A new drive to get us planting native species in our gardens has been launched by La Societe Guernesiaise and GROW Limited.

'Grow Guernsey Natives' aims to preserve the island's native plants by encouraging islanders to choose them over other varieties.

It is partnership between the Botany Section of La Societe and the GROW charity.

"I am delighted to announce this new initiative which will help preserve our island’s native wildflowers.

Native plant species are vital for local insects and wildlife and our gardens can be a great place to support these local plants and insect life.

Grow Guernsey Natives seeks to educate and promote the planting of native and naturalised plant species in local gardens." - Helen Litchfield. La Societe.

The initiative has been created by Raymond Evison who has been researching and growing some of the 167 plant species in the bailiwick that are considered rare in the British Isles.  34 of them are only found in fewer than 25 locations across the UK.

"A lovely plant that you find on the coastal areas of Petit Bot is called the 'shaggy mouse ears'  - It has quiet a simple yellow flower but it is really rare.

The more common plant  - but still a native plant - is an ox-eye daisy, and we see that around the island quite a lot but it is declining so it is important we maintain our stocks."

Initially seven types of plants will be sold at GROW.  There are plans for that to increase dramatically in the coming years.

Each plant that is bought will fund further work.

"GROW Limited is delighted to be part of the team and to be able to grow these marvellous native plants on for retail sales in Guernsey." - Jess Augton, manager at GROW.