2024 was another successful year for the Guernsey Conservation Volunteers with their environmental work getting a big boost from corporate volunteers.
Guernsey Conservation Volunteers (GCV) work parties regularly take place on Wednesday and Saturday mornings throughout the year with additional work parties for larger corporate, school or community groups.
A total of 91 conservation work parties took place during 2024 with 200 volunteers coming from the corporate sector.
Corporate volunteers were particularly helpful in Bluebell Wood during October and November 2024.
Individuals and small groups joined GCV at all 8 of the Wednesday work parties to remove invasive non-native Stinking Onion bulbs (Allium triquetrum) from this woodland site. The removal of these invasive bulbs can only take place during a short window of time in October and November when the Stinking Onion leaves are growing and the Bluebell bulbs are dormant underground. The removal of invasive Stinking Onion bulbs creates space for the native Bluebells to grow and spread.
2024 was the third year of work parties in Bluebell Wood and there have now been more than a quarter of a million Stinking Onion bulbs removed by GCV and corporate volunteers. This project will continue in November and December 2025 when it is hoped corporate volunteers will once again boost conservation efforts.
Angela Salmon, GCV Operations Director said: “Wednesday work parties are particularly popular with volunteers doing CSR activities. It’s great to have extra pairs of hands to help nature and our local natural environment. It’s a great team building activity too.
“During 2024, 21 corporate groups took part in conservation work parties with some of them helping multiple times which was absolutely fantastic!”
Pictured: Volunteers from PwC at Rocquaine
