UK Antarctic Heritage Trust launches multi-month mission to protect historic bases from climate damage

The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust is entering the second year of a three-year effort to preserve Britain’s historic Antarctic installations. An eight-person team will spend five months this year at Base A in Port Lockroy on Goudier Island, maintaining the world’s southernmost office, museum and a colony of over 1,000 gentoo penguins. For the first time, a separate crew will be sent to Wordie House, which holds the second-longest continuous climate record on the continent dating back to 1947, to assess its condition and carry out digital mapping.

Living conditions will be austere, with shared bunks, no running water or flushing toilets, and near-constant daylight in sub-zero weather. The mission includes installing up to six roof beams and dozens of floor props to counter rising precipitation and snow loads, as well as conducting the first comprehensive structural survey of the heritage site. Team members such as conservation carpenter Kate Walford, chief executive Camilla Nichol, former base leader Lisa Ford and engineers like Maggie Cook bring expertise in heritage preservation, artefact care and Antarctic logistics. The crews have undergone first-aid, sea-survival and penguinology training and will continue monitoring the penguin population while operating the post office, museum and gift shop.