Eleven environmental projects and two student research projects have been awarded funding from the Strategy for Nature Fund.
Just under £40,000 has been awarded, covering a range of projects including the creation of a pond, bat surveying equipment, interpretation boards at nature reserves and growing native Guernsey plants. Two bursaries have also been awarded for research projects. These two projects will assess the carbon stocks of eelgrass beds in the Bailiwick; and assess the impact of the Furrowed Crab on native crabs in Guernsey.
The Strategy for Nature Fund was established in recognition that the Strategy for Nature is not simply a government document; it is a framework that requires support and action from the whole community to achieve its goals and objectives.
Previously, the fund had been solely managed and administered by Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services (ACLMS). However, for the first time, the fund has been managed in partnership with the Nature Commission, which was established last year to work with business, government, the third sector and the general public to enhance the island’s natural environment and promote greater biodiversity.
Angela Salmon, Head of Operations and Education at the Nature Commission, said: “We were thrilled to receive an amazing variety of applications but this meant that difficult decisions needed to be made, as we could not fully fund all of the projects. These projects will help us get a better understanding of our natural environment as well as enhancing areas for biodiversity. We are looking forward to seeing how these projects will progress over this year.”
Julia Henney, Senior Natural Environment Officer said: “This grant has enabled some fantastic projects since it was established in 2020 and we were really excited to see such a range of projects and research applications submitted in this funding round. They really help to deliver the Strategy for Nature’s aims of learning more about our environment, enhancing biodiversity and engaging with the local community”.
The eleven projects and two bursaries awarded funding are:
- Les Caches Farm pond and bee bank – National Trust of Guernsey
- Scrub Clearance to increase biodiversity – National Trust of Guernsey
- Bailiwick Bat Survey Equipment – Bailiwick Bat Survey
- Cetacean acoustic monitoring project – DolFin Project
- Grow Guernsey Natives – GROW Ltd
- Bat Tunnel – follow-up project – Bat Section, La Societe
- KGV Nature Walk for Early Years Children – Health Improvement Commission
- Reserve Interpretation Boards – Reserves Committee, La Societe
- Seasonal roping of footpaths on Lihou – Ornithology Section, La Societe
- Sour Fig removal at Rocquaine – Guernsey Conservation Volunteers
- Island Biodiversity nature documentary – Wild Islands
- Assessing the impact of the Furrowed Crab on native crabs in Guernsey – Undergraduate Degree Student Nottingham Trent University
- Assessing the sedimentary carbon stocks of eelgrass in the Bailiwick – Undergraduate Degree Student University of Plymouth
