Latest news
 

Latest Communiqué published...
Communique - Newsletter of La Societe GuernesiaiseThe Summer 2010 edition of Communiqué, La Société Guernesiaise's newsletter has been published and sent to all members. To download a copy click here

2010 Conservation Awards
Insurance Corporation Conservation Awards. Environmentally-friendly champagne corks will be popping this year as the Insurance Corporation Conservation Awards celebrates 20 years in the Channel Islands. Once again businesses, families and individuals will have the chance of winning £2,000 to spend developing their green initiatives further. If you would like to enter this year’s competition please pick-up an entry form from your local garden centre, Guille Allez library, the offices of Insurance Corporation or by calling Jim or Mel at the offices of LR&D on 246668. Islanders have until Monday 3 May to get their entries in.

International Year of Biodiversity
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity. La Société Guernesiaise is supporting this in several ways. We are co-authoring with the States of Guernsey Environment Department a series of articles on topics of biodiversity interest such as migrating birds, land management for natural history, and the species present in the islands, which will appear each month in the Guernsey Press. We will lead walks on World Wetlands Day which is 2nd February around Lihou Island and the Ramsar Site, and on International Biodiversity Day in May around the orchid fields, starting at our new Interpretation Centre at Les Sablons. In the autumn we intend to publish a Red Data Book for the island.

2008 Transactions published...
Transactions of La Societe Guernesiaise The 2008 edition of the Transactions of La Société Guernesiaise are published. For those that have asked for an electronic download and have been supplied with a password
click here

Information Centre at Les Sablons opened by the Bailiff Geoffrey Rowland QC
Les Sablons interpretation boardsThe Information Centre at Les Sablons was offcially opened by the Bailiff on 21 March. A series of intrepretation boards have been commissioned and these can be seen at the centre, which is open daily, along with the tea room and shop selling books, cards etc.

L'Erée Ramsar booklet on sale

Guernsey Ramsar siteThis new 16 page booklet describing walks around L'Erée is now available for sale at £2 plus post and packing as well as at Les Sablons Information Centre where the walk begins.

It covers all aspects of natural history and gives a fascinating insight into this important area.

Cick here to buy a copy


The Guernsey Norman French Translations of Thomas Martin

The Guernsey Norman French Translations of Thomas MartinThis major linguistic study of Guernsey Norman French offers an extensive presentation and analysis of one of the most important sources of data available in the dialect, namely Thomas Martin's translations of the Bible and of 100 plays from the work of Shakespeare, Longfellow, Pierre and Thomas Corneille, Molière and Voltaire. It is available from the Guernsey Museum shop at Candie and online from the publisher - for more details click here

Keeping a place for Swifts
Swift Apus apus rescued in GuernseyEdward Mayer of London Swifts presented an open lecture at Candie on 8pm on 11th September on how these magnificent birds have declined due to changes in building design and what we can do to encourage them back. For more details click here

First for the Channel Islands - Pine Bunting
First for the Channel Islands - Pine BuntingA stunning male Pine Bunting was seen by lucky birders in St Andrews at the end of May. Breeding in central Asia, this is an extreme vagrant to western Europe. For more details click here

Orchid fields renamed
On 14th April Bridget's husband Terry, as well as other family members, many friends and colleagues, were present for the renaming of the Vicheries Reserve as 'The Bridget Ozanne Orchid Fields'. Charles David, Immediate Past President, who worked closely with Bridget for many years, gave a moving tribute to her before Terry unveiled the new sign.

Cattle Egret influx hits Guernsey
Cattle Egret - Guernsey copyright Mark LawlorThe UK has seen an unprecedented influx of Cattle Egrets with over 60 birds being seen. Guernsey is no exception & birds have been found at a number of sites in the last few weeks. For the latest news click here

Rare plant discovered after 140 years
Charles David, President of La Société Guernesiaise, noticed an unusual and orange-coloured lichen growing on a bush near Jerbourg. It turned out to be a species last seen in Guernsey in 1867. click here

Planet Guernsey launched
Climate change is happening in Guernsey. This landmark publication shows us what we are doing to our island environment and sets challenges for the future click here

Island's waders in serious decline
Results from the wader counts carried out by ornithological section members indicate that over half the common wader species are in serious decline. click here




\Fatbirder's Top 1000 Birding Websites





Forthcoming Events
 

Upcoming Events...

Saturday 7th August 14:15
Botany Section Outing - Baubigny Marais

Saturday 14th August 14:30
Historic Buildings Section - visit to La Haye-du-Puits. ALL SPACES FILLED

Saturday 21st August
Nature Conservation Section outing - Bar meal and bat walk

Saturday 4th September 14:15
Botany Section outing - Bordeaux

Saturday 11th September
Open Visit to Sark


For full details of these and the many other events please click here


Recent Publications
 



Field key to the commonest and most conspicuous species of Channel Island mosses and liverworts
Adapted by C.T. David from E.V Watsons's key, this booklet only includes species found in the Channel Islands and so is easier to use than the original which covered the whole of the British Isles. It is extensively illustrated with colour photographs and notes are given on the status of each species. click here
Gouliot Caves by Ann Allen
Ann Allen's leaflet on the Gouliot Caves has been updated by the author and illustrated in colour by photographs from the Guernsey Biological Records Centre.

It was released as a 12 page booklet to mark the opening of the caves and Gouliot Headland in Sark as a Ramsar Site in April 2007.
click here

Also reissued: Guernsey Bird Guide and Map, by Vic and Jill Froome. Now updated with colour photos.
click here
   


La Société Guernesiaise was founded in 1882 to encourage the study of the history, natural history, geography and geology of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the conservation of the Bailiwick’s natural environment and the preservation of its historic buildings and monuments. 125 years later, this is as much true as it was then and the Société is the second largest landowner after the States of Guernsey and is very active in promoting, conserving and studying all aspects of island life.


 
   
  Copyright © La Société Guernesiaise 2009. All rights reserved.
Candie Gardens, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1UG, Channel Islands.
Email: