Byjeff

8 July 2007

After weeks of heavy rain countrywide we hardly dared to hope for our “traditional” sunny day for the cruise but we were not disappointed as the sun shone brightly until obscured by cloud at the very end of the afternoon! The water sparkled against the soft green of the Helford woodlands. In Polwheveral Creek our enthusiastic passengers saw 15+ snowy white Little egrets around their nesting site in the trees by the heronry and overhead buzzards were mewing. Upstream two pairs of shelduck and their families paddled vigorously as we passed whilst curlew, redshank, greenshank and some smaller waders probed the mud for food.

Helford MC Group members spoke knowledgeably about the fish and fishing as well as the various boats as we cruised round to the picturesque Gillan inlet. Geological features, land use, marine research, eelgrass beds and the Helford oysters were not forgotten. The National Trust warden and volunteers were on hand with information about the woodlands and their management and displayed a wide range of rock pool and other marine flora and fauna in their marine tanks onboard.
It was a perfect opportunity to encourage everyone to think carefully about the sensitivity of the marine environment and the need to protect it through energetic local and national efforts.

Similar Posts

  • Explore the Shore

    Byjeff

    Sunday, 23rd August 2009

    “Dare you to put your finger in this bucket!”. Then came a yelp, and a rapid withdrawal of the hand. The Velvet Swimming Crab had instantly reared up, arms wide, claws open, its bright red eyes glistening. Only later, when it had subsided, did we see the flattened back legs, with hair-like fringes, that enable it to swim.

  • Helford Conservation Cruise

    Byjeff

    Sunday, 21st June 2009

    It was a glorious day – the sort of weather one always hopes for, with a warm sun, hardly a cloud in the sky and negligible breeze. The boat was unfortunately late in arriving, but the 100 passengers were very patient, enjoying the sunshine, watching holidaymakers and having an occasional ice cream. Setting off, we motored up Porth Navas Creek to see the Duchy Oyster Farm and Childrens’ Sailing Club, then across to the mouth of Frenchman’s Creek, where Justin Whitehouse of the National Trust took up the commentary.

  • Helford River – Where The Land Meets The Sea

    Byjeff

    17 February 2007
    A detailed look at this watery world and how we influence it gave a large audience (67) much food for thought as the issues of pollution, clean seas, farming and recreation were highlighted. This followed recent studies by scientists from the Environment Agency, University of Exeter, and the Farming and Wildlife Group as described by Dr Peter Jonas, Dr Julian Greaves and Annabel Keast.

  • Seacore Ltd – from Gweek Quay to Far-off Seas

    Byjeff

    Thursday 29th January 2009

    The boardroom at Fugro Seacore in Falmouth was packed as 40 members squeezed in to hear John Gleadowe’s re-scheduled talk. Seacore began in 1976 as the concept of two CSM mining engineers to develop underwater drilling equipment for tin exploration off the north Cornish coast. A prototype was tested in a creek in Zambia.

  • Rockpool Ramble, Prisk Cove

    Byjeff

    Saturday, 14th August 2010

    Twenty adults and eight children was the tally for the Rockpool Ramble —- but age was irrelevant. Soon everyone, from youngster to pensioner, was in the same position, with bottoms up, eyes down and hands and nets probing the multitude of rock pools left by the ebbing tide. One intrepid man waded out up to his waist to the far rocks, amidst the Kelp and Thongweed, and came back with a hand-sized Velvet Swimming Crab. He was holding it very carefully, with good reason, for another crab had already scarred his finger and this one was furious, waving its large pincers in the air, its scarlet eyes glaring.