50 tonnes of sour fig shifted and 60 packs of biscuits eaten – GCV had a record-breaking 2022

The charity held its first work party of the year on Saturday at La Garenne Nature Reserve.

It organised 83 work parties spread across 26 sites last year, contributing a total of more than 2,500 hours of conservation work.

GCV operations director Angela Salmon said she was very proud of what the group had achieved.

‘Our big project was removing 50 tonnes of sour fig from Fort Le Marchant headland, which involved 250 people at 24 different events.

‘We also ate 60 packs of biscuits, which, considering how much work we did, is a surprisingly small amount.’

Sour fig is an invasive non-native plant species which suppresses the growth of local plants, and is also the focus for the charity’s big project in 2023.

‘This year we will be trying to remove the sour fig from between Fort Doyle and Beaucette Marina.

‘It’s hard to estimate exactly how much sour fig is there, but we will be removing a good few tonnes.’

The weekend’s work at La Garenne involved pollarding willow trees to create new growth, and allowing light to reach the woodland floor.

‘Cutting the branches off the trees actually increases the life of the willow, and letting more light through encourages different sorts of plants and increases the site’s biodiversity.’

The nature reserve in St Sampson’s is the site of a former farmed rabbit warren surrounded by a moat.

The site provided fresh fish and meat for the Manor des Annevilles.

Ms Salmon explained that this was the site she had first volunteered at with Conservation Volunteers 19 years ago.

‘I only lived up the road and I never knew it was here. It’s one of the hidden gems I have got to know through volunteering for the GVC. It would be wonderful if more people could step up and help this year. It’s a great way of connecting with nature and getting some exercise, and an opportunity to see parts of Guernsey you have never seen before,’

The group holds work parties every Wednesday and every other Saturday throughout the year and is always looking for new members.

• Further information is available at www.gcv.org.uk and the group’s social media pages.