St Helena Research Institute

Did you know the very first official specimen of Thatching Rush (Ficinia nodosa) ever collected from St Helena was found back in 1956?*

Fast forward nearly 70 years to 2025, and thanks to a recent upload on iRecord St Helena, we can see it's still thriving in the same district today!

*earliest specimen collected according to GBIF
🔗GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/5060667631
🔗iRecord: https://irecordsthelena.edu.sh/record/details?occurrence_id=41027920

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St Helena Tourism St Helena Government Biodiversity Challenge Funds St Helena Peaks National Park

Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio Office Closure The public are advised that the Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio will be closed on 05 December 2025 from 11:00 to 16:00 to attend their end of year party. These office closures will incl…

Don’t forget to log your sightings on iRecord St Helena! 📱

It’s Fishy Friday! This week we’re doing things a little differently because... 🌊 We’ve spotted our first Whale shark! 🐋✨

We’re thrilled to share that the Marine and Fisheries Conservation Section have spotted a whale shark! These gentle ocean giants visit our waters most frequently from January through to April, marking one of the most exciting times of the year for our island and its visitors.

If you’re lucky enough to spot one, remember to admire from a respectful distance, follow all interaction guidelines, use an accredited tour operator and don’t forget to record your sighting on iRecord St Helena! 💙 St Helena Tourism

🔦 Time to shine the on St Helena’s Bryophytes! The great 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐬, 𝐹𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑢𝑟𝑢𝑠, is a species endemic to our cloud forest, often growing as thin light green to yellowish unbranching stems on vertical soil banks 🌿 It can be recognised as a pocketmoss by the arrangement of its leaves in two flat rows, almost unique among mosses. This particular species, sometimes more than 3cm long, is one of the relatively larger pocketmosses on St Helena, although microscopical examination is also needed for definite identification 🔬 It can be spotted in the damper, more shaded, parts of the Peaks National Park! 🌳

📷 Tsvetoslav Georgiev

Extinct Giant Earwig Fossil Remains Discovered in Sharks Valley Cave The St Helena Government (SHG) welcomes a significant finding from the latest international scientific expedition, which offers critical new insights into the island’s lost biodiversity and …

We were delighted to welcome Professor Quentin Cronk from the University of British Columbia during his recent visit to St Helena. 🌿

Professor Cronk also took part in an interview with South Atlantic Media Services Ltd, you can listen to it via the link below! 🎙

🔗https://open.spotify.com/episode/6EguuQUxbChxuwqAt1XdjL?si=rxyMKw06SoqmOtEcsYKajQ

Tony Leo talks to visiting Professor Quentin Cronk South Atlantic Media Services · Episode