Strategy for Nature projects selected

Thursday 10 November 2022

Seven projects have been awarded just over £31,000 between them to further their work across areas including the removal of invasive non-native species, a barn owl survey, and raising public awareness of the location and composition of eelgrass.

The money came from the Strategy for Nature Fund which provides funding for student bursaries and other workstreams.

The projects selected to share in the £31k funding are as follows:

• Steering towards Carbon: Assessing eight years of conservation grazing (Joshua Smith -PhD student).
• The importance of underground structures for overwintering bats (La Société Guernesiaise Bat Section).
• Guernsey barn owl survey (La Société Guernesiaise Ornithology Section).
• Removal of invasive non-native species from Vale Commons Council land (Guernsey Conservation Volunteers).
• Holistic land management and ecological outcome verification training (The Soil Farm).
• Enhancing public awareness of eelgrass across Guernsey (Bailiwick Eelgrass Exploration Project).
• Bio-sphere: Showcasing films in a seasonal nature information centre (Wild Islands).

Pictured: Guernsey Conservation Volunteers are renowned for their work to remove invasive species from public spaces around the island. 

Jim Robinson, Director of the Natural Environment, said the quality of proposals received was as strong as it has been in previous years. 

“We are very excited to see the projects delivered over the coming year,” he said, “these projects will allow us to better understand and enhance Guernsey’s natural environment whilst helping to nurture a positive relationship with the natural world around us. We are extremely grateful to everyone who applied”.

The Strategy for Nature Fund was established as a framework for the whole community. The Fund aims to offer financial support for initiatives which further the goals and objectives of the Strategy.

Up to £9,000 from the fund is available each year for student bursaries for completing graduate or post-graduate degrees in a relevant subject with a commitment to carry out data collection for their research project on-island.