Volunteers are helping improve the Vale's biodiversity

Fort Le Marchant after invasive sour fig was removed

A lot of work has been carried out at Fort Le Marchant and images released this month by the Guernsey Conservation Volunteers (GCV) show how successful their efforts have been.

The picture above reveals how native plants have bounced back after hours of back-breaking work removing sour fig, which blankets the ground if left undisturbed. 

"Wherever invasive non-native species are removed the biodiversity increases which makes it much better for insects and other creatures to feed and shelter," the organisation said after targeting Fort Le Marchant and the Beaucette areas.

It's also a slow, painstaking task. In 2022 for example, more than 40 tonnes of invasive sour fig was removed at Fort Le Marchant. Each year, there are fewer new shoots to find. In May last year GCV removed nearly a skipload of new sour fig shoots; this year it was just two one-tonne bags. There should be even less next year!

Blanket
As the picture from 2022 shows, the blanket of invasive material was preventing anything else from growing at Fort Le Marchant.

The volunteers are also working at Port Soif in the parish and removing masses of wild leek that are taking over large areas of the common.

The work, pictured below, involves digging up the large bulbs and also removing flower bulbs so they can't flower and then set seed.

The volunteers are back there tomorrow – Wednesday 28th May at 10am – continuing their great work and more volunteers are always welcome. 

• If anyone is interested in helping or wants more information, details are here.