Interview with 2025 Jersey Conservation Award winner - Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Established in 1990, the Conservation Awards honour local projects dedicated to environmental efforts and nature conservation across the islands. Last year’s Best Conservation Project Award in Jersey was presented to Durrell Wildlife Conservation for their Red-billed Choughs Programme, a long-term initiative that’s reintroducing this once-lost bird to the island. In 2024 alone, 24 chicks hatched as part of the project, which also supports habitat restoration, public education, and scientific research.
We caught up with Durrell’s Bird Team to find out what it meant to them to win the award and how their project has progressed.
It’s been almost a year since you won the Best Conservation Project Award in Jersey - how did it feel to receive that recognition?
It was fabulous to win the Award - we genuinely weren't expecting it! We shared the news widely and used it as an opportunity to showcase the project both locally and internationally across our social media.
What has the award meant for your project since then?
While the project received a lot of recognition in its early years, it was special for the team to be acknowledged now that it’s so well established. Everyone continues to work incredibly hard, and the award was hugely appreciated. It’s boosted morale, pride, and motivation.
What progress have you made over the past year?
The chough population has gone from strength to strength over the past year and is now at a record high, with around 80 birds flying free across the island.
How has the £3,000 prize fund helped support your restoration efforts?
We used part of the funding to purchase new water butts. A daily water supply is essential for servicing the choughs at their release aviary, and it’s not easy carrying containers back and forth from the Sorel car park. We also invested in a strimmer to keep the vegetation around the enclosure short, as choughs need short grass to forage for insects. We still have some funds remaining and are currently considering the best way to use them.
Why would you encourage other local projects to enter the Conservation Awards this year?
It’s a great way to raise a project’s profile and gain recognition, even if you don’t win outright and if you are lucky enough to win, the funding can provide vital support and make a real difference, particularly at a time when securing funding is increasingly challenging. Taking part also gave the team a real boost, and the recognition for their hard work meant a great deal.
Durrell’s success is a great example of the impact these awards can have. If you’re involved in a local conservation project, now is the perfect time to get involved and apply for this year’s awards.