Longis Nature Reserve

The Longis Reserve is home to around 16 distinct habitats across a total area of 90 hectares, a little over one-tenth of Alderney’s total land area. As well as over 10 miles of minor and major footpath, there are beaches, ponds, grasslands and woodland, rich with wildlife.

The Reserve lies mostly on land belonging to the island’s government (States of Alderney); however it also includes sections of privately owned hillside. The landscape is managed almost exclusively by the Alderney Wildlife Trust’s conservation volunteers, led by its Reserves and Conservation Officers.

The staff and volunteers’ daily tasks include monitoring both resident and visiting populations of bird and invertebrates, such as moths, as part of the newly created Alderney Bird Observatory. Simple tasks such as filling bird feeders and making sure the site’s paths and facilities are all in order also take over a thousand hours’ labour every year.