St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to announce the launch of “Our Island, Our Space, Our Responsibility,” a new community campaign delivered through a cross-portfolio collaboration between Economic Development (ED), Safety, Security and Home Affairs (SSHA) and Environment, Natural Resources and Planning (ENRP). This initiative calls on every resident to take an active role in caring for our island. The aim is to build lasting community pride in our shared spaces.
A Call to Community Action
At the core of this initiative is the belief that a beautiful St Helena is a reflection of the pride we take in our community. We have seen what is possible through the dedicated efforts of Crown Estates and HM Prison, who have significantly contributed to a brighter, cleaner island through improvement works. Improvement works delivered to date include:
Landscape and Grounds Maintenance
- Playground Remediation: HTH and Longwood (pre-equipment installation).
- Blue Hill Field Centre: Ongoing quarterly maintenance.
- Ladder Hill Business Park: Ongoing weekly maintenance.
- Vegetation and Litter Clearance: Sisters Walk, The Colonnade (including bulky waste), The Moat, and the Sand Yard.
- Grounds maintenance for SHAPE 20th Anniversary and the Agricultural Show (signage production).
- Community and Heritage Sites: Strimming at Levelwood / Blue Hill Community Centres and Head Owain/St Mark’s Church.
- Hedge Planting: Installed 300+ saplings at Dungeon Cemetery.
Facility Upgrades and Repairs
- Essex House: Internal/external painting and gardening for Property Service.
- Plantation House: Shutter renovation.
- Furniture and Carpentry: Assembled furniture for Maritime Centre; produced raised plant boxes for CCC and Cape Villa.
- Infrastructure: Erected fencing around the Horse Point Landfill silo.
Logistics and Support
- Immigration and Customs: Assisted relocation from Customs House to Rupert’s.
- Maritime Centre: Exterior site tidying.
These improvements help restore and maintain spaces that are important to the community. The campaign invites all of us to act as guardians of these restored spaces by helping keep these areas clean and cared for.
Minister for ED and ENRP, Karl Thrower, commented:
“By bringing together the Economic Development, SSHA, and ENRP Portfolios, we are demonstrating that we are one team with one goal: a cleaner, prouder St Helena. The sheer variety of work achieved, from the vital grounds’ maintenance at our community centres and historic sites to the essential infrastructure improvements at HPLS, is a testament to what we can accomplish when we break down silos and pull in the same direction.
However, the Government can only do so much on its own. We have worked hard to restore these spaces to their rightful standard, but their longevity depends on all of us. I urge the public to join us in this partnership. By participating in the new domestic recycling pilot, you aren’t just managing waste; you are helping us secure a more sustainable future for the generations to come.”
Launch of the Domestic Recycling Pilot
To support caring for our island and reducing the pressure on the Horse Point Landfill Site (HPLS), Waste Management Services (WMS) is inviting households to register for a new domestic recycling service. Participants will be supplied with a 120L green wheelie bin specifically for clean plastics, cardboard, paper, and cans, with this collection service expected to commence in April or May 2026. Whilst glass is not included in this doorstep collection during the pilot phase, WMS will keep the option under review and encourages residents to continue depositing clean glass at existing island-wide recycling hubs. For households currently using communal skips, WMS is reviewing the installation of communal recycling hubs alongside existing skips to ensure everyone can participate in this recycling effort.
How to Participate
For more information on how to join this multi-agency effort, please contact the WMS team at Scotland by email at karl.martin@sainthelena.gov.sh, or by telephone on 24724 with your name, contact number, and address.
WMS will keep this new service under constant review, using participant feedback to make necessary adjustments.
Photos
Work completed Essex House by the Crown Estates Development Team, before and after
Saplings planted at The Dungeon Cemetery
The Colonnade, before and after
SHAPE, before and after
#StHelena #OurIslandOurSpaceOurResponsibility #AltogetherGreener