Have a Holiday and Help with Some Conservation Work

It's not a new concept: the idea of a working holiday has been around for a long time. But I'll bet you've never had the opportunity to consider helping out on Ascension Island!

The idea cropped up during my last visit and an informal chat with Stedson Stroud who has done so much work on the endemic plants of the island and who was the driving force behind the creation of the Green Mountain National Park. Stedson grafts away, almost single-handed, and the task which he faces to ensure that certain ferns don't become extinct is mind-boggling.

So it crossed my mind that there might be some folk out there who would like a holiday on Ascension Island and would be prepared to spend two or three days of that time clearing paths, weeding and so on - really dreary but absolutely essential work which could actually be quite fun for a short while. You'd need to be fit, but nothing outrageous!

We haven't finalised dates or details yet, but at this early stage I would love to know if any of you are interested. I'll also be contacting Friends of Kew and maybe you have other ideas of where we could find folk to help. Personally I think it will be great fun. Of course there'll be an Island Holidays Plus leader there - one with a botanical bent - and you'll be able (under the watchful eye of the conservation folk) to enjoy the turtles when they come ashore at night as well as exploring the rest of the island. What do you think?

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