Welsh doctor set to lead Antarctic eco-mission

A TRUST that protects historic heritage sites in Antarctica has announced it is sending a team on a 9,000-mile mission to the icy continent to safeguard a base from the impacts of climate change.

- RYAN MCDOUGALL

Port Lockroy, Britain's first permanent scientific base on Antarctica

(Helen Annan/UKAHT)

As part of the three-year project, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) is safeguarding Base A, Port Lockroy, Britain's first permanent scientific base on the continent. Its leader is now based in Wales.

The base serves as a designated heritage site and is home to the world's southernmost office and museum, as well as a colony of more than 1,000 gentoo penguins.

The trust deploys a team each year to manage the flagship site, but said that this year marks the start of a new chapter, as the Antarctic Peninsula is one of the fastest-warming places in the world, and Port Lockroy is subsequently deteriorating.

Now more than 80 years old, the site is also facing issues due to age and environmental factors, while its buildings are facing structural challenges and require repairs due to increased rainfall, water flow and snow loading.

The 2025-26 team will be based at Goudier Island for the next few months and will spend Christmas on the football-pitch-sized island.