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Conservation, Press Release
Members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) joined the Ascension Island Government (AIG)
Conservation Directorate for a busy afternoon of volunteer work across the island.
At Green Mountain National Park, the team helped to restore the Queen Elizabeth II
Gardens. Known in the 19th Century as the ‘Weather Gardens,’ the site has served
many purposes over time. Volunteers cleared old fencing materials, including posts
and wire mesh, to make way for new planting as part of the cloud forest extension
project. They also removed invasive guava and lantana encroaching on the former
Marine Barracks and began uncovering the old chicken coops once used by marines,
offering a glimpse into the island’s past.
At Mars Bay Nature Reserve, the RAF were joined by the United States Space Force
(USSF) to remove legacy litter left behind from the Falklands War era. During that time,
vehicles were placed on site and used for training exercises by the Ministry of Defence
(MoD). Earlier this year, these vehicles were removed in a collaborative effort between
AIG, USSF, MoD, with generous support from the UK Biodiversity Challenges, Darwin
2025/200 Initiative (DPL00123). The latest clean-up focused on collecting smaller debris by hand,
restoring the reserve to its natural state.
These efforts have created safer, healthier habitats for the island’s wildlife, including
internationally important colonies of sooty terns (Onychoprion fuscatus), known locally
as ‘Wideawake’ terns, which nest in their thousands at Mars Bay. These efforts highlight
the strong partnerships between conservationists and the military community,
ensuring Ascension’s unique natural heritage is protected for generations to come.
AIG Conservation and Fisheries Directorate
05 September 2025