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Pollinator Project wants ideas for Fort Road field

Islanders are being invited to give their ideas on the future of the wildflower area in the Fort Road field.

Gordon Steele is chairman of the Pollinator Project, which wants to hear people’s ideas for the future of the field along Fort Road.
Gordon Steele is chairman of the Pollinator Project, which wants to hear people’s ideas for the future of the field along Fort Road. / Guernsey Press

The area was first planted up with wildflowers in 2017, but it has divided opinions since, with some liking the meadow-like biodiversity area, while others felt it made the area look messy.

Now the Pollinator Project is turning to the public for their thoughts with a formal consultation exercise.

It has organised a meeting on Wednesday 23 July to come up with a proposal.

The States-owned former brickworks site that used to supply Fort George in the 18th century is a public area frequently used by dog walkers, commuters and neighbours.

The area has been looked after by the Pollinator Project since inspiration struck one of its committee members, Andrew Courtney, earlier this year.

‘I’ve been walking along this field for years and always wondered who was responsible as it has great potential,’ he said.

‘We see this as a real opportunity to show Guernsey off, encourage nature and provide a usable space for islanders.’

Committed to its management for at least three years, the charity has kept a maintained meadow and introduced entwining pathways so walkers can immerse themselves in the diverse flora and fauna.

After receiving significant interest and feedback, it has started a Friends of Fort Field Facebook page and plans to organise walks and talks for those intrigued by its progress.

This year, it is planned that the field will be cut and all of the cuttings will be taken off. This will keep fertility down so wildflowers can grow.

It will be cut low at least twice more during the autumn and winter and the ground will be scarified for seeds to germinate.

The Pollinator Project has developed a plan and some options for the future years, but wants to hear as many views from local users as possible.

It said it respected that many people considered the area 'almost as their own back garden'.

Mr Steele said one option was to cut it all down to grass. Another would be to continue cultivating its current, natural meadow and encourage more colour. The third is a more costly pictorial meadow, which would require annual seeding and more management.

‘We don’t know what’s going to happen, it’s quite scary,’ he said.

‘But we are really happy for people to come and are open to working out a plan that everyone is happy with.

'We hope people want it to be colourful, because colour means flowers, flowers mean pollinators and pollinators mean happy charity.’

The proposal favoured at the end of the consultation will be put forward to States’ Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management.

  • The public meeting is at St Martin’s Community Centre at 6.30pm on 23 July.

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