21 January 2021
Islanders who have a passion for nature will be able to join this year's Pondwatch JE online on Saturday 23 January which runs from 12pm to 1pm.
The event has been organised by the Government's Land Resource Management team, the Jersey Amphibian and Reptile Group, Jersey Biodiversity Centre (JBC), and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC).
The hour-long session will be held online due to COVID-19 restrictions and aims to raise awareness of the variety of wildlife in Jersey's ponds and encourage people to get involved in recording the wildlife in pond habitats.
The event will offer an insight into the wildlife of Jersey's ponds and will include:
- A showcase of the species of newt, toad, and frog found locally as well as different invertebrate and plant species to look out for
- A talk about how to get involved with species recording and the types of surveying you can do
- Surveys and identification guides
Research Ecologist for Government of Jersey, Nina Cornish said: "Training and supporting volunteers is really important for the Government and other local environmental organisations.
"We rely on the kind support and commitment of Wild Volunteers, this means we are able to run more surveys and gain a better understanding of the health of Jersey's environment so that we can protect it for the future."
Manager of the JBC, Michelle Gray said: "Surveying schemes such as Pondwatch are vital in helping us build a comprehensive picture of the species we have here in Jersey.
"By taking a closer look at your local pond, habitat health can be assessed, and population numbers can be monitored to help safeguard our important island wildlife."
Dr John Wilkinson from the ARC said: "Jersey's ponds contain a unique array of species, including of course the iconic crapaud. It is vital to monitor their distribution and status in the island to ensure they are there to delight future generations."
Anyone who wants to attend the free event can book their tickets here.
Those wanting to know more can contact jbc@societe-jersiaise.org or wildaboutjersey@gov.je
gov.je