States Works clear cliffs for Saffery Rotary Walk

States Works has doubled its efforts to clear the overgrowth to prepare for a record number of islanders expected to be tackling the 39-mile walk next Saturday.

‘We currently have two teams out on the south coast cliff paths working to clear any overgrowth of vegetation,’ said States Works land management manager Richard Langmead.

‘We have the original crew, who work on the paths all year round, and we have got a second team who are addressing pinch points that have been identified.’

The original crew are working from Jerbourg towards Town and will clear Bec Du Nez.

The second team started at Petit Bot and are working westward to clear the main path that the walkers will be using.

‘We had quite a wet start to the year and because of that, there is a lot more lush growth to deal with compared to last year,’ said Mr Langmead.

‘We will add additional resources next week if we need to, ahead of the Saffery Rotary Walk.

During the clearance, States Works will also identify and log any areas of noxious weed areas, such as hogweed, which can cause skin irritation, and clear them safely.

Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services has responsibility for managing the cliff and coastal paths, and contracts States Works to do the work.

Saffery Rotary Walk organising team chairman Simon Milsted said there was now over 1,000 people signed for this year’s walk, which will set off from the Guernsey Information Centre at 4.30am in eight days' time.

‘We have already passed our previous pre-Covid registration numbers, so this will be a bumper year for us,’ he said.

‘We are very pleased with this as it the 25th walk and the 100th anniversary of Rotary.’

Walkers are able to register right up until the morning of the event. Those who register before Tuesday will received their walker pack in the post, but after Tuesday they will need to collect it on the morning of the event.

n For more details visit https://safferyrotarywalk.org.gg