Swoffers support helping Pollinator Project to save Guernsey’s valuable insects.
Last year, the island’s largest estate agent gave away bird boxes to help provide homes for our feathered friends and this year they have turned their attention to insects.
A combination of urban growth, pesticide use and a change in farming practices, has led to massive declines in butterflies, moths, bees and hoverflies in recent years and these are all pollinating insects that are vital for the production of much of the food we eat and the flowers we enjoy.
The Pollinator Project, an initiative of La Société Guernesiaise, aims to create habitats across Guernsey where pollinating insects can thrive. Swoffers has supported the project by financing the local production of 48 Bee Boxes’ designed to attract solitary bees to breed in the holes.
The first box went up at Castel School, where the pupils are creating ‘Pollinator Patches’ with plants that support these insects. Handing over the bee box, Scott Ingrouille from Swoffers commented, “This is such great example of different groups of islanders coming together for the good of our local environment. Swoffers and the Pollinator Project led the initiative, the boxes were made by CLIP (Creative Learning In Prison), the wood was supplied by Norman Piette at a substantial discount, and now we’re here with Castel School children setting it up.”
Barry Wells from the Pollinator Project echoes the sentiment. “We really appreciate Swoffers involvement as the Bee Boxes are a key learning tool for the project, especially in schools. It will be a real community effort to establish enough pollinator patches to form wildlife corridors across Guernsey and ensure the survival of these important insects. However, we are delighted by the number of businesses, community groups, schools and individuals that have come forward already, keen to be involved and together I’m confident we can get Guernsey buzzing!’
Further information on the Pollinator Project can be found at pollinatorproject.gg
