SGHT Newsletter September 2025

The team are getting ready to return to South Georgia with the new season beginning soon. This year brings not only the return of awe-inspiring wildlife and dramatic landscapes - it also heralds the planned installation of the Key Table of the Whale Memorial at Grytviken and the stabilisation of the Stromness Manager’s Villa. So, whether you're a seasoned traveller or a first-time visitor, South Georgia offers an unforgettable journey into one of the planet’s most beautiful environments.

In this month’s newsletter, discover our new online exhibition, our shop sale, and our new island team members.

Nature in Balance: Celebrating South Georgia

South Georgia Pintail (Anas georgica georgica) flying over the rainbow in South Georgia. Credit: Oliver Prince.

"Nature in Balance: The Ecology of South Georgia" is a new online exhibition which launched earlier this month. This exhibition celebrates and examines the biodiversity of South Georgia, explaining the concept and what it means for South Georgia.

The exhibition explores terrestrial and marine ecosystems at South Georgia. The geology, climate and location of these islands combine to support an abundance of wildlife around their shores and on land, making it a key area of importance for many birds, fish and mammals. The exhibition travels deeper into the ocean to discover the creatures that survive on the seafloor around South Georgia and look at those which use the open waters.

South Georgia’s story is one of resilience. Many species that call South Georgia home were once subjected to overexploitation. Now, the animals and plants on and around South Georgia are closely monitored by scientists. Scientific research is used to inform the management of South Georgia’s recovering nature.

This exhibition is part of a display at South Georgia Museum, created in collaboration with British Antarctic Survey (BAS), and funded by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

First day cover commemorating the Survey for Baseline Information of Introduced plants & invertebrates: South Georgia. The stamps have illustrations of six invertebrates identified in South Georgia. The envelope is addressed to Dr & Mrs Roger & Rosy Key, two members of the survey team (address redacted for privacy). Credit: Roger Key.

Coral and Brittle Star. Corals are plant-like, but they are invertebrates. They feast on tiny zooplankton, using their arms to sweep food into their hidden mouths. The seafloor around South Georgia is rich in them, and they support life around them. Our South Georgia Museum collection contains corals and other floor-dwelling creatures. Credit: David Barnes. 

Pintails are one of the few landbirds in South Georgia. Following our Habitat Restoration project which many of you helped to fund, they are thriving in the absence of rats. They are found in both fresh water and the sea near the coast. Pintails have diverse diets. They feed on algae and invertebrates, but they also scavenge seal carcasses. Their call is a distinctive whistle-like sound. Credit: Oliver Prince.

While the Habitat Restoration project was an inspirational feat, the possibility of rodents returning to South Georgia is an ever-present threat. You can learn more about our biosecurity measures here. To keep protecting endemic South Georgia pintails and other native birds, you can donate below.

Celebrating 20 years of SGHT

Last month, we celebrated 20 years of SGHT - two decades of safeguarding South Georgia’s extraordinary wildlife and honouring its remarkable history. This year, our mission is more urgent than ever.

Preserving Shackleton’s legacy is at a critical juncture. If we don’t act now to conserve the Stromness Manager's Villa, a vital chapter of the Endurance story, could be lost forever. Once stabilised, we plan to create a digital twin, ensuring Shackleton’s story can be explored and shared far beyond the island’s shores.

In Grytviken, home to the South Georgia Museum, we’re preparing to install a powerful new Whale Memorial. It will honour the thousands of whales killed during the height of the Antarctic whaling industry in the early 20th century - a stark reminder of the past, and a call to protect marine life for generations to come. Meanwhile, the Key Table - which was displayed during Whale of a Weekend in Dundee - is en route to South Georgia, ready to be installed this season!

But none of this is possible without you. For every step we take – from helping to reduce South Georgia albatross deaths, to protecting whales through research, to halting the loss of priceless polar heritage, we need your support to keep protecting South Georgia's wildlife and human heritage. Can you commit to supporting SGHT in our 20th year and beyond?

Stromness Manager's Villa. Credit: GSGSSI

The Key Table. Credit: Brian Anderson

Meet the new members of the on-island team!

From left to right: Emily, Livvie, Rachel, and Will.

We're so excited to have some new faces alongside our familiar friends heading to South Georgia this year! This year, our Operations Assistants are Livvie and newbies, Emily and Rachel. Will joins SGHT as our new On-Island Operations Manager too.

Once again, the team will be blogging about their time on the island, sharing fascinating day-to-day activities and the extraordinary traditions - who knew social lives on South Georgia were so busy? You can catch up with last season's blogs here and meet the team below.

Look at our sale!

Deep Blue Sea Bracelet, now £26

Dive into elegance with this handcrafted bracelet inspired by the the ocean. Featuring three luminous glass beads in clear blue, a shimmering cluster of silver-coloured seed beads, and a silver-plated toggle clasp, it’s a timeless piece. Whether you're gifting or treating yourself, this 7.5″ (19cm) bracelet is a wearable escape to the sea and now at an irresistible price.

Whale & Map T-Shirt, now £20

Celebrate one of our favourite whales with this beautifully soft, organic cotton T-shirt. Featuring a charming humpback whale print on the front and a subtle South Georgia map detail on the sleeve, it’s a wearable nod to the wild and wonderful. Light, breathable, and made from 100% organic cotton, this tee is perfect for everyday adventures.



A5 Perennial Calendar, now £15

Buy one of these beautifully crafted A5 Perennial Desk Calendars and get one free!

Created by Anne Celik using her own photographs from a 2018 visit to South Georgia. It can be a desktop or wall-hung. All proceeds support SGHT’s vital conservation work, building on the success of the rodent eradication project.

South Georgia through your eyes

Credit: Greg Alexander

Greg said, "These two were taken in March this year during our second visit to our favourite place on the planet. Looking down to Stromness from the high point of the final stage from Fortuna Bay of Shackleton’s trek across South Georgia. Our ship was just coming into sight on its way to pick us up."  

Would you like your favourite photograph of South Georgia to be featured in our next newsletter?

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