Hedgerow Campaign

17/12/2008

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Just over three thousand trees and hedgerow plants are looking for a new home in Jersey.

 

With the support of Jersey Dairy, trees have been bought by Jersey Trees for Life so that they can create tree corridors between Queen’s Valley and Gorey to preserve the Island’s rare red squirrel population.

 

The native species, such as sweet chestnut, aspen, beech, common oak and wild cherry, along with dozens of hedgerow plants, were shipped into the Island a few days ago. They are now at a nursery where they are being held until they are planted along field boundaries to create wildlife corridors. They are part of a continuing scheme by Jersey Trees for Life to replant and restore hedgerows and farmland for the benefit of the Island’s biodiversity.

 

Jersey Trees for Life Arboricultural Officer, Conrad Evans, said: “Jersey’s squirrel population live in small, fairly isolated pockets and, without tree corridors, they aren’t able to move around the Island and mix. If squirrels continue to only breed within their small groups, there is a very real risk that they will pass genetic weaknesses through generations which could seriously affect the population in the future.

 

“We have the trees, and are now we are seeking the support of farmers and landowners. The planting season is between December and March, as the winter is the time when the trees are dormant. When spring arrives they will soon shoot into leaf and start to grow. We are only considering land in the Faldouet area of St Martin that has been identified as in need of planting by the Environment Division of the Planning Department for this current winter. “

 

Once locations have been agreed by landowners, the trees will be planted with the help of Island youngsters as part of the Jersey Dairy Days on The Hedge project. Jersey Trees for Life will continue their care of the trees as they establish, by maintaining them, with the help of volunteers and the support of Jersey Dairy, for three years.

 

Jersey Dairy’s Managing Director, Eamon Fenlon, said: “We have supported the Hedgerow Campaign because this is a vital and visible way of preserving our Island environment for the future. Jersey’s dairy farmers are responsible for protecting and conserving the natural environment over large areas of the Island and this initiative has exactly the same objective.”

 

Any landowners who think they can help or anyone with further interest in the project can get more information on the Jersey Dairy website www.jerseydairy.je or email Jersey Trees for Life jerseytreesforlife@jerseymail.co.uk