GCV backs Trust’s bid to buy green spaces
NATIONAL Trust of Guernsey’s campaign to buy and conserve green spaces is a wonderful initiative, Guernsey Conservation Volunteers co-ordinator Angela Salmon has said.
The volunteers help on several National Trust sites, such as fields in Le Bigard and Les Caches Farm.
Miss Salmon said the trust’s campaign was matching the public mood.
‘There are so many people saying we need to save green spaces, but each single person does not have enough money to do that,’ she said.
‘So people contribute to a single big pot.
‘I think it is a fantastic initiative by the National Trust. It means there can be well-managed green spaces, which is fantastic for biodiversity.’
Recently the volunteers –who help manage green spaces in their spare time – were down at the Le Petit Pre orchid field in the Talbot Valley, which is also part of the trust’s estate.
The grass was cut the week before and left to dry.
Miss Salmon said it was a great space for wildlife and they had actually seen Guernsey voles when they were raking the grass.
‘It’s important to take the hay off the meadow, because if we leave it, the fertility of the soil increases,’ she said.
‘Wildflowers want low fertility soil.’
The grass was piled in the corner of the field, where it is used for animal feed and clean compost. The field is not treated with any herbicides or pesticides.
The group has seen fewer volunteers recently, as islanders go on holiday, and there were just seven on this effort.
But Miss Salmon said she was hopeful that more would turn out soon as people returned from their summer breaks.
Sessions usually finish around 12.30pm and everyone is welcome to help.
Details can be found at https://gcv.org.uk/.
