The survey has been designed to tell us whether our fields, woodlands, or cliffs are changing and which habitats we need to protect most. It follows two habitat surveys which have been undertaken previously, in 1999 and in 2010.

The new survey will use the same methods as the previous two, so the new results can be compared to the previous data to measure how our environment has changed.

Ms Henney, Biodiversity Education Officer said it will be an important piece of work: “This survey will enable us to monitor how our biodiversity is faring. We know that there are many pressures on our natural land, but it is only through surveys such as this that we can measure if those pressures are damaging our environment and then look at what we can do to protect our wildlife.”

Jamie Hooper, Managing Director at Environment Guernsey Ltd added: “Having been commissioned to undertake the previous survey in 2010, we are very pleased to be commissioned for this latest one. The changes revealed by this work will hopefully help to protect the island’s most important habitats and the wildlife which relies on them.”

During the course of the survey, the surveyors will visit every piece of natural or semi- natural land which will involve walking down almost every green lane and footpath on the island. To ensure this is all done, Environment Guernsey Ltd; the company which is undertaking the survey, wants to recruit one more habitat surveyor to join the team. In total, the survey will take around six weeks to complete, so it could be an opportunity for a student who may be continuing their studies later in the year.