The Pollinator Project is set to receive a boost to its funding with the award of £10,000 from Dougie’s Grant, an annual one-off award made to a local good cause in memory of Douglas Le Huquet.
“We are delighted to have been awarded Dougie’s Grant. This is a fantastic surprise,” said Gordon Steele, Chair of the Pollinator Project, “sometimes you apply for grants and you just have to forget about them, the competition is really fierce to get funding for charities- there are so many good causes across the Bailiwick. But we realised we had a chance with our Fort Field restoration plans. We know that Dougie enjoyed nature and that walking through meadows filled with flowers was something he loved.”
The money will be used by the Pollinator Project’s volunteers to pay for a range of tree planting, improvement work on the wildflower meadows, public amenities, and to pay for the annual cutting, baling and hay making.
Michelle Knowles Dougie’s daughter said “The Pollinator Project’s plans for Fort Field are something that Dougie would have been delighted with. Not only was he a real supporter of nature right through his life as a farmer, but he also shared his passion for Guernsey with everyone all of his life. The money is going to pay for an avenue of wild cherry trees, fruit trees and a picnic bench, and work on the wildflower meadow. I know this won’t be instant, in fact that’s part of the reason we picked this project, the results are going to be there for years to come. I really look forward to walking through the meadows and just sitting there in the summer enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. This is something for the whole community, for everyone to enjoy.”
“Last month we signed a 3-year SLA with the States of Guernsey” said Gordon under which we’ll be responsible for manging the wildflower meadows and surrounding area at the Morley Chapel end of the field. Michelle is absolutely right this a very public area and we want to make it better for nature and for all of us. More colourful, more nature friendly, and a real community space. The team at ACLMs have been really supportive of the project right from the start.”
Pictured: Left to right – Sharon Hickman, Gordon Steel, Rebecca Eker and Shelaine Green.
