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The top prize in The Insurance Corporation Conservation Awards 2018 has been won by Vanessa Crispini-Adams, Vic Froome and Barry Wells for running the Pollinator Project - an island wide conservation project to raise awareness of pollinating insects and wildlife.
The top prize of £,1500 will be spent on a project with local farmers that encourages them to plant pollinator friendly hedging through the farming community, the winners said.
Ms Crispini-Adams said the idea for the hedgerows came about after they had spoken to local farmers.
"Initially we approached local farmers to see if we could encourage them to plant meadows of wildflowers, because that would be great for the insects, but when we spoke to them, we realised how little land they actually had," she said.
"So we agreed to work on the hedgerows around the fields, because those are just as important, and we want to make them as friendly to pollinators as possible."
Mr Froome said that hedgerows were where pollinators sourced their pollen from in the earlier months of the year, so they were vital to keeping the population healthy.
The award was given as it is being brought to the publics attention that the UK, and by extension Guernsey, could be in the middle of an insect crisis, with less insects in general, including pollinators, being seen than ever before.
"We are so pleased to have won this award, and quite surprised really because there are so many great projects on display here," Ms Crispini-Adams continued.
"This is such an excellent event, it is the only date in the calendar that all of the different conservation projects get to meet up and talk, and lots of cross-ideas can come about."
Mr Fromme added that Peter Walpole, who founded the Insurance Corporation and the awards, was a hero for the conservation community, and the awards had been a leading light in encouraging projects like theirs to take place.
Pictured: The Chairman of the Insurance Corporation, Paul Masterson.
This year’s runner-up prize of £1000 is awarded to Guernsey Trees For Life, headed up by Andy McCutcheon. Their initiative is a tree planting scheme to plant native trees on sites around Guernsey with community support.
Meanwhile, the£500 Best School Project went to Vale Infant School and the Mini Woodland Project, which is designed to encourage and involve pupils in planting and maintain- ing a mini woodland area on their school using a variety of native trees.
Vale Infant School also won this year’s Young Conservationists of the Year Award winning a further £250 and the Peter Walpole People’s Choice Award.
Angela Salmon, one of the judges this year, said: “The winning projects are all mak- ing a fantastic contribution to nature conservation in Guernsey. The projects have involved many members of our community and these projects will be enjoyed by adults and children.
"The people leading the winning projects showed great knowl- edge, understanding and enthusiasm for nature conservation and they are also keen to share their knowledge by educating others."
And the Bailiff, Sir Richard Collas (below), who was presenting the awards, added that the number of projects which all covered different areas made a huge difference, and were incredibly impressive.
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