Visitors and residents are urged to explore the great outdoors during Wildlife Week. Pictured are gannets on rocks off Alderney. (Picture by Joanna Parmentier, 0768668)

WILDLIFE fanatics are preparing for an action-packed event later this month.

Alderney Wildlife Trust’s annual Wildlife Week is now in its eighth year and is set to be bigger and better than ever.

This year’s festival, which begins on 23 May, will include boat trips and barbecues, as well as numerous talks on bats and birds.

Wildlife Week is the only event of its kind in the Channel Islands and is the forerunner to the national wildlife campaign which runs from 30 May to 20 July.

‘Every year Alderney invites visitors and residents to get out into its wide open spaces,’ said AWT manager Roland Gauvain.

‘This year’s event is centred around getting all the family involved, with play days for all, from the young to the old, bird walks – where the more experienced can help the beginners, and a big spring fling at Essex Farm Field Centre.’

TV presenter Dr George McGavin, a regular visitor to the island, will be this year’s special guest.

‘We are delighted to welcome back George McGavin,’ said Roland. ‘An author, lecturer, television presenter and explorer, George is an honorary research associate at the world-famous Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Department of Zoology of Oxford University and patron of Alderney Records Centre.

‘Recently George has become well-known for his work as a guest presenter on the BBC’s One Show and his campaign to recognise the threats to bee populations.’

Islanders and holidaymakers interested in taking part in Wildlife Week activities are eligible to book a seven-day pass, which offers significant discounts on various events and gives people the chance to pick and choose what they’d like to take part in.

Visit www.alderneywildlife.org or call 822935 for further information.

Green-fingered Ridunians are being encouraged to enter this year’s Island Show.

Entries for the event, which is also known as the Alderney Vegetable, Flower and Craft Show, need to be grown ahead of prize-giving on 18 July.

Alderney Women’s Institute helps run the show but anyone from the island is welcome to take part.

‘Alderney used to have an Annual Cattle Show, but in the 1960s this declined to such an extent that it virtually disappeared,’ said Chris Hart of Alderney WI.

‘At this point the WI offered to organise the event on behalf of the island so that it could be preserved, but in a slightly different format.

We are always keen to play down the WI angle because otherwise people think that it is only for WI members to enter – not so. The show is absolutely open to all.’

Chris went on to urge people to start preparing for the event.

‘People need to start setting their seeds, digging their vegetable patches and starting their craftwork for entering the show so that it is ready for July.’

Contact Alderney WI on 823261 for further information.