The grounds at the GSPCA in St Andrews are being transformed with a £2,000 donation from The Channel Islands Co-operative Society’s Eco-Fund.
The grant from the Society is being used to help give the site a major makeover to boost local flora, fauna and wildlife, as the GSPCA plans to open up the grounds increasingly to the public.
‘It’s great to hear how the Eco-Fund is making a difference to community projects like this one, which also benefit the environment. Since we launched the fund in 2008, more than £280,000 has been distributed to environment causes across the Channel Islands. Eco-Fund grants are now available this year, but there isn’t long left to get applications in and organisations need to submit them by 8 July,’ said the Society’s chief marketing officer, Greg Yeoman.
GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said that the Eco-Fund grant was making a difference in the charity’s efforts to help improve the environment locally alongside its work rescuing and caring for thousands of animals every year.
‘From myself, the team at the GSPCA and all the animals thank you to every single person that works for the Channel Islands Co-operative Society and all of the wonderful shoppers that use the stores that makes this support possible. We have a beautiful site and the Eco-Fund donation is helping us with the conservation work that we’re carrying out on-site with the St Andrews Floral Group,’ said Mr Byrne.
The GSPCA manager added: ‘From planting indigenous plants with help from the Men of the Trees to creating wildlife areas, improving the pond to planting hedgerows, the site at the GSPCA is being transformed. As this work progresses we will be opening the site up to visitors, which is really exciting as we now have picnic benches on site as well as a charity shop and a larger reception area.’
Organisations interested in securing support from the Eco-Fund can apply online or download an application can go to www.channelislands.coop/eco-fund for more information. Completed application forms can also be posted to Julie Le Cornu, Marketing & PR Manager, Co-operative House, 57 Don St, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 4TR.