News from Sark

After months of sunshine and virtually no rain the weather changed this month reminding us that life on Sark is very much influenced by the elements. While the rain was much welcomed by gardeners and growers it wasn't popular with the organisers of the Summer Courtyard Market which was due to be held outside the Visitor Centre. Not to be out-witted by the wet and windy weather the event was moved to the Toplis Room at the Island Hall. As well as stalls selling bric-a-brac, plants and books there was a colourful collection of locally made jewellery, soaps and other arts and crafts. With its walls hung with William Toplis prints and information panels about the artist, the room also has on display copies of both the original Book of Sark and the recently published Centenary Edition.

Caption: Dawn & her jewellery

Caption: Annie with her moons & magic

Service of the Sea

The next day, Sunday 15th August, the skies cleared a little for the Service of the Sea, an ecumenical service held annually in Creux Harbour. Pride of place was given to the Spirit of Guernsey, the lifeboat from St Peter Port, which brought over many of our guests for the service. The congregation was welcomed by visiting lay reader David Neale and the Bailiff of Guernsey, Sir Geoffrey Rowland, delivered the first reading. Kathleen Dewe, Sark's Catholic Church representative, gave the second reading and the hymns were accompanied by St Peter's Church Choir and the Salvation Army brass band from Guernsey. Methodist Pastor David Hollingsworth gave the address, his last before taking up his new post in Birmingham. He spoke very eloquently about his time in Sark and in particular about the influence of the sea on his life here, remarks which struck a chord with all of us in the congregation. After the service visitors were welcomed aboard the lifeboat which Guernsey Harbour Master Captain Peter Gill said is having a quiet summer so far. The average for this time of year is around twenty incidents but the crew have so far only been called upon nine times. Long may it continue.

Caption: St Peter Port Lifeboat Spirit of
     Guernsey

Caption: The Sea Service in Creux Harbour

Seasearch is Back

While the spiritual side of the sea was celebrated in Creux Harbour a group of divers from the Marine Conservation Society were heading out from Maseline at the beginning of a week-long project to study Sark's marine life. The group are from Seasearch, a national project to map marine habitats and species around the British Isles. They are led by Rob Adams and included divers from Devon, Wales, Kent and Bristol, most of whom hadn't dived around Sark before. Dives were carried out all around the island so that the researchers could record the marine life in a variety of habitats from the rocky reefs and kelp forests to the shingle banks and Gouliot Caves. The group were delighted with the diving here especially the density and variety of marine life. As with any biologists visiting from the British mainland, be they looking above or beneath the waves, it was the southern species that provided the highlights.

Caption: Seasearch divers

Caption: Sea slug Discodoris rosi

Two of the divers are particularly interested in sea slugs and were delighted to find a beautiful orange specimen called Discodoris rosi, a species which has only been seen in the British Isles at two other locations and which is a new record for Sark. Other favourites include the Soapy Starfish, Sunset Cup Corals and an un-described anemone provisionally named Dorothy. A report of the group's findings will be presented to La Societe Sercquaise upon completion later this year. Along with the 2008 Seasearch report and the results of the sponge survey earlier this summer, this new report will be a welcome addition to our database on the marine life around Sark, an aspect of natural history which until recently has attracted little academic attention.

Caption: Anemone 'Dorothy'

Caption: Soapy Starfish

Exploring Sark's Jewel Caves

While the benign sea conditions associated with the neap tides this week are good for those venturing underwater, the low spring tides the week before revealed a wealth of marine life to those who prefer to keep their heads above water. As one intrepid group of explorers discovered, there's nowhere better for this than the Gouliot Caves. The challenging scramble down the cliffs and tidal nature of the Caves makes it best to visit with a guide, an expedition described recently as 'extreme rock pooling'. The caves riddle the Gouliot Headland on the west coast of Sark and have areas with fascinating names such as Sponge Cave, Octopus Pool and the Jewel Caves. On the lowest of tides thousands of Beadlet Anemones are revealed along with many other species, such as Deadman's Fingers Soft Coral, Sponges and Jewel Anemones, which normally live in much deeper water. They survive here because of the vast amount of nourishment swept past in the current in the form of plankton and the shade provided by the caves which prevents them from drying out.

Caption: Exploring the Gouliot Caves

Caption: Jewel Anemones

New Lifesavers for Sark

Children at Sark School have been taking part in a Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) course during term time this year and recently those home from boarding school for the summer have also been able to take the course. For four days this month eight ex-Sark School pupils have been put through their paces first of all in a swimming pool and then in the sea at Dixcart Bay and Creux Harbour. The course is run by instructor Helen Magell with life support skills taught by local doctor Peter Counsell. The children enjoyed the challenge of swimming in the sea in their clothes and one session was completed while they were wearing jeans in order to make the rescue exercises as realistic as possible. At the end of the week Andy Remfrey from the RLSS in Guernsey came over to examine them and was very impressed with their levels of knowledge and skills. All of the children on the course, Imogen Hood, Robbie, Jake and George Magell, Owen and Jowel Godwin, James Bentley and Sam Craft, gained their RLSS Rookie Lifeguard Life Support Award and their Gold Stage 3, the highest children's qualifications obtainable. Helen would like to say a very big thank you to Sark residents, Dr Peter Counsell, Joanne Godwin, Kevin Adams and Jan Guy for all their support and help in training these lifesavers of the future. Congratulations to all the children for their boundless enthusiasm, concentration, commitment and fantastic achievement.

Caption: Life saving practice in Creux Harbour

Caption: Bringing the casualty ashore

Coming Soon

Caption: The Grand Autumn Show

The summer holidays may be almost over but there's still plenty to do here in Sark. The Horse, Dog and Pet Show is the next big event with a variety of classes including dog agility, the softest pet and fancy dress on horse back. It's held in the Seigneurie Field on Sunday 22nd August. The Grand Autumn Show takes place at the Island Hall on the 2nd and 3rd September revealing the best of Sark's home-grown produce, flowers and baking. The Sports Club has a cricket match on 4thSeptember while International Rugby comes to Sark under the banner of the Guernsey Wooden Spoon on 11thSeptember when London Wasps International Legends are sending a squad with over 350 caps to play on Sark. As a curtain raiser, Guernsey Ladies will play Wasps Ladies. There will be a rolling BBQ and naturally a beer tent, plus plenty of opportunities to mix with the stars for photographs, autographs or just a chat. The same day brings the Celebration of the Sea, a great mixture of fun, live music and excellent, local sea food from 12 noon until midnight. (Go to www.simplysark.com for more information) Karen Adams' guided walks revealing the life and work of Sark artist William Toplis continue throughout August up to September 17th and Jan's Jaunts take place on 23rd and 30th August. Sark Music Society presents pianist Tom Poster on 3rd September, an internationally recognised soloist and chamber musician. Check the Diary page of this web site for more information on all of these events including times and how to book.