Following a recent fascinating talk by Doug Herdson based on his knowledge and experience at the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, I have endeavoured to make an extract of his background information as requested, for people who missed this delightful talk. Relatively few people will have seen the exotic seahorse in its watery environment but the…
Cornwall Wildlife Trust has been campaigning for protection of our dolphin populations for many years and is happy to announce that it has recently received funding from the DEFRA Fisheries Challenge Fund, and an extremely successful public appeal to proceed with their pinger trial. Pingers are acoustic deterrent devices that emit a signal audible to dolphins that…
The year 2008/9 revealed several rare and interesting species in the ancient oak woodland and marshland on the periphery of the Helford Estuary. In September 2008, the strange fungus Claviceps purpurea var. spartina or Ergot, so-called because of its fruit/spore body, up to an inch long and resembling the spur on a cockerel’s foot (Fr. ergot = spur),…
In April 2011 the Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs), many of which have been in existence since the end of the 19th Century, will be replaced by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs). IFCAs will be set up under the provisions of the Marine Bill. The Association of SFCs has been pressing for updated legislation for…
Health Assessment for Eelgrass in the Helford The Eelgrass beds of the Helford are an important habitat within the estuary and are one of the finest examples of a healthy seagrass meadow in the south west. In April this year, a team of willing volunteers, headed by myself, drew up plans to conduct in-depth seasonal monitoring of…
Look closely at the Helford VMCA barnacles that encrust rocks, shells, lobster pots, moorings, boats, in fact almost any hard surface, and which are particularly obvious in the intertidal or mid-shore area. By far the commonest barnacle present is one with a cone formed from four plates and a diamondshaped opening, Elminius modestus, a relative newcomer…
Have you ever looked out to sea and wondered what lies beneath the silvery waves that play on its surface? Perhaps you have been rockpooling with a younger family member and found it frustrating not to know what type of seaweed you are clambering over or what species of crab is glaring at you from…
Seaquest Netsafe is all about cetaceans – dolphins, porpoises and whales – and how we can strive to protect them. We have elements of high technology combined with the dedication and time given by many local volunteers. The results of this project will provide us with a much clearer picture of what is really going…
Invasive species, alien species, non native species; it all sounds rather nasty? A bit like HG Wells’s apocalyptic novel detailing the Martians popping down for a bit of world domination. However, there are good and justified reasons why we should be concerned about the introduction of new and potentially damaging species to our native habitats….
The Helford River has long been known for the richness of its foreshores, that is the tidal area exposed between high and low water. With fully saline habitats ranging from muddy creeks to sandy bars and from low cliffs to exposed rocky reefs, the diversity of the marine wildlife is amazing and over the many…
The eelgrass awareness programme has moved on. The poster has been designed, printed and laminated. A copy is included in this newsletter and it can also be downloaded from the VMCA website. Over 20 posters have been distributed by members of the HVMCA to sailing clubs, marinas, post offices/ village stores, chandlers and tourist “hot…
In recent weeks, volunteers from the Helford Voluntary Marine Conservation Area have developed a plan to count waterbirds on the Helford as part of the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS). Ilya Maclean, WeBS co-ordinator for Cornwall and local resident Martin Rule, explain why counting waterbirds is important, which waterbirds are found on the Helford and how…
