Three of Jersey’s utility companies have joined together to support the National Trust for Jersey’s ‘Green Grid’ campaign to plant and restore the Island’s hedgerows.
Teams from Jersey Electricity, JT and Jersey Water will fund and volunteer their time to work together to create the largest continuous grid of hedge corridors in Jersey, by planting and maintaining an additional five miles around the Island. This new five-mile area of hedge planting will take place in the north of the Island in and around St John.
The ‘Green Grid’ partnership will enhance the existing grid of 26.5 miles of hedgerows which will help Jersey’s wildlife, landscape and natural resources to flourish.
Charles Alluto, chief executive of the National Trust for Jersey, said: ‘The “Green Grid” project provides natural corridors for wildlife, enhancing biodiversity and helping to trap carbon. It’s such an important project for the Island’s environment and we are so grateful for the support of these large Island employers and are looking forward to working with their teams over the winter, as together we provide a much-needed resource to make this happen. Without these teams the scale of the project really wouldn’t be possible.’
Chris Ambler, chief executive of Jersey Electricity, added: ‘Our core goal is to help Jersey realise its ambition to become carbon neutral to help reduce climate change, conserve resources and protect the environment.’
Financial support will also be provided by the Countryside Enhancement Scheme who have been a long-time supporter of the project.
The partnership is due to last for a year, but it is hoped that as more land becomes available for planting, then the project will continue for as long as it is needed.
