St Helena National Trust
The St Helena National Trust is the charity which looks after the environmental and cultural heritage of the island of St Helena, the main island of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.
The Trust is an independent not-for-profit organization, and the Patron of the Trust is HRH The Duke of York. It was founded on 22 May 2002, the 500th anniversary of St Helena's discovery.
The Trust was established by an Ordinance of the territory. It unites in one organization St Helena's Art and Craft Association, Heritage Society, Nature Conservation Group, Dive Club, Farmer's Association, Fisherman's Association, Tourism Association and the Domaines Français.
Projects
The Millennium Forest is a 250-hectare area of replanting on the island, which aims to restore part of what was the Great Wood, along the southern slopes of the island's highest mountain, Diana's Peak. Another programme is the conservation of the St Helena plover, the national bird of the island (which is locally known as the wirebird). The Trust is also involved in conservation in the Diana's Peak National Park, which was designated in 1996.
In 2006, Michel Dancoisne-Martineau donated the valley of the Heart Shaped Waterfall to the Trust. A new pathway was constructed through the valley, which opened in December 2010.
The Trust also want to preserve and promote the island's built heritage, especially that from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Trust have begun a project to restore High Knoll Fort near Jamestown.[1]
Outside links
References
- ↑ St Helena Herald 10 December 2010, p 6