STAN Brouard Ltd wants to create a woodland area devoted to the island’s indigenous plants and wildlife. The agricultural and horticultural supplier has applied to develop a four-acre field at the back of its Landes du Marche site.

The proposal includes transforming one acre of the land into a reserve filled with local species.

If successful, it is likely to be the only company in the island to use its commercial property for such a cause.

Griff Caldwell, managing director of environmental contractor and consultancy company Environment Guernsey, has been instrumental in the design.

‘It’s a reflection of the change in attitude over the last 20 years that a local businessman is doing this sort of thing, which is very welcome,’ he said.

The plans include a pond with surrounding woodland, a grass meadow, a shrubbery and natural hedgerows. Insect houses and bird boxes will be dotted around the reserve and a rubble heap or a dry-stonewall will be built specifically for attracting invertebrates.

It is hoped that these measures will encourage wildlife to the area.

The plants will also be tagged and named.

‘The nature area is intended to be largely educational – it’s a way of generating interest,’ said Mr Caldwell.

The application requires the field’s designation to be changed to industrial usage. Mr Caldwell said the results of an environmental impact assessment indicated that the area would not be seriously affected by doing so.

‘By converting to industrial usage, there will be marginal loss to the environment.

‘We will be retaining all of the hedgerows and trees that already exist on the site.

‘The only loss would be the crop of maize and the development has the farmer’s full support.’

The nature reserve is expected to take up to two years to complete and is being created in conjunction with La Societe Guernesiaise.

Stan Brouard managing director Rodney Brouard said he wanted the company to offer something extra for islanders.

‘I’m trying to give something to the community, both as a Guernseyman and as a locally owned company. I’ve been a member of the RSPB for years and a grower all my life: I’m interested in things that are green-grown.’

La Societe botany expert Bridget Ozanne said that the design was geared towards conservation.

‘We tried to put as much wildlife into a garden centre as we could.’