People living on the Isles of Scilly will get the chance to find out more about the landscapes on their doorstep when the Countryside Agency combines the launch of a new booklet and website with a day-long celebration offering a fun-for-all range of explorer activities.

The Agency has chosen Thursday 26 September for the publication of its first detailed assessment of the geological, meteorological, marine, historic and human forces which have shaped the archipelago, and earned every part of it designation and protection as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

To mark the launch, there’s to be a seminar for around 50 agencies, companies and individuals with an interest in the future management of the Isles of Scilly AONB, at Tregarthens Hotel, The Garrison, St Mary’s. In addition, the day will see the switch-on of the AONB?s pioneering new website - explaining why the Islands deserve their designation and what it means, and offering the first internet gateway to existing and future documents and websites on Scillonian landscape issues.

To coincide with both launches, a community celebration is also being arranged. It will feature landscape-linked demonstrations and displays on Holgates Green, a programme of explorer events on St Mary’s and the off-islands, the first samplings of a new local beer, (named Natural Beauty in honour of the AONB), plus a web terminal at The Scillonian Club, for public viewings of the new site.

Countryside Agency spokeswoman, Sarah Manning, explained: ‘Scilly is unique among England’s AONBs in that it is the only one where the landscape protection boundary totally coincides with the geographic and administrative ones. This means that everyone on Scilly lives within the AONB, and has a role to play in its future.?

She added: ‘Elsewhere, we’ve tended to restrict our landscape assessment launches to invited guests. They are interesting documents, and the one for Scilly has the added advantage of wonderful photography and illustrations, a fascinating section on the islands’ early history, and some terrific literary references and maps. But their main purpose is to inform planning and management strategies - not exactly bedside table reading. However, as the website is going live on the same day, and new opportunities are opening up for the AONB, we felt we’d like to make the publication launch into a much wider celebration, one which gives the community the chance to celebrate with us.?

Liz Davey, the Isles of Scilly AONB Officer, said: ‘It’s often the case that people grow so used to the landscape assets on their doorstep that they overlook how fine and important they are. Celebration Scilly will give local people an opportunity to learn more about the AONB designation, the contribution they can make to future management plans, and to enjoy looking afresh at aspects of the landscape they may not have considered for a while.?

Among the explorer activities on offer through the Celebration Scilly community programme will be vintage bus tours of St Mary’s, a gardens tour on Tresco, a rocky shore ramble, plus a range of walks-with-talks looking at archaeology, history, island birds, farm life, and countryside management (including a visit to the ponies now grazing on Bryher).

Liz Davey said: ‘The day will enable local people to explore their landscape in a range of ways - in print, in cyber-space and how it is celebrated creatively by artists and craftspeople, as well as on the ground. Our hope is to foster a new awareness of the importance of the islands’ AONB status, and to show that it is a cause for pride and celebration.?

Celebration Scilly will start at Holgates Green at noon, with an official opening by Marian Spain, Principal Manager of the Countryside Agency’s Finest Landscapes section. Craft and produce displays and demonstrations will be on view in the marquee throughout the afternoon, with refreshments being served by the WI.. From early evening, there will be a community barbecue, in aid of the Air Ambulance.. The website will be on view at a terminal in the Scillonian Club all day, till late. From 9pm, terminal users will also be able to enjoy a live music night, hosted by the AONB team, featuring a local band, and with voluntary contributions invited for the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust.

Order forms for The Isles of Scilly: a landscape assessment of the AONB (Countryside Agency Publications, CA34, price ?8) will be available at the venues. Copies can also be obtained from Countryside Agency Publications, PO Box 125, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7EP, tel 0870 120 6466, or downloaded from the AONB?s website (see below).

Details of explorer event timings and booking arrangements will be available shortly, from the Tourist Information Centre, St Mary’s, and from off-island shops and pubs. Tours and walks will be free, but donations (of at least 50p a head) are being invited, to help the local Wildlife Trust. It is hoped the majority of tour places will be taken up by island residents, though visitors will be able to inquire about spare tickets on the day.

Links: http://www.ios-aonb.info Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: ‘Isles of Scilly?

Pam Beddard