Flax and Gumwood

Gumwood Trees overlooking Sandy Bay

The mill looking south

St Helena Gumwood Tree

There are many rare endemic plants and animals on St Helena owing  to its isolated location.  Some are  prettier than others, the tree ferns at the top of Diana’s Peak entering the top of that category for sure.  

The gumwood tree used to be an endangered species but has been pulled back from the abyss by the management of the non endemic flax which was brought here by the British in their wisdom .  

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The idea was to start a flourishing flax industry which did  happen for all of 20 or so years and many mail bags in the UK were made from St
  Helena flax. 

The introduction of plastic mail bags put an end to that but that didn’t stop the flax from growing
and now there are swathes of the island covered in the stuff.  

The photos here are taken near an old deserted flax mill.   The flax plants can be seen covering the upper hillsides in the picture below

Solomon's Farm Sandy Bay