Extreme conservation

Mike's feeling very relieved today. He finally managed to complete a dangerous abseil that he has been planning (and worrying about) for months. Why worried? Well, it's about 75 metres over a cliff consisting of loosely connected large unstable rocks a long way from anywhere on an island a long way from anywhere and rescue, if possible, was likely to be several hours away. And he couldn't figure out any way to make the climb safe from falling rock. That's why he was worried. But the need to increase the genetic diversity of the once-thought-extinct St Helena ebony Trochetiopsis ebenus (all the individuals planted out are descended from only one of the just two rediscovered trees) meant that he was willing to have a go to get back and collect cuttings from the descendants at the original cliff-bound site. After all, how bad could it be? The original climb was done by climbing hand-over-hand down an old rope tied around Charlie Benjamin's waist with his brother (and co-rediscoverer of the ebony) George holding the other end.

the challenge: to get from the black line to the white line .. and back again

several large metal stakes driven into the ground, lots of purple climbing tape and lots of rope was needed (and carried to the remote site)

then it was just a case of abseiling over the edge. Mike is nearly down to the ebony at bottom right of picture. The white object towards the top is a patch of hi-tech carpet that was hoped to protect the rope and stop it knocking rocks down onto Mike. Unfortunately it did the opposite and knocked several rocks off. Bugger. Luckily they all whistled past a couple of metres from Mike

what's the point of doing something really spectacular without an audience (and preferably lots of cameras)?

Mike mid-abseil, trying to avoid damaging plants and knocking rocks off

Made it! Now how to move around a very narrow ledge without damaging one of the rarest plants on earth that is taking up most of the space.

Getting the cuttings required some acrobatics. Mum, note that I am attached to two ropes

smile for the camera

Mike would like to admit he suffers from Acrophobia (look it up). Now is not a good time to remember this. Views are something else though!

Then it is just a simple job of climbing back up the rope (accompanied by a very inquisitive white tern)

nearly there

a visibly relieved Mike hands over the precious cuttings

Nursery whizz-kid Vanessa Thomas prepares the cuttings for propagation watched by Fran

Darryl Leo has the enviable job of looking after the little cuties

Charlie Benjamin on the original climb