Eight years’ work has brought the birds back to reed bed
BIRDS and insects will again flourish at Marais Rise now that volunteers have cut the reed bed ready for a summer of roosting.
The Guernsey Conservation Volunteers have spent the last eight years maintaining the area, which has seen numerous birds, including warblers and sparrows, enjoy a habitat that has been lovingly cultivated for them.
GCV group co-ordinator Angela Salmon said the St Sampson’s reed bed was an important site.
‘It’s one of the only reed beds in Guernsey,’ she said.
‘When we first came here in 2011, it was overgrown with brambles and had seen a lot of fly-tipping. We’ve done a lot over the years to help clear it and cut it down.
‘Our aim is to encourage new reeds to grow by cutting them, promoting an environment for birds to come and roost in and flourish.
‘Neighbours around here have even told me they have seen a lot more birds in their gardens since we took over.’
However, during this year’s clearing of the area, the group found plastic sheeting and metal in the ground and had to spend time getting this out of the soil.
‘We found it two weeks ago,’ added Miss Salmon.
‘We don’t want plastic in the earth at all, so we spent a while getting it out, but we’re still finding bits.’
This is the last work of the GCV this year and they will also now not return to the Marais Rise site before summer to avoid disrupting the nesting season.
Tom Chauvel, who came to give the group a hand cutting the reed beds, said it was enjoyable work.
‘You hear all the time about the dire straits that the environment is in,’ he said.
‘The habitats that are lost, the creatures that are lost – people need to take saving it seriously.
‘If there’s anything that I can do to help save it, then I will.’
The first work party of next year will be at La Garenne nature reserve on Saturday 4 January.
. For more information and to get involved, visit www.gcv.org.uk.
