UPDATE ON BIRD FLU RESTRICTIONS
Bird flu restrictions and associated biosecurity measures will end in Jersey on Liberation Day (9 May) unless the situation suddenly deteriorates, the Island’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed. For now, the avian influenza “Prevention Zone” remains in place across the whole Island, and with it the continued requirement for birdkeepers to house their flocks or […]
ASIAN HORNETS: FIRST NEST OF 2022 FOUND IN JERSEY
Jersey’s first Asian hornet nest of the year was discovered earlier this month after volunteers received a callout from a local business at Longueville. On arrival, they found a small embryonic nest (one built entirely by the queen) on the outside of the firm’s main entrance door. Local beekeeper and member of the Jersey Asian hornet […]
RETURNING SEASONAL WORKERS TO BE ENTITLED TO FREE HEALTHCARE
Seasonal agricultural workers may soon access free healthcare on their return to the Island, after Jersey’s Minister for Health and Social Services announced he was bringing forward revised rules following a Scrutiny report into the rural economy. Currently, seasonal workers who return year on year are not entitled to social security benefits or non-emergency healthcare […]
JERSEY HEDGEHOG SURVEY 2022
By Gill Morgan of the Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group You may have read of the concerns over the decline of hedgehog numbers in Britain, with numbers allegedly falling by up to 30% in urban areas and 50% in rural areas over the last 20 years. This has led to one of Britain’s best loved mammals […]
ECRÉHOUS SEABIRD PROTECTION STATUS COMES INTO FORCE
New restrictions came into effect at Les Ecréhous this month after areas of the site were given special protection status to safeguard the breeding activities and nesting of wild birds. Four areas of Les Ecréhous have been designated as Areas of Special Protection under Jersey’s Wildlife Law to reduce the risk to birds from the […]
BIRD FLU MEASURES TO REMAIN IN PLACE
Jersey’s Chief Vet has thanked Islanders for their efforts to date to help stop the spread of avian influenza (bird flu). Alistair Breed is also reminding birdkeepers to continue to follow restrictions, which include keeping their birds housed, or otherwise kept separate (by using suitable netting) from wild birds. In February, two wild buzzards and […]
APRIL WILD WATCH: SEA PINK THRIFT
Clusters of bright pink flowers are a beautiful sight on coastal cliffs and sand dunes around Jersey at this time of year, with thrift plants flowering from April to July. Commonly known as ‘sea pink’ and ‘cliff clover’, this clover-like wildflower grows happily on cliffs and coastlines. A perennial herb, thrift is tolerant of poor […]
SADIE LE SUEUR-RENNARD, RIP
The sudden death of Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard has come as a sad and sudden shock to all of us at RURAL magazine. Little did we realise, when we interviewed her for the latest ‘Spring’ issue of the magazine, and took the picture of her for the front cover, showing her surrounded by her beloved cows, […]
BETTER LEGAL PROTECTION FOR JERSEY’S TREES?
Environmental groups have long called for better protection of Jersey’s trees, and now islanders can have their say before new laws are introduced in the Island. From having a two-month notice period for tree works, to using only government-approved tree surgeons, Jersey politicians have been working on new draft legislation that they hope will improve […]
PUFFINS RETURN TO ISLAND BREEDING CLIFFS
With their colourful bills and comical gait, puffins are a much-loved bird across the British Isles. Nowhere is this more evident than Jersey, where this month islanders will be celebrating the puffins return with a new festival dedicated to the iconic bird. As its name would suggest, the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) spends most of its […]