The Lundy Field Society has a long history of recording the flora and fauna of the island. The species lists provided here derive from various published sources. Additional records are always welcome and visitors are encouraged to enter any observations in the LFS Logbook held in the Marisco Tavern on the island or for more detailed studies, to submit a paper for inclusion in the Annual Report or Journal. If you have an equiry regarding a particular species group, our contact list of experts can be found here.

Bacteria

Blue-green algae

Protozoa

Protozoa

Bryophytes

Fungi and associated groups

Plants

Miscellaneous invertebrate animal groups

Molluscs

Slugs and Snails

Myriapods

Centipedes and Millipedes

Crustacea

Shrimps, Woodlice and Waterlice

Springtails

Springtails

Arachnids

Spiders, Harvestmen and Mites

Insects

Vertebrates

Here you can download the current approved Lundy Field Society policies and guidelines. These policies are reviewed on a regular bais and the current status and review schedule can be viewed here.

Privacy policy

Safeguarding policy

Reserves policy

Investment policy

Commissioning and Procurement of Goods and Services Policy

Health and Safety Policy

Payments to Trustees and Conflict of Interest Policy

Committee Member Code of Conduct

Volunteer Code of Conduct

Member Code of Conduct

Misconduct of Members Procedure

Previous versions of the policies are available for download here:

Safeguarding policy version 1 (4 Aug 2020)

Investment policy version 3 (24 Sep 2023)

Commissioning and Procurement of Goods and Services Policy version 1 (5 June 2019)

Statement of Health and Safety Policies (May2016)

Payments to Trustees and Conflict of Interest Policy version 2 (24 Sep 2023)

Committee Code of Conduct version 2 (24 Sep 2023)

Volunteer Code of Conduct version 1 (13 May 2019)

Volunteer Code of Conduct version 2 (15 Jan 2022)

Volunteer Code of Conduct version 3 (8 Sep 2024)

Member Code of Conduct version 2 (24 Sep 2023)

Miscounduct of Members Procedure version 2 (24 Sep 2023) 

History since 1969 – the Landmark Trust era

The National Trust were encouraged to take on Lundy by John Smith (later Sir John) who was the founder-Chairman of the Landmark Trust and a board member of the National Trust. Landmark took Lundy on a 60-year, full repairing lease, with the aim – in John Smith's words in the 1970 Landmark Handbook – “to make and keep Lundy a tranquil, solid and unaffected place with a life of its own”.

When Landmark took over, there was a lot to do. There has been a tremendous amount of 'development' of the island to bring it up to modern standards and to make the buildings available for self-catering accommodation. But 'development' is in very heavy inverted commas – the ethos of the Landmark Trust is to make their properties sympathetic to their original design. In 1971 work started on Millcombe House, and in 1983 restoration of the old Manor Farm Hotel buildings culminated in the opening of an enlarged Marisco Tavern. In that period, a dozen buildings were extensively restored, others modernised in minor ways and one new one was built – Government House.

As well as the buildings, all the infrastructure needed modernisation and expansion to meet the needs of the visitors who would provide Lundy's future income. Again, in John Smith's words, “... most things on the island were wearing out, and, although it was exceedingly agreeable in that state, if the island was to remain inhabited and receive visitors, a great deal of expensive, unromantic and disruptive work had to be done”. That work included water supply, drainage and power supplies. Between 1982 and 1996 an aerogenerator stood in Lighthouse Field to supplement the diesel-generated electricity. The problem on Lundy was too much wind, not too little, and the aerogenerator was removed after being blown over several times.

The ship which the Harmans had used to supply Lundy, the 'Lundy Gannet', was a former fishing vessel and not up to the job of transporting significant amounts of freight, so Landmark acquired a sturdy vessel from the Danish government. Renamed the 'Polar Bear' she was a reliable carrier of goods, but was limited, like the 'Lundy Gannet', to carrying only 12 passengers. After a search throughout northern Europe for a suitable passenger vessel, MS Oldenburg was acquired in 1985 and made her first passenger trip in May 1986, having been refitted according to Department of Transport regulations.

Like all her predecessors, the 'Oldenburg' was obliged to trans-ship both people and freight to smaller vessels for arriving on Lundy's Landing Beach. The final major piece of infrastructure, the jetty, was completed in late 1999.

On 15 May 2010, the former flag of Lundy which had been adopted by the Harman family – a white 'L' on a blue field – was revived and hoisted by Diana Keast, the younger daughter of Martin Coles Harman, as part of celebrations to mark 40 years of National Trust ownership and Landmark Trust management of Lundy. This flag is flown from time to time on special occasions.

In a major development in the island’s ecclesiastical history, Lundy became a parish in its own right in December 2013. This came about in order to facilitate repairs to St Helen’s church and its development as 'St Helen's Centre' – a multipurpose space to be used for study, research and educational purposes as well as for traditional church use.

Lundy keeps evolving and its history continues ...

Text by André Coutanche

Earlier Lundy history