Public Meeting Les Cotils Wednesday 23 October 2019 7.30-9.00pm Stakeholder Meeting 3.00-5.30pm Queries Vanessa 0778142188

La Société Guernesiaise’s Pollinator Project aims to raise awareness of the genuine contribution we can each make to the enhancement of Guernsey’s biodiversity by providing food and habitats for pollinators. Evidence continues to grow about the negative impact caused by the various chemicals we use to manage our land, both to our own health and to the environment on which we ultimately depend. Pesticides impact nearly all life on Earth. By their very nature, pesticides are designed to kill pests. They include a wide range of compounds including herbicides (designed to kill plants), insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, molluscicides and nematicides, but also include plant growth regulators, defoliants and desiccants.

They are mainly used in the growing of agricultural crops and commercial plants, but are also used in our communities, homes and gardens. The Pollinator Project would ideally like to see a future where Guernsey is pesticide free, or predominately uses alternative and healthier methods to grow crops and plants, and to control pests and weeds. But nothing will fundamentally change without feasible alternatives. What are the current alternatives? Are they any better? And can our community carry on ‘business as usual’ using these alternatives? What would this mean practically for Guernsey? We have invited a number of local and UK individuals to share their thoughts and experience on this topic and we would be delighted if you could join us.

Pesticide Free Guernsey Forum

Nick Mole Pesticide Action Network UK

pan-uk.org nick@pan-uk.org

Nick is Policy Officer at Pesticide Action Network (PAN UK) which is the UK charity focused on tackling the problems caused by pesticides and promoting safe and sustainable alternatives in agriculture, urban areas, homes and gardens. Nick and his team work tirelessly to apply pressure to regulators, governments, policy makers, industry and retailers to reduce the impact of harmful pesticides.

Nick will be speaking about his work with various councils in the UK as they to move towards Pesticide-Free Town status by switching to alternatives in their land management practices. He will also be outlining current research on the impact of pesticides on pollinators and how Guernsey might aim to adopt a long term ambition and become the first pesticide free island.

Rosi Rollings rosybee plants for bees

rosybee.com rosi@rosybee.com

A business woman all her life Rosi has recently turned her passion and love of gardening, plant propagation and bees into a business that supplies pesticide and peat free plants and a consultancy service specifically to support pollinator populations.

Rosi has undertaken a 7 year research study into which plants are best for bees. She gives talks on how to maximise the value of planting schemes for pollinating insects and continues to develop her understanding of the complex relationship between plants and bees.

John Woodward johnwoodward@ floralguernsey.co.uk

John’s extensive experience is in general horticulture with a particular interest in glasshouse crops. He spent many years as an adviser to the States of  Guernsey Horticultural Advisory  Service and witnessed the development of the Agrochemical industry over that time. More recently John has

been involved with the Royal Horticultural Society in the Britain in Bloom campaign and is a advisor to GROW Ltd who are working with the Pollinator Project to assess the feasibility of producing pesticide free pollinator friendly plants in Guernsey both for the project and for sale to the general public.

James Watts Meadow Court Farm Guernsey meadowcourtfarm@ cwgsy.net

After studying Agriculture at University and gaining farming experience all over the world, James returned to Guernsey in 1999 to join his father, Ray in the family business. The Watts have been looking after an award winning herd of 156 'Guernseys' at their home, Meadow Court Farm since 1970. James

believes that to create a shift away from a culture where pesticides are a fundamental part of the agricultural system, viable alternatives and a long term transition plan will be required. Sound science and rational debate will be key and James is keen contribute his voice to this important topic.

Miranda Bane miranda.bane@icloud.com

Miranda is a local ecologist who studied Natural Sciences at Bath, followed by PhD in Pollinator Ecology with her main focus on Bumblebees and the role they play in the larger community of pollinators and plants. She is interested in landscape scale and system approaches to conservation,

where her philosophy is that ‘good data is key’. Miranda’s recent research involved working with farmers in the UK on crop rotations and climate change impacts. She believes Guernsey has an opportunity to be a key player in global research into pesticide use and impacts on pollinators.

Julia Henney Guernsey Biodiversity Education Officer julia.henney@gov.gg

Julia studied Biology (BSc) and Conservation Science (MSc) and describes herself as a ‘bottom-up ecologist’ who focuses on functioning ecosystems. Julia became Guernsey’s first Biodiversity Education officer in 2017 and is responsible for raising awareness about Guernsey ecology, the threats

our island environment faces and what individuals can do to help. Julia also manages La Société Guernesiaise’s Conservation Herd. With careful husbandry and land management techniques this small herd of Guernsey cattle is managed without pesticides or routine wormers.