Alderney is a natural habitat, why is the AWT trying to change it?
Much, if not most, of Alderney’s landscape is not ‘natural’. If it were, the most prolific habitat on the island would probably be species-poor woodland or scrub. Most of Alderney’s habitats are relics of days gone by when much of the land was cultivated or farmed. In recent years, as less and less land is managed, the ‘man-made’ landscape of Alderney is reverting to a more ‘natural state’: for example heathland areas such as the Giffoine are gradually degenerating into scrubland (comprising gorse, bracken and bramble). Due to the long period of time over which Alderney has been managed the island now supports a varied range of habitats which in turn support a huge diversity of species which are adapted to live in such places. It is unlikely that such a diversity would exist on Alderney if it were to revert to its natural state.As part of establishing our long-term priorities it is important that we know the public’s views on what it would like Alderney’s environment to be in the futur
