Head to Herm for World Wetlands Day on Sunday

The event is being organised by Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services, the Clean Earth Trust, La Societe Guernesiaise, Guernsey Conservation Volunteers and the Bailiwick Eelgrass Exploration Project, to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands as well as actively helping to improve the environment in Herm.

It will take place this Sunday and participants are being asked to meet at 12.30pm at Herm harbour, with the event continuing until 4.15pm.

There is no need to sign-up.

‘Even if you’ve never been to an event like this before, I’d encourage you to hop on a boat, join us and get involved,’ said natural environment officer Emily Coule.

‘Not only is this a celebration of wetlands, but the activities that we’ll be carrying out will enable us to play our part in preserving a site of rich biodiversity.’

Activities including the removal of invasive species, a crab survey and an assessment of the condition of an eelgrass bed will take place across the island, which together with Jethou and the Humps, is a Ramsar site and recognised as a wetland of international importance.

Several important habitats are present in the site, including eelgrass beds, maerl beds, shallow reef systems and seven sunken shipwreck reefs, which provide spawning grounds for fish such as sea bass and black sea bream.

It also supports flatfish, shellfish, seabirds, basking shark, sunfish, Atlantic grey seal and four species of cetacean.

The coastlines provide breeding sites for nine species of seabird.

‘This event is a fantastic way to celebrate our unique wetlands across the Bailiwick, by getting stuck in to help improve the environment of one of our Ramsar sites,’ said Ms Coule.

n Travel is available on the Isle of Herm Ferry with sailings from Guernsey leaving at 7.45am, 11am, 2pm, 4pm and 5.30pm.

Return boats are available from 8.15am, 11.30am, 2.30pm, 4.30pm and 6pm.

Tickets can be booked online at bit.ly/3jnPHII.