35 Years of Conservation Dedication: Celebrating Jersey’s Environmental Champions

Last week Insurance Corporation proudly marked a major milestone - the 35th year of our Jersey Conservation Awards, honouring individuals, groups, and young people dedicated to protecting and restoring our island’s environment. The ceremony took place at the Pomme D’Or Hotel, where finalists gathered to celebrate their achievements and share their passion for conservation

The awards continue to spotlight the diverse and meaningful efforts being made across Jersey – from restoring lost species to energising school communities with sustainability at their heart.

This year’s top honour went to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust for their Red-billed Choughs Programme, a long-term initiative that’s reintroducing this once-lost bird to the island. In 2024 alone, 24 chicks hatched as part of the project, which also supports habitat restoration, public education, and scientific research.

La Croix Regeneration Centre, led by Nikki de Gruchy, was recognised as Runner-Up for its pioneering agroecological work. Nikki took on her family’s farm, which had suffered from years of intensive potato farming and soil degradation, and set out to reverse the damage.

Through soil health restoration, hedgerow planting, adaptive grazing, and community engagement, the project is breathing new life into the land and reconnecting people with sustainable food systems.

Jersey Marine Conservation received the School & Youth Group Green Award for their collaborative initiative involving the Jersey Sea Cadets and JICAS. The project challenges young people to design and build affordable underwater monitoring tools, blending STEM learning with real-world conservation impact – both locally and globally.

Jersey College Preparatory’s Eco Team were named Young Conservationists of the Year thanks to their student-led programme promoting energy audits, behavioural change, and solar investigations, embedding sustainability across the school.

This year’s People’s Choice Award went to the National Trust for Jersey for their Victoria Tower Pollinator Reserve – a once-vacant field transformed into a flourishing habitat for pollinators through wildflower planting, education, and long-term biodiversity monitoring.

Also Highly Commended were Jersey Trees for Life for replanting the Railway Walk after 2023's storm damage and creating a new community woodland at La Moye, and Acorn Woodshack for 'It's a burning issue', which repurposes waste timber while providing work and training for Islanders with disabilities or long-term health conditions.

Michelle Steele, HR and PR Executive at Insurance Corporation, reflected on the significance of the occasion:

“After 35 years of these awards, we’re still inspired by the creativity, dedication, and sheer energy behind every entry. It’s heartening to see so many islanders stepping up to protect the natural beauty of the Bailiwick. Congratulations to all this year’s finalists and winners – you’re shaping a better future for us all.”

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all who entered and supported this year’s awards. Your dedication inspires us and shows how local action can shape a more sustainable world.