A project to create butterfly glades by Guernsey Conservation Volunteers at Trust land, Clifton Valley, has been shortlisted for an entry into The Peter Walpole People's Choice Award as part of The Insurance Corporation Conservation Awards 2023. This is a joint entry from National Trust of Guernsey and Guernsey Conservation Volunteers.
Our project is the creation of butterfly glades in the Clifton Valley site near Le Prevôté on the St. Pierre du Bois and Torteval border. The valley is owned by the National Trust of Guernsey and the surrounding coastal area is dominated by scrub, mainly blackthorn and bramble. The project's aim is to clear pockets of scrub in the valley and let the native seed bank regenerate, thereby broadening the biodiversity of the site and forming butterfly glades. This work was undertaken by Guernsey Conservation Volunteers in September 2022.
Representing National Trust of Guernsey and Guernsey Conservation Volunteers, Huw Sharp says:
The clearing of scrub will increase the variety and number of native flowers and their associated insects and butterflies. Having cleared the first area we can already see a wide variety of native species wildflower with red campion being in flower at the moment. At present there are at least 20 species of growth. Ongoing management will create a few more areas in the valley and also the ability to monitor and maintain the current cleared area.
Creating the cleared areas and butterfly glades at different times ensures that there will be differing stages of plant and habitat in the valley over the coming years. We hope the many visitors to the valley do enjoy seeing these ongoing changes and their positive impact on biodiversity.
Voting closes on Sunday 11th June. We would deeply appreciate your vote and support for this valuable conservation project, of which full details can be seen here: https://insurancecorporation.com/community/guernsey-vote-the-peter-walpole-peoples-choice-award