About Us
Pollinator Project Guernsey
The Pollinator Project was set up in 2017 as a non-profit group of volunteers in Guernsey who are passionate about pollinator conservation. We focus on community action, education and science in the Guernsey Bailiwick. It was originally an arm of La Société Guernesiaise and is now a registered charity and LBG and we continue to work with many other local environmental groups to
enhance biodiversity in the island.
If you’d like to work with us, or just want to know more, do get in touch on social media or at contact @ pollinatorproject.gg
We promote the conservation of Guernsey’s naturally occurring pollinating insects and the health of their supporting ecosystems
We aim to protect local pollinators and their habitats and help them thrive in the future. This covers wild bees (bumblebees and solitary bees), wasps, hoverflies, moths and butterflies that nest on island.
It’s important to us to use conservation to bring people together in something positive that benefits people, as well as benefiting the island’s pollinators and the habitats that we share with them. We do this by encouraging islanders to be actively involved in conservation in their own gardens or land, to learn more about bees, moths and butterflies, and to see more of and appreciate the habitats that our pollinators live in. This is to switch people onto conservation, for the benefit of the local environment.
The team of Pollinator Project volunteers bring together lots of organisations in our work including government, other charities and conservation groups locally, in Jersey and internationally. Locally we work with community groups, schools, designers and artists, finance organisations and utilities.
Funding was given to us by the States of Guernsey Biodiversity Partnership for our first education campaign and an event, and we tend to gain corporate sponsorship for campaign goods, or from award wins. Therefore, all donations and sponsorship discussions are welcome.
What we do:
- Provide information about why pollinators are vital to the production of all our fruit, flowers, nuts and many vegetables – 75% of our food.
- Encourage and inspire people to take positive action
- Providing information for people to make decisions that benefit pollinators (and nature generally)
- Support science programmes
- Help people to experience and learn more about pollinators and nature
- Create and enhance natural pollinator habitats
- Work to reduce pollution that damages pollinators in the environment
Through:
- Running education, arts and public awareness programmes
- Conducting scientific research
- Providing advice to the owners and users of all types of land, gardens and amenities
- Assisting access to resources and services
- Liaising with and connecting other organisations and individuals in the Bailiwick, Channel Islands, UK and beyond
Who We Are
Gordon Steele, Chair graduated in Applied Biology, spent 4 years in invertebrate research before undertaking a corporate career spanning commercial horticulture, energy, postal and logistics. He now focuses his energies on the Pollinator Project and the management of local wildflower meadows.
Andy Smith is a life member of La Société. With a lifelong interest in nature, his focus is entomology, and he is the County Recorder for the charity Butterfly Conservation, an established birdwatcher, and a member of the Société’s bat section.
Andrew Courtney retired in 2023 after 46 years working in the finance industry,
most recently as Group Chief Operating Officer for Ravenscroft. He has served
two parishes for 14 years as Douzenier, Dean of the Douzaine, Douzaine
Representative and Constable. Andrew worked as part of a small group of friends
which raised over £40,000 for local charities over a 10 year period. He is local,
married with 5 children and 10 grandchildren, all living in Guernsey.
Miranda Bane has a PhD in Pollination Ecology from the University of Bath and is now working as a research associate at the University of Bristol, in partnership with the Pollinator Project, to deliver a 5-year research programme studying pollinator communities and the impacts of pesticides in the Channel Islands.
Louise Gabriel brings more than 25 years of experience of communications from the corporate, third and public sectors. A love of nature, planting and creating gardens has been recently focused by an increasing awareness of the need to protect declining species and to help inform other people how they can be proactive and create richer habitats to help pollinators thrive.
Sharon Hickman has been a warden of St Martins for several years and has had a lifelong interest in everything to do with nature. She expends her energy on her garden, allotment and managing a small field and an area of woodland with her husband to create a haven for wildlife. And of course working with the Pollinator Project.
Mark Bougourd, Treasurer
Mark holds a business degree and is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience in the finance industry. Alongside his career, Mark enjoys spending time outdoors with his young family and is dedicated to combining his professional expertise with a passion for making a positive impact on the environment and the community.
Laura Harrison has long had an interest in science communication, which stems from her previous career as a General Practitioner. She is joined the Pollinator project in 2022 and is currently lead for their educational project. Having grown up in Guernsey, and bringing up her own family here, she is passionate about protecting the biodiversity of our island for future generations.