South Georgia – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Shackleton’s original Quest crow’s nest comes home after world tour

HRH The Princess Royal welcomes home the iconic lookout barrel to the UK following its journey around the world from Athy in Ireland to South Georgia and back

Sir Ernest Shackleton’s original Quest Crow’s Nest – a lookout barrel from his fourth and final voyage on expedition ship Quest – is back in the UK after touring the world.

The Crow’s Nest (or Quest Barrel) is one of the last vestiges from the Shackleton-Rowett Antarctic Expedition, also known as The Quest Expedition. It arrived back at All Hallows by the Tower church in London, having been the centrepiece of the South Georgia Museum’s ‘Shackleton’s Last Quest’ exhibition in Grytviken for the past year and a half, its first return to South Georgia since the Quest Expedition in 1922.

It formed part of a special event on 7 September marking the achievements of the intrepid explorer and renowned leader Sir Ernest Shackleton, organised by charity the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) and attended by the Trust’s Patron HRH The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

The Quest Expedition was Shackleton’s last journey. After arriving at the quiet waters of King Edward Cove in South Georgia on 4 January 1922, Shackleton unexpectedly died of a heart attack in the early hours the next morning.

His untimely death saw an outpouring of grief across the world and came to be seen as the end of the heroic era of polar exploration. Shackleton was buried on 5 March 1922 in the small cemetery at the whaling station at Grytviken, South Georgia.

The event at All Hallows provided not only an opportunity to celebrate the return of the Crow’s Nest, but also brought together modern-day polar explorers including Dr John Shears, the leader of the Endurance22 expedition funded by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, which discovered the resting place of Shackleton’s famous ship Endurance on the seafloor beneath the ice in the Antarctic’s Weddell Sea.

Following the event at All Hallows, Dr Shears spoke at a special dinner attended by HRH The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

As part of his talk, Dr Shears showed a short film about the Stromness Villa narrated by TV presenter and historian Dan Snow, and also a fellow Endurance22 team member. The film shows never-before seen footage of the Stromness Villa as it is now and the degradation that the ravages of the South Georgia climate have caused over the years.

The dinner aims to raise vital funds to conserve Shackleton’s heritage on South Georgia. This includes the famous Manager’s Villa at Stromness where Shackleton, Captain Frank Worsley and Tom Crean sought help after their epic trek across the island after Endurance was crushed and sunk in the ice.

Alison Neil, CEO of the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) said: “The Trust has worked tirelessly to conserve the island’s iconic wildlife and now we are delighted to be able to help conserve some of South Georgia’s most iconic cultural heritage.

“Shackleton’s links with South Georgia make the island special for so many visitors, so it’s only right that we ensure key parts of his story, like the Stromness Villa, are preserved too.

“Alongside the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands and the Friends of South Georgia Island, we are exploring how this villa – which was the site of such an emblematic moment in the golden age of polar exploration – can be saved from further disrepair to be cherished by generations to come.”

Dr John Shears said: “Finding Endurance was a once in a lifetime moment for me and the Endurance22 expedition team.

“I am delighted that as part of this event celebrating the return of the Quest Crow’s Nest, we are also looking to preserve Shackleton’s historic legacy on South Georgia and how we might conserve the magical Manager’s Villa at Stromness, both physically and digitally, for the future.”

You can view the film here and see the atmospheric villa and its surroundings.

To find out more about the work of SGHT and the ongoing work it does to protect the wildlife, landscape and heritage of the island visit: www.sght.org

PICTURED L-R: The Rev’d Katherine Hedderly, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, HRH The Princess Royal and Nick Prentice (Chair of SGHT), with Sir Ernest Shackleton’s original Quest Crow’s Nest at All Hallows by the Tower church. Credit Art Lewry, Culture Communications Collective

Be a part of the creation of the world’s most remote art installation

Fundraising campaign launched for landmark artwork that will inspire the world with South Georgia’s remarkable recovery and fund vital whale research

An international fundraising campaign has begun, giving people across the globe an opportunity to sponsor part of the world’s most remote permanent art installation which will raise awareness of the whale’s story on South Georgia, and fund vital research into future threats such as climate change.

The campaign, run by conservation charity the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT), follows their international competition seeking an artist to create an installation telling the incredible story of South Georgia’s remarkable environmental recovery. Now, people worldwide are invited to sponsor a key component of the artwork in a bid to spread this message of hope.

In November 2020 Scottish artist Michael Visocchi was announced winner of SGHT’s competition with Commensalis: The Spirit Tables of South Georgia. The artwork commemorates the loss, but also celebrates the recovery, of whales in the Southern Ocean.

From the early 1900s to the 1960s South Georgia was the epicentre of the whaling industry but more recently has become a beacon of hope as an ecosystem in recovery.

Michael Visocchi’s sculpture changes the narrative on South Georgia from whaling to whales – creating a focal point for everyone who cares about nature and supporting vital research to protect the future of whales in the Southern Ocean.

At the heart of his artwork are the Spirit Tables representing the different whale species that were hunted and processed at Grytviken, an abandoned whaling station on the island, but which are now recovering thanks to a change in humanity’s attitude to nature and the decades-long, research-led conservation activities and environmental management of this precious ecosystem.

The tables are punctuated by an estimated 17,000 stainless steel rivets in various mesmerizing patterns inspired by the natural histories of each species, with each rivet symbolising a live whale or the spirit of a live whale.

The artist’s design will allow light to bounce off each one, illuminating the space and conveying a feeling of hope that is reflected in the growing numbers of whales in the waters around South Georgia.

The fundraising campaign will give people the opportunity to sponsor these gleaming rivets to light a beacon of hope for whales, conservation and ecological restoration everywhere.

Different levels of support are available to allow as many people as possible to support what’s been dubbed the world’s most remote permanent art installation:

£33 to sponsor a small rivet because the returning humpback whales’ beautiful and complex songs last up to 33 minutes – we’re so thankful to hear these melodies again in the bays of South Georgia.
£90 for a medium rivet because the fin whale has an average lifespan of 90 years – to see these long living giants returning to the island after being the most persecuted species during the whaling era is incredibly inspiring.
£199 to support a large rivet because the world’s largest whale, the blue whale, can weigh up to a staggering 199 tons – that’s equivalent to 398 Grand Pianos!

To sponsor a rivet or to find out more, visit: www.sght.org/commensalis-donor-appeal/

Sponsors will be allocated their very own rivet(s) in the artwork and sent a digital certificate confirming their support of Commensalis. The rivet(s) will be an integral part of the artwork, giving people a rare opportunity to leave a legacy and have a permanent presence on South Georgia.

Alison Neil, CEO of the South Georgia Heritage Trust said: ‘Tragically, from 1905 to 1965 whales were hunted to near extinction at South Georgia. Thankfully, they are now slowly returning to the island’s waters thanks to ongoing conservation efforts.

“We want to tell this remarkable story of recovery to inspire people around the world that there’s always opportunity for environmental turnaround. South Georgia is the evidence that we have the power to change other under-pressure ecosystems.

“Art is a really powerful way of conveying a complex message and getting people interested and involved in conservation. By launching this campaign we hope to get people excited about Michael’s beautiful artwork and also the power of collective action to bring about change in our environment. We think sponsoring a rivet on the Spirit Tables embodies what this project is all about.’

Artist Michael Visocchi, who was selected from over 150 artists to take on this project, has just arrived at South Georgia to visit the site at Grytviken where the whaling station was and where his artwork will be.

He is with childhood schoolfriend Stewart Garden from WSP, an engineering firm which is generously supporting SGHT with the complex task of transporting and installing the artwork to ensure it is resilient to South Georgia’s extreme climate and remains in place for generations to come.

Michael Visocchi said: ‘I’m so very thrilled to be back on South Georgia. The sights and colours and sounds have never really left my mind since my first visit. It’s good to be back.

“The majesty of the landscape and wildlife here continues to catch me off guard and it’s all helping me put the final touches to the concept for Commensalis. And to be here with my old best friend is something I never could have imagined.’

Commensalis will encourage the environmental management of South Georgia by raising funds for whale research. 10% of every rivet sponsorship will directly fund research, helping to anticipate and manage threats to South Georgia’s whales like rising sea temperatures and the impact on the marine ecosystem.

By deepening knowledge and informing environmental management at South Georgia, SGHT will set whales on their road to recovery.

SGHT aims to work with all who wish to preserve the island’s natural and historical heritage for future generations – to redress past damage to its environment, to protect its wildlife now and in the future, and to preserve the human heritage of the island which so clearly shows the best and worst of humanity.

It also runs the South Georgia Museum on behalf of the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands.

The island is famed for its iconic wildlife, including humpback whales, southern elephant seals, vast colonies of king penguins and an array of seabirds, and for its links with world-famous explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton who is buried on the island.

Each year about 10-15,000 people visit South Georgia to admire the island’s stunning scenery and burgeoning wildlife, and to learn about its fascinating heritage. Commensalis will be a new addition for visitors when it is installed.

To find out more about South Georgia and the work of the South Georgia Heritage Trust, visit https://sght.org, and to find out more about the South Georgia Museum, visit https://sgmuseum.gs

Historic former whaling building opens for first time

The original Main Store on the subantarctic island of South Georgia has opened to visitors for the very first time, after almost five years of sympathetic restoration and curation by the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) and a UK charity, the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT).

This small but significant British Overseas Territory, which lies in the Southern Ocean over 1,500km east of the Falkland Islands, was at the centre of the whaling industry but is now famed for its remarkable environmental recovery.

The Main Store is at the heart of the island’s principal settlement of Grytviken, an abandoned yet atmospheric former whaling station which ceased operations in the 1960s after decades of whaling.

Built in c.1920, the Main Store is one of the few remaining original structures to survive at the site, and the restoration of this important historic building now adds another layer to the rich cultural heritage that is being preserved on the island.

Between 1904 – 1965 over 175,000 whales were processed across South Georgia. For the whalers the hours were long, the work unpleasant and the weather harsh. But despite the island’s dark past, GSGSSI and SGHT are working to ensure that South Georgia’s human story is told.

Alongside the South Georgia Museum, which is owned by GSGSSI and managed by SGHT, the preservation and reopening of the Main Store mean that the 10-15,000 annual international visitors to South Georgia will get a rare insight into what life was like during the height of the whaling era in the mid-20^th century.

There are lots of never-before-seen objects in the Main Store that visitors will be able see for the first time, including harpoon grenades, bone saws, blubber hooks and flensing knives, all essential tools used by whalers throughout the hunting and production process. There’s also thousands of rivets, nuts, bolts, pipes and steam pumps used to maintain and repair the factory, boilers, vessels and machinery.

Visitors can also see a mysterious small ceramic figure named ‘Nisse’, whose provenance and age is unknown. A firm favourite with the team on South Georgia and visitors alike, he’s the unofficial guardian of the Main Store, keeping a watchful eye when the team leaves over winter.

During the restoration every heritage item was retained, cleaned, and photographed and any modern items removed. The catalogue is available to view in the South Georgia Museum.

Jayne Pierce, SGHT Curator of the South Georgia Museum says: “The Main Store is one of the oldest and largest buildings to survive at Grytviken.

“Given South Georgia’s remote location it played an essential role in storing the many supplies needed to keep the whaling station and its fleet of vessels running, including feeding and supporting the many men that formed the whaling crews, which was a huge undertaking.

Laura Sinclair-Willis, CEO of GSGSSI explains: “The Main Store is central to South Georgia’s intriguing history, and thanks to the support of a team of experts, it is now an accessible time capsule capable of receiving visitors, as well as an important part of the work we are doing to explain the rich cultural history of the island.

“Following a Condition Survey and Structural Report of the Main Store that was published in 2018, our Heritage Build Team, SGHT’s Museum Curator and an Advisory Panel of heritage experts worked over the summer seasons between 2018 – 2023 to remediate the building’s structure.

“This included repainting the entire exterior, removing modern equipment and materials, installing electrical wiring and period lighting fixtures, and replacing windows, giving us the fully accessible building we have today.”

Iconic wildlife from humpback whales and southern elephant seals, to vast colonies of king penguins and an array of seabirds call South Georgia and the Southern Ocean home. South Georgia is celebrated for its remarkable environmental recovery following several Habitat Restoration projects run by both GSGSSI and SGHT.

GSGSSI removed reindeer that had been deliberately introduced to the island by the whalers as a source of fresh meat and sport, and SGHT ran a successful decade-long rodent eradication project to tackle invasive mice and rats, which came over in whaling vessels and decimated local seabird populations.

Now the island is a rare example of an ecosystem in recovery. South Georgia is also famous for its links with world-famous explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton who is buried at Grytviken.

The restoration of the island’s Main Store would not have been possible without the generous support of the many organisations and friends with a close affinity to South Georgia. These include Øyas Venner (The Norwegian Friends of South Georgia), t;he Hurtigruten Foundation, the Friends of South Georgia Island, the British Antarctic Survey and the Headley Trust.

To find out more about South Georgia, the work of its government and of SGHT, visit www.gov.gs and https://sght.org.

PICTURES: South Georgia Heritage Trust

All female team travels to South Georgia to reopen the world’s most remote museum

Shackleton’s original ‘Crow’s Nest’ will also return to South Georgia for the first time since 1922, to be displayed at the South Georgia Museum

A small, all-female team, many of whom have strong Scottish connections, has arrived on South Georgia, after an 8,000-mile journey to reach the small but significant British Overseas Territory in the Southern Ocean.

Together the team are reopening what is arguably the world’s most remote museum, the South Georgia Museum at Grytviken (the island’s only settlement), which will be fully open for the first time following its closure in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lauren Elliott, Helen Balfour, and Aoife McKenna approaching South Georgia (L) and Deirdre Mitchell, Jayne Pierce, Helen Balfour, Aoife McKenna, and Lauren Elliott taking part in a seasonal tradition of erecting the South Georgia and museum flags on the flagpole outside the museum, where they remain until the end of the season (R).

Credit = South Georgia Heritage Trust.

The team is from the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT), a Dundee-based charity that has been working to conserve South Georgia’s fragile ecosystem and heritage since 2005 and which runs the museum on behalf of the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands.

Deirdre Mitchell, the new South Georgia Director from Dunfermline; new Museum Assistant Helen Balfour from Lerwick, Shetland Islands; and Aoife McKenna, a recent graduate from St Andrew’s University who is the new Curatorial Intern, make up the Scottish contingent.

The all-female team is completed by Curator Jayne Pierce from Bath, and Senior Museum Assistant Lauren Elliott from Portsmouth. The team will be opening the doors of this amazing museum for the expected 15,000 visitors who will be coming to the island during this season.

Deirdre Mitchell, South Georgia Director from SGHT says: “As a Scot, I’m particularly fascinated by the many Scottish connections with South Georgia’s whaling history and how we seem to be drawn to this remote island.

“I also can’t wait to be surrounded by the island’s incredible wildlife and landscape once again, and to share this amazing place with visitors from across the world so they can find out more about the island’s remarkable wildlife and heritage.”

Deirdre was born in Dunfermline, studied at the University of St Andrews, and before leaving for South Georgia lived in Inverness.

Having already spent time on the island as a former Curatorial Intern at the South Georgia Museum, Deirdre knows South Georgia – its history, successes, and current challenges – intimately.

She now returns as SGHT’s South Georgia Director to manage the charity’s activities at Grytviken.

South Georgia’s Museum Assistant Helen Balfour hails from the Shetland Islands. Her family history is synonymous with South Georgia, as both her grandfathers and one great-grandfather were whalers at the island in the 1950s and 1930srespectively.

Helen’s grandfather James Balfour first visited South Georgia in 1952, and after a decade of whaling was on board one of the last whale catcher vessels that worked out of Leith Harbour.

Her other grandfather Alan Leask started whaling as a 16-year-old and did two seasons, as did her great-grandfather Thomas Balfour twenty years before. Thomas had previously worked at a Salvesen whaling station closer to home at Olna, Shetland.

Helen will be following in their footsteps, as the now abandoned Grytviken whaling station is where the South Georgia Museum now stands.

Visitors to South Georgia this season will also be able to see Shackleton’s original ‘Crow’s Nest’, a lookout barrel from his fourth and final voyage The Shackleton-Rowett Antarctic Expedition, also known as The Quest Expedition.

The Crow’s Nest is one of the last vestiges from Quest and will be the centrepiece of the South Georgia Museum’s current exhibition ‘Shackleton’s Last Quest’, which was launched to mark the centenary of Quest leaving London for South Georgia in 1921. The ‘Shackleton’s Last Quest’ Exhibition is also available to all online on the South Georgia Museum website: https://sgmuseum.gs/shackletonslastquest/

This will be the first time the Crow’s Nest has been on South Georgia since the expedition ship was there in 1922. To follow the journey of the Crow’s Nest, visit https://sgmuseum.gs/the-quest-crows-nest-route/

South Georgia is famed for its iconic wildlife, including humpback whales, southern elephant seals, vast colonies of king penguins and an array of seabirds, and for its links with world-famous explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton who is buried on the island.

The new season (October – March) will bring visitors back to South Georgia to admire the island’s stunning scenery and burgeoning wildlife, and to learn about its fascinating heritage. It is expected to be the busiest season ever as tourism recovers and the world slowly opens after the pandemic.

To find out more about South Georgia and the work of the South Georgia Heritage Trust, visit https://sght.org, and to find out more about the South Georgia Museum, visit https://sgmuseum.gs

Endurance22 Expedition Team follow successful discovery with visit to South Georgia

The Endurance22 team visit Shackleton’s grave to pay their respects and see a new exhibition celebrating his life at the South Georgia Museum

The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) and the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) were delighted to welcome the Endurance22 Expedition Team to South Georgia following their successful location of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s sunken ship the Endurance last week.

The small island of South Georgia, a beacon of hope in international conservation terms due to the recovery of its ecosystem, is also at the heart of another important story. It is synonymous with Shackleton, as the island played host to the beginning and the conclusion of the ill-fated Endurance Expedition (1914-1917) and is also Shackleton’s final resting place.

The Endurance22 Expedition Team were keen to visit South Georgia to pay respects to Shackleton and toast the explorer at his grave. Whilst there they also visited the South Georgia Museum, operated by SGHT on behalf of GSGSSI, to see an exhibition celebrating Shackleton’s remarkable life and achievements.

Members of the expedition team including Expedition Leader Dr John Shears, and history broadcaster Dan Snow, were able to see artefacts from Endurance that are central to the story, including the almanac used to guide the voyage, a life size replica of the James Caird lifeboat used to reach South Georgia, splinters from the oars and the boat itself, and a scale model of Endurance.

The exhibition ‘Shackleton’s Last Quest’ focuses on Shackleton’s untimely death and his final resting place at Grytviken on the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia and showcases the significance this small British Overseas Territory played in his story. It also looks at his life and the personal qualities that made him so extraordinary, resulting in him still being revered around the world today, a century after his death.

Dr John Shears, the Endurance22 Expedition Leader and veteran polar geographer, said: “After our incredible discovery of Shackleton’s ship Endurance in the Weddell Sea, the Endurance22 expedition onboard the S.A. Agulhas II was very fortunate to be able to stop off and visit the island of South Georgia today (11 March 2022).

“The team visited the whaler’s cemetery at Grytviken where the famous polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried and held a short ceremony to commemorate his life and to pay our respects to the great man.

“Shackleton was buried at South Georgia on 5 March 1922, and we discovered his ship the Endurance deep on the seafloor of the Weddell Sea exactly 100 years later on 5 March 2022.

” While the team were at Grytviken we also took the opportunity to visit the South Georgia Museum and viewed their excellent Shackleton exhibition, including several historic artefacts used on the Endurance Expedition.

“Our visit to Grytviken today was a wonderful and fitting way for us to end our historic mission.’

Amanda Milling, FCDO’s Minister for the Polar Regions, said: “Many congratulations to the Endurance22 expedition on successfully locating the final resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance.

“The story of this vessel continues to inspire us to understand and protect Antarctica.”

His Excellency The Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Nigel Phillips CBE said: “I want to pay tribute to the remarkable efforts of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust in finding the Endurance – it is truly a historic achievement.

“I recognise also that this success is many years in the making. The story of Shackleton is intimately woven into the story of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, and what makes this discovery even more remarkable is that it occurred in the centenary year of his passing. I extend my congratulations to everyone aboard Argulhas II, and the wider team across the world.”

Laura Sinclair Willis, Chief Executive of the GSGSSI said: “Everyone in the Government was delighted to hear the news of this historic discovery by the team from Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust.

“We are equally delighted that they were able to visit South Georgia and the Museum at Grytviken and pay their respects at Grytviken cemetery to this extraordinary man.

“It is truly humbling to witness such a momentous occasion in polar history, especially almost one hundred years to the day that Sir Ernest Shackleton was laid to rest on these shores. We enjoyed meeting the expedition team, and joining them in a toast to “The Boss”.’

Alison Neil, Chief Executive of SGHT, the UK charity which manages the Museum on behalf of GSGSSI said: ‘The South Georgia Museum is possibly one of the most remote museums in the world but tells a powerful and important story.

“As curators of the island’s fascinating heritage, we were delighted to be able to showcase the museum’s current Shackleton exhibition to the Endurance22 Expedition Team.

“There can surely be no more appropriate audience than this team of modern-day explorers who through their determination succeeded in finding Shackleton’s lost ship Endurance.

“One of the key locations for the Endurance story on South Georgia is the Manager’s Villa at Stromness, which Shackleton, Worsley and Crean reached after trekking for three days solid across South Georgia’s mountainous centre, having landed on the south side of the island hoping to find help. It was from here that they secured the assistance of the whalers and launched the rescue mission that saved the entire Endurance crew.

“We are in the very early stages of fundraising to undertake a survey of Stromness Whaling Station and the Manager’s Villa to explore how we can preserve the rich heritage of this small island, and further develop the Shackleton legacy.”

An online version of the Shackleton exhibition can be found at:

https://sgmuseum.gs/shackletonslastquest/

New Shackleton exhibition shines a light on explorer’s final voyage to island of South Georgia

100th anniversary of Shackleton’s ‘Quest Expedition’ sparks new exhibition showcasing his remarkable career and leadership to a new audience

Today, a brand new exhibition that celebrates the remarkable life and achievements of renowned explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) will be unveiled by the South Georgia Museum.

The exhibition ‘Shackleton’s Last Quest’ is launching on 17 September, 100 years after Shackleton’s last voyage, the Quest Expedition, set sail from London.

The new exhibition focuses on Shackleton’s untimely death and his final resting place at Grytviken on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, and showcases the significance this small British Overseas Territory played in his story. It will also look at his life and the personal qualities that made him so extraordinary, resulting in him still being revered around the world today, a century after his death.

As part of the exhibition, some key objects never before seen outside South Georgia have been brought together for the first time and include the original Hope Cross – the wooden cross that topped the memorial cairn built by the men of the expedition at Hope Point, King Edward Point in 1922.

Shackleton’s grave in summer (L) and in midwinter (R).

It is fitting that Shackleton was in South Georgia when he died. His final diary entry reads: ‘A wonderful evening. In the darkening twilight I saw a lone star hover, gem-like above the bay.’

Image credits Julie Shaughnessy (L) and Deirdre Mitchell (R)

As well as being online at https://sgmuseum.gs/shackletonslastquest the exhibition will be mirrored at the South Georgia Museum at Grytviken, for visitors to the island to see.

It was Shackleton’s wife who decided that South Georgia would be his final resting place and many people make the pilgrimage to his grave to pay their respects, in non-Covid times.

When visitors are able to return to the Museum (which has been closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic), they will also be able to discover more about his life and final voyage through this exhibition.

The Shackleton-Rowett Antarctic Expedition (known as the Quest Expedition) was Shackleton’s fourth and final expedition, aiming to circumnavigate the Antarctic continent.

Large crowds gathered as the ship, Quest, left St Katherine Docks in London on 17 September 1921, with a crew comprising eight shipmates from the famous Endurance Expedition, who were keen to return to southern waters.

However, this was to be Shackleton’s last journey and after arriving at the quiet waters of King Edward Cove in South Georgia on 4 January 1922, he unexpectedly died in the early hours of the following morning.

His untimely death saw an outpouring of grief across the world and came to be seen as the end of the heroic era of polar exploration. Shackleton was buried on 5 March, two months after his death, at the whaling station Grytviken, South Georgia.

The original crow’s nest, which along with the cabin is one of the last vestiges from Quest, will also be making the journey to South Georgia where it will be the centrepiece of the exhibition at the Museum.

This is the first time it will leave its current home in All Hallows Church by the Tower of London to travel back to South Georgia to mark this significant anniversary. Before it heads south to the Antarctic, the Quest Barrel – as it is also known – will be on display at Shackleton’s birthplace in Ireland, at the Shackleton Museum, Athy. In spring 2022 it will continue to South Georgia to take its place in the exhibition.

Alison Neil, Chief Executive of the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT), the UK charity which manages the Museum (above) on behalf of the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) said: “South Georgia is synonymous with Shackleton, as the island played host to the beginning and the conclusion of the ill-fated Endurance Expedition (1914-1917) and is also Shackleton’s final resting place.

“As a guardian of the island’s fascinating heritage, the South Georgia Museum is delighted to have developed this new exhibition. Given Shackleton’s deep associations with South Georgia, it is fitting we will be marking the centenary of the launch of the Quest Expedition and Shackleton’s untimely death in this way.

“The exhibition will mark what is considered the end of the heroic era of polar exploration, focusing on Shackleton’s final resting place and the significance South Georgia played in the story. It will consider his life and those enduring qualities that made him such a revered figure in polar world history and bring him to a new audience.”

Visitors to the exhibition, both online and at South Georgia Museum will learn more about the details of the voyage, hear about how Shackleton came to be buried on the island, and explore objects and images that are being exhibited for the first time.

These include items from Shackleton’s funeral such as the banner that led the procession from the Grytviken church to the cemetery – a Norwegian tradition brought to the island by the whalers.

The exhibition also makes connections to other institutions with collections and links to Shackleton and polar exploration, through virtual ‘loans’. These digital loans include Shackleton’s diary, his Quest cabin clock and a full replica model of Quest.

The online exhibition can be found at https://sgmuseum.gs/shackletonslastquest

It is hoped that the exhibition at South Georgia Museum will be open from this coming season or the next, depending on travel restrictions.

Sir David Attenborough narrates new short film about South Georgia

Armchair travellers can enjoy a new film that tells the story of a global rarity – an ecosystem in recovery

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) is excited to announce the launch of its new film ‘South Georgia – A Visitor’s Guide’, narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

The film has two key messages; firstly, it encourages visitors to respect and protect the island so their visit can be truly sustainable, but there is another message which is relevant to us all; proof that nature can recover, if we give it the chance.

The film tells the story of how with careful management, ambitious habitat restoration projects, dedication and the passing of time, an ecosystem was saved from disaster. Past human activities on South Georgia harmed the environment through sealing, industrial whaling and unregulated fishing.

The introduction of rats, reindeers and invasive plants upset the delicate ecological balance on land, pushing some species to the brink of extinction. Today, through hard work and commitment, South Georgia is a global rarity; an ecosystem in recovery.

Fur seals now number around 5 million, that’s 95% of the global population. 400,000 nesting pairs of king penguins and their chicks jostle for space with nearly half a million southern elephant seals; South Georgia is home to the greatest concentration of seabirds and marine mammals on the planet.

Professor Dame Jane Francis DCMG, Director of the British Antarctic Survey said: “South Georgia is a real gem in the Southern Ocean. The breath-taking scenery and stunning wildlife will fill you with awe and make you wonder at the incredible beauty of the island in its natural state. South Georgia shows us how much better our planet can be if we learn to live in balance with nature.”

Sir David Attenborough introduced the world to this remarkable place almost thirty years ago in the ground-breaking BBC series Life in the Freezer. His association with the island has continued over the years with subsequent wildlife documentaries including Blue Planetand Frozen Planet.

Passionate about the ongoing need to protect the ecology of South Georgia, Sir David has generously lent his voice and provided the narration for this new visitor film, in which he says “I’d like to invite you to… share the wonderful story of how an ecosystem can be saved from disaster. Let [South Georgia] it be your inspiration to seek out nature, and play your part in protecting and restoring our planet, whenever and however you can.”

Threats to South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands remain, but they are largely global environmental issues which need to be addressed on a global scale.

Climate change is a shocking reality in South Georgia with glaciers retreating rapidly, whilst albatross numbers are declining as they remain vulnerable to unregulated fishing activities when foraging on the high seas far from our protected waters. Sadly, marine plastics are now reaching even the most remote places on earth.

His Excellency Nigel Phillips CBE, Commissioner for South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands, said: “It is a privilege to be Commissioner and custodian of one of the most remarkable places on earth.

“This film beautifully encompasses the outcomes of tireless work of many people over the decades that Sir David Attenborough has been visiting. It is only as a result of their endeavours that this film can tell such a moving story of an ecosystem in recovery. It will inspire, it may even take your breath away.

“With an understanding of how small actions can have big repercussion, we aim to inspire visitors to live in a more environmentally sensitive way, that sustains our planet, and does not destroy it.

“I extend my thanks to all those who have worked on this project, not least Sir David Attenborough, and the UK government for their funding support.”

Prior to landing on South Georgia, visitors will watch the film to better understand why it is important to follow the environmental protection guidelines set out by the GSGSSI.

Gina Greer, Executive Director of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) said: “As a non-profit association dedicated to advocating safe and environmentally responsible travel to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands, IAATO is thrilled by the release of ‘South Georgia – A Visitor’s Guide.

“This beautifully shot short film perfectly encapsulates the years of partnership working between GSGSSI and IAATO Members to facilitate responsible travel, create ambassadors for this unique region and encourage environmentally sensitive behaviour by all those fortunate enough to visit the island.

“IAATO is proud to have played a part in bringing ‘South Georgia – A Visitor’s Guide’ to fruition and we look forward to sharing it with future visitors.”

‘South Georgia – a Visitor’s Guide’ was produced by Silverback Films Ltd, using specially shot new footage, as well as footage donated by the BBC Archive and private individuals, Danny Georgeson, Ramon Benedet & David Sugden.

GSGSSI wishes to thank all who volunteered their passion, commitment and love of South Georgia to make the film possible, with special thanks to the crew and passengers of Hanseatic Nature, Bremen and Pharos SG.

You can see it for yourself at http://www.gov.gs/south-georgia-a-visitors-guide/

PICTURES: Ian Parker and Steve Brown

International arts competition launched to tell the story of whales on South Georgia

A major international artistic competition centred at Grytviken Whaling Station on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia has been launched to reimagine the centrepiece of its cultural heritage and in doing so, highlight powerful conservation messages for the future of our planet. Continue reading International arts competition launched to tell the story of whales on South Georgia

Rodents no more: South Georgia declared rodent-free

World’s largest rodent eradication project a success

The UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia is officially declared free of rodents for the first time since humans arrived on the island over 200 years ago
Scottish-based charity the South Georgia Heritage Trust and its USA counterpart the Friends of South Georgia Island raised £10 million to finance the Habitat Restoration Project to eradicate invasive rodents
Covering 108,723 hectares (1087 km²), the Habitat Restoration Project is more than eight times larger than any other rodent eradication area ever tackled anywhere in the world
Three rodent detection dogs covered a total of 2420km, with their two female dog handlers walking 1608km, searching for signs of rats and mice as part of a comprehensive monitoring survey

Continue reading Rodents no more: South Georgia declared rodent-free