Interview with 2024 Bailiwick Conservation Award Winners - National Trust of Guernsey & Guernsey Conservation Volunteers

Established in 1990, the Conservation Awards honour local projects dedicated to environmental efforts and nature conservation across the islands. Last year’s Best Conservation Project Award in Guernsey was presented to the National Trust of Guernsey and Guernsey Conservation Volunteers for their exceptional Restoration of Coastal Grassland project.

Over the past 20 years, Guernsey has witnessed a loss of 16% of its coastal grasslands, leading to a decline in biodiversity. The National Trust of Guernsey & Guernsey Conservation Volunteers aim to counteract this through their project to preserve and restore coastal grasslands. We caught up with The National Trust of Guernsey to find out what it meant to them to win the award and how their project has progressed.

It's been almost a year since you won the Best Conservation Project Award in Guernsey - how did it feel to receive that recognition?

We were delighted to receive the recognition.

Can you share what the award has meant for your coastal grassland restoration project since then?

It has meant with certainty we can progress with restoring the coastal grassland.

What progress have you made on the restoration work at L’Eree headland and other sites over the past year?

At L’Eree it has enabled the annual cut to be undertaken and removal of the cuttings. This reduces the nutrient level which favours wildflowers rather than grasses. It also means bracken and bramble is kept at bay. This Spring the site was covered with daffodils – very unexpected. Later in the year we are expecting Trefoils and Vetches to appear.

How has the £3,000 prize fund helped support your restoration efforts?

The monies were split equally between The National Trust of Guernsey and the Guernsey Conservation Volunteers. It has ensured that the annual cut can take place for this year and next few years. With every cut and removal enables more wildflowers to respond.

Why should other local projects consider entering the Conservation Awards this year?

By entering the awards it raises the profile of your project and work and the importance to local conservation. By winning the award it enables your project to become a reality and actually make a difference.