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The Friends of Hilbre was founded
in 2001 and is run by an executive committee elected by members at the AGM
in May each year. The Friends of Hilbre volunteers work with the guidance
of the Hilbre Ranger or the appropriate officer of the Local Authority.
Members can choose to volunteer their services from a variety of tasks.
Although active participation in projects is welcomed, it is recognised
that some members are unable to commit to voluntary work but are
appreciated for the loyalty and support they continue to give The Friends
of Hilbre and the Hilbre Islands’ Local Nature Reserve {LNR}.
Members from The Friends of Hilbre who participate in voluntary work must
be over 18 years of age to comply with the requirements of our insurance.
Most of our work is ongoing and we draw on our database of volunteers for
the appropriate work in-hand.
The Friends of Hilbre constantly reiterate the need to conserve and treat
our wildlife haven with care and respect when visiting the islands.
Initiatives undertaken by members of The Friends of Hilbre
Website: Richard Smith has been
instrumental, with members of our committee, in creating the Friends of
Hilbre Web Site and acts as our host at
www.deeestuary.co.uk.
Thank you Richard for all your hard work and patience.
The Hilbre Telegraph Station Lookout
was renovated and officially opened in 2003 as the Interpretative Centre
for the islands. Members of the Friends of Hilbre, Hilbre Bird Observatory
and the Hilbre Ranger produced the Centres’ exhibition on the islands’
wildlife, history and landscape. The Interpretative Centre can only be
opened when a Ranger or a trained member of the Friends of Hilbre is in
attendance.
Practical tasks are ongoing and examples include:
 •
Internal and external painting and repairs – to help preserve the islands
historic buildings.
•
Repairing, re-pointing and where appropriate re-painting garden walls
•
Cleaning of buildings and preparing for renovation work.
•
Re-pointing and repairing of existing sea walls – to help stop the erosion
of the island.
•
Maintenance of low cliff-top walls – to help to prevent loss of soil and
vegetation.
•
Control of invasive plant species, including bracken pulling – to reduce
competition with
some
of the islands’ natural plants.
•
Litter removal.
Seal Watching - Trained volunteers
give visitors information and the opportunity to view the seals in the
Dee Estuary through a telescope. A committee member, with the guidance
of the Hilbre Ranger, has produced a leaflet on the Atlantic Grey
Seal. Seal watching takes place when a volunteer or a Ranger is
available.
The Mobile Information Unit,
courtesy of the Wirral Ranger Service, is situated once a month at Dee
Lane slipway, West Kirby, where members of the Friends of Hilbre staff
it. We intend to increase public awareness, knowledge and respect for
the various features of the LNR.
Right - Val and Freya
seal watching.
© Colin Jones.
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Volunteers attend local events and exhibit material on display
boards generously sponsored by the Hoylake and West Kirby Round Table.
Information is available and funds are raised from sales items - which
helps to pay for materials for tasks and services on Hilbre.
Sales items produced by one member
include: key rings, fridge magnets, and bookmarks {from original botanical
paintings by a member from Shrewsbury}. Photographic prints and cards of
Hilbre, by a member who is a wildlife/landscape photographer, are for
sale. Postcards, booklets, leaflets, and Information Sheet Packs are also
available. At the present time these items can only be purchased at the
Mobile Information Unit, event days, meetings, and social events.
Learning resources are available to
increase understanding, enjoyment and respect for the wildlife, geology
and historic buildings on the islands.
We assisted with the publication of, Explore the History of Hilbre Island
printed for the Ranger Service by the Ecosert project for sustainable
tourism. This is now awaiting a re-print due to its popularity. Members
have contributed material on Hilbre that is included in our Information
Sheet Pack. The quarterly Newsletter contains up-to-date news and articles
written by members.
A ‘Hilbre Islands’ Archive
is being created. We welcome contributions of information, literature,
photographs, maps and memories relating to Hilbre from members of the
public.
Friends of Hilbre Guest Speakers give
slideshows and talks to local groups regarding members’ work, and the
Hilbre Islands’ LNR. Local libraries have invited us to exhibit and give
library talks. Members have led guided walks to the Hilbre that were very
well received. The ‘Family Seashore Day’ for members of The Friends of
Hilbre is becoming an annual institution - children and adults have a
wondrous time!
The Wirral Parks and Open Spaces Section of the
Local Authority hold forums periodically and ‘Friends’ groups
on Wirral are invited to attend. The meetings provide opportunities to
interact with officials and to learn from other groups’ experiences.
The Friends of Hilbre has made links
with other parties or groups who have an interest with Hilbre: Hilbre Bird
Observatory (“HIBO”), Hilbre tenants, Hilbre Canoe Club, Raleigh, Dee
Estuary Conservation Group, Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens, Wirral
Conservation Trust Volunteers, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, English Nature,
Liverpool Museum, Liverpool and Manchester Universities, and Wirral
Borough Council. We will aim to maintain these links and to develop new
ones where possible.
Funds are raised from
membership subscriptions, donations from the public, grants, schools,
local organisations, social evenings, coffee mornings, car boot sales,
sales goods, talks, guided walks, and slideshows. All profits from these
events helps to swell the funds for the benefit of the Island.
When renovating the Telegraph Station Lookout, advice was sought from
Robinson & Neil Ltd on the suitability of paints etc. to withstand the
Estuary conditions, and their donation of some materials was most welcome.
VOLUNTEERS ARE
NEEDED FOR:
{must be a member over the age of 18}
• Practical tasks on
Hilbre {training given where necessary}.
• Skilled craftsmen for building work, carpentry, plastering,
plumbing.
• Fundraising – large or small projects.
• Staffing the Mobile Information Unit and stalls at events.
• Staffing the Hilbre Islands’ Telegraph Station Lookout
Interpretative Centre.
• Seal Watching with the public {training given}.
• Arranging social evenings.
• Photocopying.
• IT skills.
IF YOU CAN SPARE
THE TIME WHY NOT JOIN US!
THE FUTURE:
POSSIBLE PROJECTS FOR THE FRIENDS OF HILBRE INVOLVEMENT
We aim to continue to encourage
public involvement in the care and management of Hilbre Islands Local
Nature Reserve. The Friends of Hilbre attained charitable status this year
{2004} and it is anticipated that grant applications will be made in the
future to appropriate sources of funding to help fund specific projects
for the benefit of the Hilbre Islands LNR and the community. These
projects would depend on the strategies adopted by the Metropolitan
Borough of Wirral.
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In recent
years storms and wave action have severely damaged the lifeboat
station slipway and it is in need of major repair. The issue of
erosion of the cliffs at the North and West of Hilbre is a serious one
and The Friends of Hilbre await the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral’s
preferred option regarding erosion control. We have already
established a number of valuable contacts within the Engineers and
Parks and Open Spaces Departments, and will continue to work with the
Council to identify the best options for Hilbre. It is hoped that by
identifying potential sources of funding not available to Wirral
Borough Council, Friends of Hilbre can encourage the production of
firm plans to undertake the necessary works. |
©Valerie Burnett |
The islands have potential for
the provision of small scale educational and interpretative facilities for
organised groups and the general public. The Victorian Buoy Master’s
complex of buildings are in need of restoration and they could be used as
an educational facility for courses. Accommodation could be provided for a
limited number of students and field workers engaged in research and/or
guests staying on a wildlife study course, and task work volunteers. A
computer monitor, linked to the Hilbre Web Cam, could one day be installed
in the Interpretative Centre {or other facility} as an educational aid for
students and visitors to the islands.
There are only a basic primitive toilets {buckets with seats and lid} on
Hilbre for volunteers and the general public and it is hoped that compost
toilets will be built on the island in the future.
The Friends of Hilbre, in cooperation with other groups on Hilbre, the
Hilbre Ranger and a local photographer, hope to produce an interpretative
booklet on the Hilbre Islands in the future. This could include sections
on History, Archaeology, Natural History, Geography and Geology |
