Endangered turtles benefit from sponsorship

May Gurney Utility Services recently sponsored a student to undertake an environmental improvement project to benefit endangered marine turtles in Cyprus.

Kristian Metcalfe has been working unpaid to support two types of endangered marine turtles; the Loggerhead (Carreta Carreta), of which there are only believed to be 2,000 remaining in the wild; and the Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas), whose numbers have dropped to critical endangered levels of 500.

Kristian worked on a number of the most important turtle nesting beaches in the Mediterranean, including Alagadi Beach in northern Cyprus, which was the base for the Marine Turtle Conservation Project (MTCP). The project was co-sponsored by a number of bodies including the Marine Turtle Research Group of Swansea, Kibris Turkish Airlines and the British Chelonia Group.

May Gurney Utility Services Director, Ian Edwards, says: "The approach for sponsorship came through our contacts in the water rehabilitation team at South West Water.

"I didn't understand the link until we attended the UK Society of Trenchless Technology (UKSTT) awards dinner. At the event, naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham, extolled the virtues of trenchless technology and its huge benefit to the environment," Ian adds.

"After Chris's speech, and having bought raffle tickets to support the MTCP project, I became more interested in what we might be able to do as a business to help in some small way."

Kristian commented: "I had the satisfaction of helping an endangered species, and through various tourist education projects have learnt new skills as part of a team and gained confidence in talking to groups of people about MTCP's work.

"Thank you, May Gurney, for your sponsorship and helping protect the environment"