SURE Community Foundation is helping La Societe Guernesiase preserve Guernsey’s wildlife by donating £2,500 to La Societe’s Conservation Herd project, which aims to help reverse the negative impacts of agricultural improvement and lack of management on some of the island’s most important grasslands.
The amount will cover the cost of buying eight weaned calves and some equipment.
‘We like projects that will make a real difference to the lives of people in the Bailiwick and helping to halt the decline of Guernsey’s wildlife is very important,’ said Karen Jagger from the Sure Community Foundation. ‘The foundation is always looking for new projects and organisations to support and we carefully consider each and every request we receive. We hope that this donation will really help La Societe in its efforts to keep Guernsey beautiful.’
La Societe Conservation Herd was established this year as a tool to manage some of Guernsey’s most important natural reserves. The herd grazes on La Societe’s properties around the island in an effort to prevent dense scrub and help create better habitats for insects and birds.
‘We are extremely grateful for this generous donation from the Sure Community Foundation, which will go towards the purchase of cows and basic equipment. Without financial help like this we simply wouldn’t be able to achieve our aims,’ said Julia Henney, project coordinator.
La Societe needs to raise a total of £21,500 to buy and handle the cows, prepare the land and purchase vehicles and equipment.
The charity is also looking to establish a 24-hour emergency phone line for the herd, as well as develop educational courses and monitoring programmes.