National Trust celebrates 100 years caring for Farne Islands
The Trust took over ownership of the Islands from the Farne Islands Association (FIA) on 10 August 1925. The FIA continued to manage the islands until the Trust formally took over the role in 2000.
The archipelago in the North Sea is internationally renowned as a sanctuary for around 200,000 seabirds which return to the islands each summer to breed.
The National Trust has been monitoring seabirds since the middle of last century. It's records have helped to inform conservation work as the number and species of birds have grown.
Sophia Jackson, Area Ranger on the Farne Islands for the National Trust said: 'The earliest official scientific records for seabirds date from 1913. Reports for the majority of returning bird species started in the 1920s thanks to the 'watchers' stationed on the islands over the summer period, and in 1939 puffins were particularly noted as increasing in.'
According to Sophia, the increases in bird species aligns with the islands gaining increased environmental protections, getting designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1951 and as a Special Protected Area (SPA) in 1985.
In 1993 the Farne's were declared a National Nature Reserve.
She continued: 'Significant milestones include numbers of breeding birds reaching 100,000 for the first time in 1987, with 200,000 individual seabirds returning recorded in 2005.
'Looking back on the records for the different populations it is very clear how important regular monitoring of the different seabird populations has been – despite different methodologies - for informing our conservation work on the islands, but also for keeping track of the impacts of climate change through warming seas and more frequent storms."
The Farne Islands sit 1.5 miles off the coast of Northumberland, and include 28 islands. Around 23 different species of seabirds, including puffins and terns nest there.
It is also an important stop-off point migratory birds like long eared owls, blue throats and ring ouzels.
Dr Anne Wilson has been the Trust's Volunteer Archivist for the Farnes since 2005. She first became interested in the islands in 1986 and created the database of bird records that is still used to this day.
She said: 'It's hard to know what the famous bird colonies will be like in 50 or 100 years. Because of rising sea levels and warming seas, we could be seeing an entirely different position on the Farne Islands. When the seas warm, the fish and plankton the birds depend on will migrate further north – and won't be in sync with the birds' breeding seasons.'But, hopefully, after these first 100 years, we can build on what's been achieved.'
Looking towards the next century Sophia added: 'We are doing the best we can to ensure all our seabirds have a bright future. But climate change, especially its impact on the severity of winter storms and extreme weather events are the biggest threats facing both our seabirds and seal populations."
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ITV News
6 days ago
- ITV News
National Trust celebrates 100 years caring for Farne Islands
The National Trust is celebrating its centenary looking after the Farne Islands today (10 August). The Trust took over ownership of the Islands from the Farne Islands Association (FIA) on 10 August 1925. The FIA continued to manage the islands until the Trust formally took over the role in 2000. The archipelago in the North Sea is internationally renowned as a sanctuary for around 200,000 seabirds which return to the islands each summer to breed. The National Trust has been monitoring seabirds since the middle of last century. It's records have helped to inform conservation work as the number and species of birds have grown. Sophia Jackson, Area Ranger on the Farne Islands for the National Trust said: 'The earliest official scientific records for seabirds date from 1913. Reports for the majority of returning bird species started in the 1920s thanks to the 'watchers' stationed on the islands over the summer period, and in 1939 puffins were particularly noted as increasing in.' According to Sophia, the increases in bird species aligns with the islands gaining increased environmental protections, getting designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1951 and as a Special Protected Area (SPA) in 1985. In 1993 the Farne's were declared a National Nature Reserve. She continued: 'Significant milestones include numbers of breeding birds reaching 100,000 for the first time in 1987, with 200,000 individual seabirds returning recorded in 2005. 'Looking back on the records for the different populations it is very clear how important regular monitoring of the different seabird populations has been – despite different methodologies - for informing our conservation work on the islands, but also for keeping track of the impacts of climate change through warming seas and more frequent storms." The Farne Islands sit 1.5 miles off the coast of Northumberland, and include 28 islands. Around 23 different species of seabirds, including puffins and terns nest there. It is also an important stop-off point migratory birds like long eared owls, blue throats and ring ouzels. Dr Anne Wilson has been the Trust's Volunteer Archivist for the Farnes since 2005. She first became interested in the islands in 1986 and created the database of bird records that is still used to this day. She said: 'It's hard to know what the famous bird colonies will be like in 50 or 100 years. Because of rising sea levels and warming seas, we could be seeing an entirely different position on the Farne Islands. When the seas warm, the fish and plankton the birds depend on will migrate further north – and won't be in sync with the birds' breeding seasons.'But, hopefully, after these first 100 years, we can build on what's been achieved.' Looking towards the next century Sophia added: 'We are doing the best we can to ensure all our seabirds have a bright future. But climate change, especially its impact on the severity of winter storms and extreme weather events are the biggest threats facing both our seabirds and seal populations."
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