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The Friends of Hilbre Newsletter
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Dave, the Hilbre Ranger, and Fiona (neé Cox) were married on 26th May at St. Peter’s Church, Heswall. Fiona and Dave met because of the Cox family’s long association with Hilbre Island. A real Hilbre romance! The Friends of Hilbre offer our very best wishes to Dave and Fiona for their future life together.
Dave’s talk was informative and well-received by the 18 members who attended the Seal Watching Duty training session on 24 June. Members learned about the Atlantic Grey Seals which haul-out on the West Hoyle Bank in the Dee Estuary and were also taught how to use our wonderful new telescope. A comprehensive information pack was provided for prospective Seal Watching Volunteers. The training session will enable volunteers to man the telescope and give members of the public an insight into the lives of ‘our’ seals. Thank you to all members who attended the training and who have volunteered for Seal Watching Duty on the island in the future. If you would like to get involved as a volunteer please contact: thefriendsofhilbre@hotmail.com. Civic Dignitaries Visit Hilbre
Manx Loghton Sheep on Hilbre Island During the summer, sheep became neighbours of Dave, the Hilbre Ranger, before returning to their home at Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm on Bidston Hill www.tamoshanterfarm.org.uk. Three ewes came back to Hilbre Island at the beginning of September for a further stay. The breed - Manx Loghtans - originated from the Calf of Man. The urban farm at Bidston obtain their sheep from an urban farm near Nottingham. The farm manager at Bidston sheers the sheep between the end of May and the beginning of June (excluding the first year sheep). Lambs’ fleeces are a deep chocolate brown and the older sheep a lighter shade during the summer.
Fleece from the Tam O’Shanter flock of Manx Loghtans is used by members of a spinning and weaving circle and the Heswall Adult Training Centre (amongst others) and then made into toys, hats and mitts etc. The wool lightens in time when turned into cloth or yarn.
Mobile Information Unit and other Venues
Thanks are due to all volunteers who have committed their valuable time. Your work increases public awareness of the existence of our group and of our endeavours to help Hilbre Island Local Nature Reserve. Thanks go especially to Colin who unfailingly transports Val and her boxes of goods to and from her destinations on time. Thank you also to Joe Hanik (and the Wirral Ranger Service) for the provision of the MIU and delivering and setting it up for us. Joe has introduced a new element for the Friends and the public regarding the MIU this year. He has created a presentation on Hilbre which visitors can view on a monitor on board - much to their delight. If you wish to join our team of volunteers please contact: thefriendsofhilbre@hotmail.com
Blue Watch is a conservation group set up by members of staff from Blue Planet Aquarium at Ellesmere Port. The members wanted to organise conservation tasks in the local community to provide Blue Planet staff and members of the public with an opportunity to get involved in practical conservation work. They also want to use their expert knowledge to educate people about the effects of human activity on the marine environment. As well as organising beach cleaning days, Blue Watch also lead three walks across to Hilbre during the summer. Finn Kelly took part in the event on 23 July, which was lead by Blue Watch members Katy Sewerd, Ami Clarke, Danny Rodriguez and Heather Graham. Finn writes "I really enjoyed the walk out to Hilbre. We were able to fish in the rock pools with nets, and I found crabs, shrimps and starfish, and lots of different shells. I had read a book in school about seashore life, and I tried to find as many things from the book as possible. I was able to tell if crabs were male or female by turning them over and looking at the shape of their bodies. If I had any questions, the Blue Planet people were able to answer them for me, and they were very friendly. I am in the middle of the photo next to my sister Freya. She is holding a starfish. When we walked back, we could hear all the people at Hoylake cheering for Tiger Woods." A Visit to Hilbre by Chinese local residents and students Mrs. Catherine Li of Birkenhead Multi Cultural Centre’s Chinese Group helped to arrange a special visit to the islands in May. Ages varied from one year to retired members, and three Chinese languages were represented. One student, with excellent English, had arrived in Liverpool from Beijing only a few weeks before, to study engineering at the University. Mrs. Li is a tutor at the adult English lessons, and at the children and young people, who learn to value their own culture and language. Hilbre was not strange to many of the party, who had visited before, but all were pleased to be able to see the Lookout Building exhibition, and to collect leaflets. The Friends of Hilbre have expressed interest in conducting visits for groups new to visiting the islands, and the success of this occasion showed that the work of preparation and making contacts is well worth the time and effort. Member’s articles are welcome. They may be edited to fit the available space. Please send your contributions by e-mail to: thefriendsofhilbre@hotmail.com
The present Telegraph Station building on Hilbre was built in 1841 and is now used as an Interpretative Centre for the benefit of visitors.
West Kirby Festival Friday 4th Dec, 4pm onwards Please note in your diary that the Friends of Hilbre
will have sales items available on our stall outside West Kirby Concourse
- including the new book and DVD on Hilbre! Review of Recent Publications HILBRE UNSEEN – WINDOWS ON A WILDERNESS 40 minute DVD film written and directed by Dave Wade, price£9.99 Written, edited and narrated by Dave
Wade, and released in August 2006, the film contains a wide range of
interest: wildlife, fishing, conservation, bird-ringing, history and
experts’ talking heads. Much of the footage was shot in the 1990s, and
thus is largely archive material. It records the thoughts of well-known
people like John Gittins and Vicky Seager, then the islands’ resident
Ranger. Members of the Hilbre Bird Observatory describe their research
work tracing bird migration, and its worldwide ecological importance. Most
of all, the film shows the special atmosphere of the islands, and the love
they inspire. It is clear that visitors are welcome, but must always
respect the wildlife for which Hilbre is a sanctuary. There was, and is,
little water or fuel, and there was then little public interpretation,
apart from talks and some guided visits. HILBRE, ISLANDS IN THE DEE ESTUARY by Margaret Sixsmith Price £12.95 As a local award-winning
photographer, Margaret Sixsmith has always set a high standard for
landscape and wildlife studies, and the artistic treatment of her
subjects. These feature in her new book, published by Countywise in July
this year. The close up shots of sea creatures are fascinating, and the
landscapes beautifully constructed. She has spent a considerable time
gathering factual information for the text from bird watchers and
historians. Being a wildlife expert herself, she has drawn on her own
experience in portraying the marine and shore life and land plants. The
result is a very enjoyable art book as well as a source of information
about the islands of Hilbre, and the estuary around them. Lovers of this
part of the world will enjoy a book which has been wanted for many years.
Member’s articles are welcome. They may be edited to fit the available space. Please send your contributions by e-mail to: thefriendsofhilbre@hotmail.com Always check the tides before going out to Hilbre. Tides change each day. Use the safe route, it is dangerous to use any other route. For full details of when to cross safely and the safest route to Hilbre see our Planning your visit to Hilbre Island page. PLEASE NOTE: All articles and photographs in this web site are © COPYRIGHT of Friends of Hilbre unless specifically otherwise stated.
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