Big Fig Pull - Saturday 16th July at 10am

On Saturday 16th July, the Guernsey Conservation Volunteers (GCV) have organised a Sour Fig pulling work party that members of the public (aged 16 and over) can attend. The work party starts at 10am at Fort Le Marchant headland.

GCV started working at the Fort Le Marchant headland in February 2022 and The Big Fig Pull on Saturday will be the 14th event organised by GCV this year to remove Sour Fig from this site. Sour Fig pulling at the Fort Le Marchant headland has involved fantastic support from our island community with school groups, scout groups and corporate groups all getting involved. Over 200 people have been involved with pulling Sour Fig from this headland and 20 tonnes of this invasive plant have been removed so far.

Sour Fig has been in Guernsey since the 1880’s, it was brought into the island as a garden plant from South Africa. It then escaped from gardens into the wild and spread. Sour Fig was previously killed by heavy frost but harsh winters are now scarce which has enabled the plant to spread. Sour Fig is mainly found around the coast and it spreads across coastal grassland forming a dense mat. It outcompetes all native species and reduces biodiversity wherever it grows. When Sour Fig is removed, the native coastal plants return. These plants can include Thrift, Sea Beet, Sea Campion, Sheep’s-bit and Rock Sea-spurrey.

In 2021 GCV organised a Big Fig Pull at L’Eree headland, this was attended by more than 50 people and 8 skips were filled with Sour Fig. The site is recovering well and a recent botanical survey recorded 50 native plant species growing on this site. These plants will continue to grow and spread across the headland. These native plants will provide food and shelter for many insects and small mammals. The insects will provide food for birds.

GCV has been removing invasive non-native plant species for many years around Guernsey. These plants include Sour Fig, Cape Ivy, New Zealand Wire Plant, Three-cornered Garlic (Stinking Onions) and Winter Heliotrope. Removing invasive non-native plant species always leads to an increase in biodiversity and is positive for nature.

For more information take a look at www.gcv.org.uk or find details on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter).