Will Roger

Will Roger has been nominated for Sustainability Hero of the Year

Petit Bot valley’s famous beauty has a lot to owe to the efforts of Will Roger.

‘I’m not the expert, I’m just the workhorse,’ Mr Roger said.

Nominated for the Sustainability Hero of the Year award by his lifelong friend, Dave Gorvel, Mr Roger has been watching over and cultivating Petit Bot’s ecosystem for nearly two decades, allowing for life and vegetation to flourish in the valley.

Many landowners in the area use him and his know-how to maintain up to 50 acres of the valley.

As the chairman of Guernsey Trees for Life he is deeply involved with the health of the island’s tree population and biodiversity.

‘With trees you can’t just let them grow, you’ve got to get involved,’ explained Mr Roger, highlighting that trees can’t just be planted anywhere, they have to be the right species in the right habitat.

Mr Roger’s work is not exclusive to Petit Bot, and he is involved in projects all over the island, including Le Guet.

He has been involved in rewilding areas of the island, using pigs to eat up the ivy to allow for new plants to grow through.

‘I think he’s contributed a huge amount to the island,’ Mr Gorvel said. ‘He’s planted thousands of trees, he’s maintaining paths and streams. Petit Bot has changed into a valley which looks very nice now.’

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