We have been working with Guernsey Conservation Volunteers for the past year to help in their battle against the sour fig that has been spreading along Guernsey’s cliffs and shorelines. This plant, originating from South Africa, has become increasingly recognisable by the patches of its fleshy stems and pink and yellow flowers on the southern cliffs and the west coast. The plant is an invasive species that has become a major threat to Guernsey’s biodiversity, which has doubled in area over the past decade, causing a 90% reduction in our native grasses.
In September, we grabbed our gloves and managed to pull up 8 skips full of sour fig from the L’Eree headland. This was our biggest haul yet and it was amazing to see how much progress we made. We can’t wait to see the native flora return to the area!
