The Lighthouse List

On Saturday morning, Isla helped her grandad prepare the old lighthouse for its first open day of the year. A storm had blown leaves across the path, and the sign by the gate had toppled over. Isla wanted to finish quickly so they could enjoy the peaceful view from the lighthouse balcony. As she carried a bucket of water inside, she heard a faint tapping. It came from a wooden crate beside the doorway. A small grey seabird was trapped underneath a loose fishing net. Isla put down the bucket and called Grandad. Together, they carefully lifted the net without pulling the bird’s wing. Grandad rang the local wildlife rescue team, who arrived soon afterwards and took the bird to be checked. By lunchtime, the path was clear and the sign stood upright again. Isla had missed the boat-watching, but she did not feel cross. She was proud that she had stopped to help. Before the visitors arrived, she wrote a new notice: “Please keep nets and litter away from the shore.” Grandad smiled. “You’ve made the lighthouse safer for people and wildlife,” he said.