‘Grow Guernsey Natives’ is a new initiative to help preserve our island’s native plants and is launched by the Botany Section of La Societe Guernesiaise and GROW Limited. Helen Litchfield of the Botany Section announced the launch of this new Guernsey project and its importance for our island.

‘I am delighted to announce this new initiative which will help preserve our island’s native wildflowers. Native plant species are vital for local insects and wildlife and our gardens can be a great place to support these local plants and insect life. Grow Guernsey Natives seeks to educate and promote the planting of native and naturalised plant species in local gardens.’

Raymond Evison created this new initiative to preserve local plant species. ‘I knew that the Bailiwick of Guernsey had a number of rare and endemic plant species but not until I attended the lecture given by Helen Litchfield in the Autumn of 2020 did I realise that the Bailiwick of Guernsey has 167 plant species that are considered rare in the British Isles and that 34 of those species are only found in less than 25 locations in the British Isles.’ ‘It is only with the great help of Chris Chatfield and his vast knowledge of plant propagation that we have been able to start this exciting initiative, to help secure the future of our rare local plant species.’

The Botany Section of La Societe Guernesiaise wish to thank Raymond. Without his enthusiasm, hard work and resources, this project would not have progressed. In this first year, there are seven species of native and naturalised plants available for sale at GROW Limited and this will increase dramatically in the coming years.

People are being encouraged to choose ‘native’ when buying plants to help bolster and preserve these species. Each plant purchased, in addition to ensuring preservation of the species, will fund the work going forward.

Jess Aughton, manager at GROW Limited, is supporting Grow Guernsey Natives, ‘GROW Limited is delighted to be part of the team and to be able to grow these marvellous native plants on for retail sales in Guernsey.’