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As ever, we are delighted by the many
ways in which members, staff, supporters and other benefactors continue to
make conservation happen. We hope you will be inspired by the selection of
good news, success stories and ideas presented here.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR
CHAIRMAN
In May I suggested that we should set
about improving our assets by acquiring both new reserves and new
members. Just four months later and already the trend is up. We are in the
process of acquiring a number of new reserves but, most notably, the
wonderful gift of Baker's Pit, more than a hundred acres near Nancledra,
by Imerys (formerly ECC International) was like a bolt from the blue. This
was followed by the public announcement by Miss Atkin that she wished to
leave Looe Island to the Trust. Now that is the sort of thing that you
only dream about.
Here we have the two extremes of giving.
On the one hand, a large public company decides that land surplus to its
requirements should rightly go to the Cornish organisation which is
dedicated to wildlife protection and conservation. On the other hand an
individual who, with her sister, dedicated many years to the wildlife
protection and conservation of one unique bit of Cornwall, has come to the
same conclusion. It makes one both humble and proud to belong to this
organisation, the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Our grateful thanks to them
both.
But let's not forget our new members.
The recent increase in membership exceeded that
for the same period in 1999 by an
astonishing 49%. Thank you to everyone who enrolled a new member,
and a special thank you to Sally and her team of staff and members
who ran the stand at the Royal Cornwall Show. This was talked about
as one of the most attractive displays at the show and certainly attracted
a number of new members.
Howard Curnow |
LETTERS PAGE
We received only one letter for our new
Ask Nic feature, which was initiated in the last magazine, so we will hold
it over until the next issue. As well as your wildlife questions, we would
love to hear your observations, experiences and views. Please write
soon.
Mark Nicholson
AWARD FOR JEAN PATON
On 24th May 2000 the President of the
Linnean Society of London presented Jean Paton with the 2000 Jill Smythies
Award for the illustrations in her book The Liverwort Flora of the British
Isles. Jean, a founder member of the Trust, who trained as a botanist,
took 30 years to complete the book which was published in August 1999. It
includes 313 figures, most of them on a full A4 page, and each one
consisting of many individual drawings. The Award comprised a medal and a
cheque.
Jean's book is published by Harley
Books, Martins, Great Horkesley, Colchester, CO6 4AH. Price £52.50 plus £4
post and packing (UK). ISBN 0946589607
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