The Alderney Wildlife Trust

Managers Report 2005/2006

1. Summary

I am pleased to present my fourth Manager’s Report to the membership of the Alderney Wildlife Trust. Over the past year the Trust has continued a steady 30% increase in its financial growth and it has maintained its Conservation Commitments well in accord with what was expected for the year. This trend has continued now for over 4 years since the Trust’s inception.

However, owing to this extended period of growth, the Trust’s internal structure has become increasingly complex and layered. To simplify this report I have broken it down into two principal operational areas, Commercial and Conservation. Individual projects have been detailed under one or other of these headings, though most areas are interconnected to some degree.

2. Commercial

i. Membership

a. Numbers

The Trust’s membership has remained static over the last year with 242 adult, family, watch and business members at the time of writing this report. Figures are still above those for 2004 when they totalled just 201. The division of the Trust’s membership between residents (66%) and mainland/overseas members (34%) also remains stable.

It should be noted that due to the cyclical nature of the Trust’s membership and the slightly later date of this year’s AGM, there are a relatively large number of membership renewals outstanding. In addition the Trust is now without a dedicated membership Secretary.

Actions 2006/2007

· Bringing membership renewal dates in line with the 1^st May 2007 so that a single annual renewal date be adopted.

· Finding a voluntary Trust Membership Secretary

· Developing a membership strategy and specifically targeting the need to increase the percentage of the Trust’s off-island membership

b. Literature

The past year has seen some changes to the Trust’s in-house literature production, which it is hoped will prove both positive and to be based on sound financial reasoning.

· The quarterly Wildlife News (single page newsletter) was dropped at the beginning of the Trust year as it was proving increasingly difficult to produce on time and to cost. The increasing cost of postage was also causing difficulties so a reduction to three main postings a year was deemed necessary.

· The Alderney Wildlife (magazine) has been upgraded to make up for the reduction in literature. Now four pages longer and recently translated into Quark format (many thanks go to Many Hart for all her help in this area) the latest issue has brought the magazine to a new standard.

· At the beginning of the last Trust year the Alderney Information Map was published (sponsored by HSBC). Replacing the Trust’s three individual walking guides, this map has met with general approval and over 2000 have been distributed to date.

· Thanks to the efforts of John Diebel, Rupert Street and Terry Gander the new Alderney coffee table book, which is being published to raise funds for the Trust, is nearing completion. Thanks should also go to all the contributors to and the sponsors of this new book.

· The Trust’s co-sponsored RAMSAR notice boards (States of Alderney & RSPB) have finally arrived and should be put up in location on the Giffoine, Clonque Bay and on Burhou within the next month.

Actions 2006/2007

· To support the work that is continuing on Burhou with a new Joint publication between the Trust, RSPB and States of Alderney on the island’s seabird population.

· The creation of a Trust/States of Alderney RAMSAR leaflet similar to that recently published in Guernsey. Such a publication would need to be corporately sponsored.

· The continued development of Alderney Wildlife, including an increase in the total number of pages, additional wildlife articles and the establishment of regular distribution of the magazine to all other Wildlife Trusts and through shop retail on Alderney.

ii. States Grant

Thanks to the leading role played by Mark Wordsworth (Director) in raising the profile of the Trust’s work with the States of Alderney’s General Services and Policy and Finance Committees, the established States grant of £12,000 was increased to £15,000 for the financial year 2006.

Though there has been no formal confirmation that this increase will be maintained in the future the Trust’s presentations were received in a positive manner, with a unanimous decision to support the Trust’s work being passed by the General Services Committee.

Actions 2006/2007

· The selection of a Trust Director to act as States liaison and responsibility for liaising on a regular basis with both individual Members and Committees.

· The preparation of an annual Trust review to be copied to all States Members, accompanied by a visual presentation.

· An annual invitation to visit the Trust’s sites to be made to all States Members.

· A copy of all the Trust’s literature to be made available to States Members.

iii. Alderney Information Centre & Wildlife Trust Office

a. Staff

The office staffing situation has varied considerably over the last Trust Year.

· For a period of approximately 8 months Neil Harvey admirably fulfilled the role of Office Manager before standing down (our thanks go to Neil for his continued help and assistance).

· We welcomed work experience student Nicolas Andrews (Harper Adams University) to the role of People and Wildlife Office in late July 2005. Nick has fulfilled this role with great flair and dedication developing the Trust’s educational programme with both schools and children’s groups. The Trust will sorely miss his efforts when his placement finishes at the end of July.

· Lindsay Pyne (Hon Secretary Alderney Wildlife Trust [Society]) has continued to dedicate herself to the Trust, working more than 30 hours a week (near enough fulfilling the role of Assistant Trust Manager). Lindsay has also worked hard with the assistance of Brian Bonnard to develop her botanical skills, which are vitally needed by the Trust.

· Louise Soanes took on the role of research student for the Burhou Project early in 2005, working diligently and without pay through the four month breeding season to help compile a comprehensive report on the current situation on the island. Louise returned to Alderney later in 2005 and has taken on the new role of Trust Ecologist (Voluntary). This work includes the founding of the Alderney Biological Record Centre, running an extremely wide ranging survey programme and continuing the Burhou programme.

· In addition 3 short term work experience student placements for the Trust, were taken last year.

Actions 2006/2007

· To secure voluntary support to cover the Office Manager’s role.

· To secure further year-long work experience placement.

· To secure additional voluntary support for the Trust’s Shop and Membership administration.

· To continue to build upon the successes of the Trust’s Work Placement programme utilising the new resources available at Essex Farm.

b. Office

Work has been on going at the Trust’s premises at 34 Victoria Street throughout the year.

· The Trust’s Office was redesigned with the aid of Trevor Sanders to create 5 work stations that could be used simultaneously to accommodate the increased staffing levels.

· The Alderney Information Centre and Wildlife Trust Shop had a face lift earlier in the year. Again with the aid of Trevor Sanders the shop was redecorated in the new States of Alderney brochure colours and changes to the display space were also implemented.

· An additional computer was purchased for approx. £700 to be used as a work station for the new Alderney Biological Records Centre and to act as the Office Server.

· Wireless Broadband has also been installed, speeding up the office network considerably.

Actions 2006/2007

· To improve the Office network to allow the creation of a separate work station at Essex Farm.

· To secure corporate sponsorship for the Trust’s office to reduce the financial burden on the Trust.

c. Retail

Due to the increasing workload the Trust has undertaken and the lack of a dedicated shop Retail Manager the Wildlife Trust’s Shop has not continued to develop as well as in 2005/2006. The range of stock has altered little and several lines are being phased out due to poor sales, whilst others are still awaiting re-supply.

Actions 2006/2007

· Find a volunteer to take on the role of Retail Manager.

· Create retail budgeting strategy.

· Create a marketing strategy which will alert both visitors and residents to the presence of the Trust shop.

· Develop an internet retail section of the Trust website.

iv. Essex Farm (Anthony Le Blanc)

BACKGROUND: In March 2006 the Trust obtained a five year lease with a three year extension option, on very generous terms, for the Essex Farm site.

LONG TERM AIM: Essex Farm is foremost a base for the Trust’s Conservation work and accommodation for its volunteer placement programme. However, the Trust would ultimately like to run the farm as an example of a sustainable dwelling place on Alderney, particularly as regards water, heating and food production.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

FARMHOUSE

Following possession the farm house, with three bedrooms, has been refurbished with carpet being laid in most of the rooms. A new shower and toilet have been installed and we are very grateful to all of the volunteers who have provided labour and expertise - David Horton, Pete Soanes, Charles and Ros Michel, Anthony Simpkin, Elizabeth Gauvain, Bill and Pauline Black and Dee Hooton need special thanks for putting in a little extra time and effort. The intention is to use one of the bedrooms for a short term volunteer and the other two for longer term placements.

THE BARN

This large building which is attached to the farm house has received a major overhaul. It consists of a fully enclosed area and an outside partially open structure. The interior enclosed area will be used as a workshop and provide machinery storage. Half of the enclosed area in the barn will be available for members’ use. See Roland for details. The partially open area on the outside (known as the Hay Barn) will be used for equipment storage and as a log store. .

THE STABLES

Opposite the barn are a series of loose boxes. The roof over the stables has been stripped and will be replaced. Volunteers from Durham University Conservation Volunteers will assist with the re-roofing. Once finished the intention is to keep most of the building available for livestock (as part of the Alderney Conservation Grazing Herd), and enclose a section to be used as a tool store.

THE LAND

Projects here include a wild life garden at the front of the farmhouse. We have a large field at the rear which will be used by the Alderney Grazing Project. Some of the remaining land appears to have allotment potential and so in time will be investigated as a way of developing the farm’s potential as a sustainable dwelling. It is also our intention to carry out annual tree planting around the boundaries with a view to ultimately replacing the existing fence line with a hedging of native shrubs.

v. Water Conservation

Over the last 12 months it has becoming increasingly obvious that Alderney is suffering a severe water shortage. This shortage has been affecting the water table in the Longis area for well over a year and in the areas in which we collect drinking water shortages are only set to cause more problems. Longis pond has now been dry for almost a year with the last measurements available setting the water table, which fills the pond, at approximately 3 metres below the pond’s bottom. This is critical as the pond provides the best fresh water wetland habitat for breeding birds on Alderney.

Early in 2006 the States formally recognised the situation and the Trust was able to assist in the following ways:

· The Creation of water conservation guidelines.

· Public support for the States water conservation measures.

· The sourcing of garden water butts and Hippo water displacers and their supply.

· Continued work to improve the bird breeding habitat at Mannez pond.

· Working with the States of Alderney and the Alderney Society to mitigate the habitat damage caused by the proposed flooding of one of the old Bonne Terre dam to create a sedimentation pond.

Actions 2006/2007

· To lobby the States to pass wide-ranging water conservation legislation for all new buildings and rebuilding as well as the importation of plumbing fittings.

· To continue to work with the States to ensure that minimal damage to Alderney’s precious habitats is caused in the rush to find additional water sources.

· Continue to support the States’ stance on the limitations of use for processed water and to supply water conservation devices.

· To create a corporately sponsored best practice guide to water use for Alderney’s households and businesses.

· To continue the habitat management at Mannez Pond to allow the displacement of breeding birds from Longis Pond.

· To lobby the States to stop the pumping of the Longis water table at the earliest opportunity.

vi. Contract Work

Minimal contract work has been undertaken during, the year primarily for the Alderney Society.

vii. Equipment

Due to the Trust’s increasing workload it has become ever more reliant on the available equipment. The establishment of proper storage and workshop space at Essex Farm has been a great bonus for the Trust, whilst the help of Mr Brian Goddard in maintaining the Trust’s tractor and Mr Louis Jean in caring for the Trust’s power tools has been invaluable.

There have been no further significant investments in tools over the last year.

Actions 2006/2007

· To establish a budgetary regime for the Trust’s equipment purchase and renewal programme.

· To start a replacement programme foraging hand tools

· To find a private or corporate sponsor to help fund the purchase of a much needed tractor flail (approx. cost £3500).

3. Conservation

The conservation workload undertaken by the Trust has grown rapidly since its inception in 2002. Most of this work has been targeted at establishing or maintaining access to Alderney’s countryside and specific management where a need can be established using popular habitat and species management doctrine.

It is hoped that most will agree that up until now this has proved to be a successful and necessary approach. It has halted gradual loss or rapid destruction of some of Alderney’s most important habitats, whilst allowing the Trust to establish a very visual presence on Alderney. This in turn has helped fuel the Trust’s membership and fundraising campaigns.

However, now that the Trust has become an established part of Alderney, it is time to create a more measured and informed approach to its conservation work. This new programme will be directed by a better understanding of our island and the targeting of key indicator species and habitats through which we can better assess the pressures on Alderney’s natural environment. Before management work commences measures of success must be established allowing regular monitoring to take place to ensure the Trust is targeting its limited resources in the most viable and appropriate manner.

To this end the Trust has created the Alderney Biological Records Centre which is charged with gathering as wide a range of biological date as possible, and identifying key species and habitats on Alderney. Based on this information it is suggested that a Scientific Committee be formed and charged with the identification of a range of key species and habitats on which to concentrate the Trust’s resources. Subsequently management plans can be drawn up for each of these species and habitats. These plans can then be used as the basis of the Trust’s Nature Reserves Management Programme.

With this in mind it seems imprudent to propose actions to be undertaken for year 2006/2007 until these proposals can be implemented. Until this time it is proposed that the established programme of works will continue.

i. Alderney Biological Record Centre

As part of a long-term plan in safeguarding Alderney’s natural resources, the Trust has established a biological record centre. Working closely with the Guernsey Biological Records Centre the Trust aims to collect as much information as possible about the species and habitats present on Alderney, with the overall aim that, in the future, appropriate land and species management plans can be devised to help protect our natural environment.

To this end the Record Centre has a wide range of research topics for 2006 including the digitising of as many of the existing records as possible and the undertaking of 14 key species surveys (this includes the Burhou programme for 2006)

ii. Reserves

a. Longis

Work at the Longis Reserve has been progressing at a measured pace. With the loss of the Longis pond resource the management plans for the area had to be re-drawn and volunteer time and effort re-directed:

· During the autumn of 2005 the Crassula helmsii was cut and collected from Mannez pond. A subsequent herbicidal treatment further retarded the plant’s growth during 2006. Work was also undertaken to raise the level of the reserve trail which ran around the south western edge of the pond and further scrub clearance was carried out to increase the potential bird nesting habitat on the pond’s western edge.

· Work to obscure the pond from the west and north continued and in April a new bird hide was installed at the south western edge of the pond (many thanks go to David Horton for all his work and effort here).

· Management at Longis pond continued with the removal of all white poplar saplings and the introduction of elder as a long term replacement to this non-native tree. A new reed fence was erected and repairs made to the hide.

· Bracken control finally got underway on a large scale with approximately 10 acres of bracken now being mown on a regular basis.

· Brown-tailed moth control has continued to be carried out by burning with 2006 producing the lowest number of moth tents recorded in the last 3 years.

b. Val du Saou

Management at the Val du Saou continues on the basis of the original States of Alderney memorandum with work focused on:

· Reducing the area of non native tree plantation.

· Planting a select range of native trees.

· Clearing the valley’s eastern slope of scrub.

· Maintaining access.

· Maintaining the grassland areas adjacent to the Trust’s Countryside Visitors Centre.

· Maintaining the Countryside Visitors Centre for public use and running educational events.

c. Subsidiary Sites

(i) Bonne Terre

Because of the States of Alderney’s plans to flood a large part of the wetland meadow within this area the Trust has had to take a very proactive role in clearing scrub and tree growth to allow future mitigation measures. Overall the work within this area has continued along the established lines:

· The fencing in of the Alderney Society’s grasslands to allow for grazing management.

· Continued footpath management including the re-establishment of the Upper Contour Track and creation of 2 flights of steps and a bridge.

· Clearance of scrub from behind the damn.

(ii) Rose Farm

As in 2004/2005 coppice work continued on a stand of mature willow. This was undertaken for the following reasons:

1. to establish a mixture of ages of willow growth,

2. to provide a practice area for the Trust’s volunteers on coppice management. Tree laying was attempted for the first time in November with considerable success,

3. to provide whips for transplanting to other sites within the Bonne Terre.

iii. Footpath Management Program

The Trust’s footpath management programme has not significantly changed since the 2004/2005 management report. An additional footpath created in the Bonne Terre and the Trust’s new tractor mounted flail collector have been the only major changes in the programme of works.

iv. Burhou Project (Louise Soanes)

In 2005 the Wildlife Trust took on the management of the Burhou Research Project on behalf of the States of Alderney. The aim of the project was to investigate the level and type of interaction between puffins and gulls on Burhou. The season’s study revealed the following;

1. Three pairs of Great black backed gulls were found to have puffin in their diet.

2. The density of nesting gulls around the puffin colonies on Burhou was found to be high enough to reduce recruitment to the colony. (when compared to data collected on the Isle of May)

3. Kleptoparasitism (steeling of fish from puffins) was not found to be a significant factor affecting puffin provisioning rates.

The steering group recommended the following main actions to be undertaken in 2006 which the States of Alderney agreed;

1. the control of three pairs of Great Black-backed gulls that predated puffin

2. Removal of all bracken growing within a 50m boundary from puffin burrows

3. Prevention of nesting of all gulls within a 50m boundary from all puffin burrows by nest destruction and egg collecting.

4. Continued collection of Great black-backed gulls’ eggs to suppress the population.

Monitoring and research of the gull and puffin populations and their interaction will also continue this year.

v. Alderney West Coast and Burhou Island’s Ramsar Reserve

The Bailiwick of Guernsey’s first RAMSAR site was officially established at a launch ceremony held by the States of Alderney on 25^th August 2005. Since then there has been good press coverage and the Trust based its Alderney Wildlife Festival 2005 around the launch of the site with well over 200 members of the public taking part. However, no other major undertakings have been made.

Actions 2006/2007

· The erection of three RAMSAR information boards around the site

· The creation of an Alderney RAMSAR leaflet

· The creation of a Burhou seabirds leaflet

· The creation of a joint States of Alderney/, Wildlife Trust RAMSAR management plan

4. Conclusion

I am pleased to be able to report that the Trust has experienced another year of growth and expansion. However, it is increasingly evident that the Trust needs to carry out a structural review and a re-assessment of its long term aims to ensure it retains a tight focus on its core objectives. In order to achieve this, clear well defined targets must be set in each of the Trust's key areas and measures of success established to enable clearer understanding of the Trust's successes and failures.

Roland Gauvain 21.05.2006