What’s that flower? This week project volunteers have received training from Spalding Associates on how to carry out vegetation surveys and identify vegetation over four habitats across Gugh, St Agnes and a control site on Bryher.

We are collecting data on the response of different species to the rat removal operation. The taxa that are being surveyed are: land birds, invertebrates, plants, lesser white-toothed shrews and rabbits. 

The surveys as a whole will form an important part of the overall information-gathering effort during the project, which will greatly increase its value as a learning exercise and demonstration model. Data on the responses of different taxa to the rat removal operation (whether positive or negative) will be highly useful in informing the development of future projects and thinking on island restoration more generally.