Pollinator Project

During Spring 2022,  The Alderney Wildlife Trust launched the Pollinator Project in partnership with the Guernsey Pollinator Project team and a number of other local organisations. With a focus on community engagement and learning, this project aimed to involve the wider island population in nature and conservation and to raise awareness of the threats to our rapidly declining pollinator populations, which are vital for the health of our environment.

There are three main branches of the scheme; education, action and science. The education elements primarily focused on the younger generation, with a number of pollinator-themed sessions being held with the playgroup and youth group. This included making seed bombs, art competitions and bee hotels with children aged between 2 and 16. We also offered seed packets and growing advice at engagement stalls, gauging opinions on how planting for pollinators can be best understood and enjoyed. The key actions including planting out pollinator patches, with a flagship site at Alderney Roots which will showcase our work and offer information boards about the various pollinator species and plants found on Alderney. We will continue our contribution towards science on the UK pollinators by carrying out moth, bee and butterfly surveys throughout the year.

In summary, we aim to use pollinators as a way of uniting Alderney’s wildlife and people for the long-term health of our beautiful island.

Essex Farm -  a Centre of Sustainability and Conservation Excellence

This 1-hectare site was, up until the end of the 1990s, Alderney’s last remaining farm and originally constructed by the German Occupying Forces during WWII.  The buildings are in many ways the heart of the AWT, providing:

• Research Facilities
• Accommodation for Voluntary Placement Staff
• Workshop and Storage space
• Outreach facilities
• A focus for Sustainability

Creating a Centre of Sustainability and Conservation

Over the next 5 or more years the AWT is committed to making Essex Farm a near zero carbon site, using sustainable resources wherever possible.  The core of this commitment will be:

• Creating a centre of sustainability and conservation science with involvement from the widest range of stakeholders including education and growers 
• Refurbishing the buildings to increase energy efficiency and provide a focus for a community sustainability hub
• Moving the Farm’s energy consumption to net zero carbon using renewable energy and sustainably grown fuels
• Developing interactive public spaces and providing new ways to engage our community

Alderney Queen's Platinum Jubilee Woodland

The AWT in partnership with the States of Alderney has committed to plant 2,000 trees during the Queens Platinum Jubilee Year.  As part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Woodland, Alderney will be making it possible for every person on the island to plant a tree, which means at least 2 thousand trees in the ground by the spring of 2023.

The Alderney Jubilee Woodland Project gives residents 2 options if they would like to take part:

1. Plant a tree at home – every resident will be able to apply for a tree from the list of native species below which they will be able to plant at home.  These trees will be free of charge to full-time residents of Alderney, no matter how old or young you are.  Should you not have space to plant at home you will be able to add your tree to the Alderney Community Woodland at one of several organised planting events.
2. Plant a coppice or even a small wood – whilst every resident will be able get one free tree, we are committed to helping residents who wish to plant native trees in sustainable locations, gain access to good quality trees to plant.    We will provide trees from the list below, with guards and canes if required, at cost.    Trees purchased through the scheme will cost around £1.70 per tree, however, these prices reduce the more trees purchased of each species we buy.

Sign up to be part of the woodland

You will be able to sign up for your free tree via our website Alderney Queen's Platinum Jubliee Woodland | Alderney Wildlife Trust

Tree/shrub species available under the scheme are:

Downy Birch, Silver Birch, Holly, Hornbeam, Small Leaved Lime, English Oak, Hazel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Rowan, Guelder Rose, Crab Apple, Field Maple, Common Beech, ElderWild Privet and Dog Rose

These trees are either native species to Alderney or to the wider Channel Islands region, they fit within Alderney’s existing ecosystems and are likely to support a wide diversity of associated species.  The AWT is happy to provide planting advice to those applying to take part in the scheme.  People taking part will be asked to record where they plant their tree/s and we hope will update us with their progress.

Carbon / Sustainability work

Following guidance from the central Wildlife Trust team, we have committed to reducing our carbon emissions by 50% before 2025. To track our progress, we have produced annual carbon audits of all measurable emissions associated with the AWT and identified high emitting aspects of our work. Using this data, we have created targeted action plans to achieve this ambitious goal.

To date, key actions have included the procurement of electric bikes to reduce reliance on our diesel-fuelled vehicles and the installation of smart meters to track electricity use. Moving into the future, we are aiming to install solar energy at Essex Farm which will allow us to reduce emissions significantly. This is an exciting opportunity for the AWT to be a part of the sustainable future of Alderney.

Teamwilder

Our planet is in the middle of a climate crisis and social change is needed in order to protect it from irreparable damage and studies show that 1 in 4 people standing by a certain cause is enough to make an impactful change. In this instance, the AWT is aiming for 1 in 4 people on Alderney to stand up for nature and join our TeamWilder. To do so, our objective is to engage residents who may feel disengaged from nature, and connect them with our incredible environment.

For example, during our 2022 Wildlife Week, the AWT provided a free of charge educational boat trip around the island on a Challenger 70 racing yacht to 2 groups of students of St. Anne’s School. This was a truly memorable experience that hopefully allowed Alderney’s next generation to see what our organisation is working so hard to protect and what they will need to do to carry on the mission.