The National Trust for Jersey's Discover Magazine, Autumn 2023

In this issue

RESTRICTIVE

P26

UPDATE ON BLUE MARINE

P29

BRILLIANT BUILDING

P30

A GEORGIAN CHRISTMAS

P34

GETTING YOUR GARDEN READY FOR WINTER

Judith Queree

P36

GUERNSEY PESTICIDE FREE

P38

COUNCIL UPDATE

P40

SNORKEL TRAIL

P42

HERITAGE OPEN DAY

P48

12 BAYS OF CHRISTMAS

P50 EVENTS

Dates for the Diary

View from The Top

CHARLIE MALET DE CARTERET PRESIDENT - THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR JERSEY

In recently issued supplementary planning guidance, the Environment Minister stated that “Meeting the needs of the community is at the heart of the planning system in Jersey.” If that is the objective, we would ask: why is dealing with the Planning Department so complicated? Why is it so hard to get simple home improvements through the system? Why has the planning system given approval to so many large houses on the coastline? Why do planning appeals take so long?

These are examples of the real frustrations with the planning system which the Minister has been considering since his appointment last year. Based upon its long experience of reviewing planning applications, our Planning Advisory Panel set out a series of comments and suggestions for improvements in a submission to the Minister last year and we held a subsequent meeting with him to discuss our concerns.

We were pleased that the Minister subsequently commissioned a review of planning services, which led to a report issued in April 2023. It is fair to say that the report was critical of the current state of play, and the Minister responded promptly with an action plan to deal with the recommendations arising from the report. In June a review of progress on the action plan was published and it is evident that the Government is taking this matter seriously.

But is this the whole story? Is this enough to deliver the Minister’s objective?

Time will tell. There are many tensions within the Island Plan between the conflicting aims of development to support growth set against public support for the protection of coastal and rural landscape and heritage buildings which the Planning Department has to deal with every day. The Minister has taken some specific actions to address some of the issues, such as the recent guidance which includes restrictions on building larger houses (in excess of 3,000 sq. ft.) which should help address public concerns in this area. The announcement of key staff appointments is to be welcomed, along with improved public access to Planning Department staff. However, in the meantime, whilst we are supportive of the measures outlined in the action plan, we are not convinced that the plan goes far enough to address the wider concerns expressed about the workings of the planning system.

Part of the problem is that the terms of the review were relatively narrow and did not include consideration of key issues such as the role of the Planning Committee, the remit of the Jersey Architecture Commission, the operation of the planning appeals system and the need for a strategic review of land use which would help the Planning Department resolve the conflicting tensions mentioned above. The

report identifies the need for a single compelling narrative about what the planning service is seeking to achieve and how this can be achieved through priorities, performance management and reporting. Notwithstanding the Minister’s objective mentioned above, we have yet to see the compelling narrative referred to in the report, and we would like to recommend that the Minister undertakes a wider-ranging review so that this strategic framework can lead to a better outcome for all of us in the Island: developers, environmentalists and just ordinary folk wanting to get their home improvements done.

We think that this review should include consideration of the development of a better system of carrots, rather than continuing to wave sticks. The planning system should seek to work with, rather than against, responsible development which is clearly in line with planning policy. Well documented, uncontentious applications should be dealt with promptly by experienced planners. Advice in more contentious areas – such as when material changes are proposed to a listed building – should be more readily available to applicants and this should be publicised and given weight within the decision-making system, including by the Planning Committee. Consideration should be given to implementing a means-tested grant system for repairs to and restoration of listed buildings.

Changes such as these (and there may be plenty of others) would help deliver a smoothly functioning planning system which in turn would help solve the Island’s perceived housing crisis by enabling priority attention to be given to applications for new homes, or developments of existing homes providing additional accommodation.

So: friend or foe? We conclude that the Planning Department is in transition towards being a friend, but with some way to go. The devil will be in the detail of the implementation of the action plan and we will be keeping an eye on progress over the coming months. We stand ready to continue to be a critical friend to the Minister on his journey towards a fit-for-purpose planning system of which we can all be proud.

“Meeting the needs of the community is at the heart of the planning system in Jersey. ”

#GreenGrid Inthe News _

The partnership with the Green Grid is drawing to a close and the Trust is extremely grateful for the support of Jersey Electricity, JT Global and Jersey Water in the project and for their input in both planting and the subsequent maintenance sessions in St Mary and St John this year. Seven afternoon sessions were organised with staff from the three companies with the aim of undertaking much needed maintenance allowing the newly planted hedges to thrive. The growth of the competing vegetation took everyone by surprise this summer – a completely different scene from when the small hedging whips were initially planted by the teams in the depths of winter.

Corporate groups also played an important part in making the project sustainable. Both Zedra and Crestbridge undertook planting this spring, whilst on the maintenance front, teams from Zedra, Sandpiper CI, Ogier, Kleinwort Hambros, Asset Risk Consultants, RSM CI, Standard Bank, HSBC and Enhance Group all got involved. We are also grateful to The Jersey Youth Service leaders and The Back to Work Scheme who have also been ‘hands on’ with planting and maintenance.

The small team of “Hedgerow Helpers” that are present week on week (and actually, year on year for a good number of them) continue to make an enormous contribution. Mainly working in the east of the Island they have been the mainstay of the project since inception, giving up their time in all weathers. This dull and wet summer has been

beneficial for the plants and has been easier when it comes down to physical work. Trust staff and volunteers also did their bit providing the team with an understanding of what is involved in hedge planting.

In a bid to get on top of the maintenance, the Trust employed a team of 8 staff from The Jersey Royal Company for three weeks. Coming from the Philippines, half of them had previously been employed on potato production but for the remainder, it was their first experience of Jersey. They did a tremendous job, working 10 hours a day, five days a week. They cleared metres and metres of hedging and also marked and noted any losses for future reference. This will give us a more accurate idea of the survival rate which we believe is over 80%.

As the end of this fourth year approaches, thanks are due to The Government’s Countryside Enhancement Scheme who funded the planting, plants and materials. This coming winter, the Trust is planning to continue planting in St John as well as carrying out replacement planting over the other parishes included in the project to date.

If you would be interested in doing your bit for the environment, whilst working alongside like-minded people, please email Conrad Evans, the Coordinator at Conrad.Evans@Nationaltrust.je for more information.

- Hedge planting in St John

- The Jersey Royal Company team clearing around the hedging plants at Crabbe

- Green Grid partners hard at work

So, the Trust doesn’t like Dogs?

So often the Trust is accused of not being “dog friendly” simply because we have had to restrict access on certain sites or request that dogs are kept on leads. However, we would like to dispel that myth once and for all as many of the Trust team are dog owners and we fully appreciate the incredible value and companionship that dogs provide as family pets. With this in mind we very much welcome dogs at Le Moulin de Quetivel with dog bowls and treats at hand, as well as at major events such as the Sunset Concerts.

Dogs are also very welcome to attend our guided walks as well as enjoy the 19km of publicly accessible footpaths that criss- cross the Trust’s landholdings.

However, given the ecological importance of its landholdings it is also inevitable that there are certain areas where it is preferable for dogs to be kept on their leads including during the nesting season and where conservation grazing takes place. Dogs are “wired” to herd and chase and indeed it is a key characteristic, but it is irresponsible of owners to believe that they can exert sufficient control to prevent these instincts coming to the forefront when a dog is presented with a flock of woolly playmates! Unfortunately, there is also a widely held misconception that green fields are perfect areas for allowing your dog to run free. However, most of these fields belong to someone or are rented out to our local farming community and so it is sensible to ask the landowner

beforehand to ensure that the fields do not contain young crops or are about to be cut for sileage.

In a nutshell the Trust very much welcomes dogs to its sites and landholdings. Indeed the Trust has wonderful areas which you and your canine companion can enjoy and explore but in return we would simply ask that you help us look after our wonderful flora and fauna by acting responsibly, observing restrictions where applicable, leave nothing but your foot/paw prints and ensuring you have the landowner’s permission before allowing your dog to run free on private land.

MEET THE NEW STAFF

Bryony Lee

Before joining the Trust, Bryony was Head of Facilities for six years working for a family office, managing a residential portfolio of properties in the Channel Islands. She is excited to have joined the Trust and is looking forward to managing the Trusts’ historical properties as the Rental properties Manager.

Annette Blanchet

Annette has joined the Trust as the Operations Manager, based at the Elms. Her role is to support the CEO in the day to day running of all aspects of the Trust including governance, staffing and IT.

A qualified Chartered accountant, Annette joined the Trust after 15 years at the Jersey Evening Post and is enjoying rural working life in St Mary’s. Annette is no stranger to the charitable sector, having volunteered

for many years for local charities, and is a familiar face to many within the island’s musical community. She likes to be busy, which is just as well, and is looking forward to being part of the team at the Trust and supporting the amazing work it does.

Ed Dumont

Ed has joined the Trust after working for Jersey Hemp in the landscape and cultivation department. Ed is a seasoned gardener and has worked outdoors for much of his career, working for private landowners.

Stephen Creedy

Before joining the Trust Stephen had been working as a bench joiner for a local company for the previous 5 years. His main background has been working within the furniture restoration and French polishing trades since the early 1990's.

Kathryn Smith

Kathryn has joined the trust to work on Blue Marine Foundation's Jersey project. Growing up in Jersey, Kathryn has always had a deep connection to nature and the sea, and previously working in Mauritius as a conservation biologist further fortified her passion for marine and island conservation. Additionally, she spent a collective five years as a bird keeper at Jersey Zoo, after graduating with a degree in Biological Sciences."

Aby Phelps

Aby has worked as a manager in fashion and home interior stores in the U.K. and Jersey for many years along with several administrative roles. Aby has an art degree and is currently establishing a charity in memory of her daughter, with her husband to raise money for research into bone cancer.

Bryony Lee

Ed Dumont

Kathryn Smith Aby Phelps

Stephen Creedy Annette Blanchet

Trust Launches New Heritage Education Programme for Year One Students

The Trust is calling for Year One teachers to sign up to a new heritage education programme at 16 New Street that is linked to the literacy, science and history curriculum. Led by two experienced costumed guides, the free initiative consists of a 75-minute immersive workshop based around the topic ‘Houses and Homes’.

“Children are naturally inquisitive. Our aim through this new series of curriculum linked workshops is to get children excited about learning so that when they leave 16 New Street they are still thinking about the topics they were introduced to. By giving children an active role during their visit we hope to boost critical thinking and make learning understandable and fun.”

Catherine Ward, Museums & Collections Manager

Nicola Carroll, Ogier's Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, said: "We're delighted to be partnering with the National Trust for Jersey to offer over 600 pupils from Jersey's States primary schools free access to 16 New Street Georgian House. Historic buildings provide first-hand experiences that cannot be recreated in the classroom – a chance to engage with real objects, real stories, and real people. The interactive and inclusive workshops have been developed by the Trust to link to the curriculum and offer increased provision for children who receive special education support. We hope the pupils enjoy the fun and engaging activities, learning about what life was like before TVs, electronic devices, cars and telephones were invented."

To book a space for your year one class, contact catherine@nationaltrust.je

Ogier's sponsorship also includes the provision of free tickets to 16 New Street for 150 families to be distributed via the Children and Families Hub in partnership with local charities such as Brighter Futures and the Jersey Child Care Trust. This initiative will run through the 2024 Easter and Summer school holidays, providing families with plenty of opportunities to experience one of the Trust's historic buildings.

The Amy Filleul Award

The Amy Filleul Award was established in 2018 as a means of recognising an individual who has made a significant contribution to the work of The National Trust for Jersey over a considerable period, in both a selfless and dedicated manner.

This reflects in many ways the character of Miss Amy Filleul, a quiet and very modest lady, who in 1968 left a substantial bequest to the then fledgling Trust in the sum of £240,000, which is equivalent to £3.5 million in today’s money. This bequest revolutionised the Trust’s finances over-night enabling it to develop from a small pressure group into a significant conservation organisation within the Island’s community. To put it simply without the generosity of Miss Amy Filleul the Trust would not be where it is today.

The Amy Filleul Award is generally awarded on an annual basis with suggestions tabled to the Trust’s Council by members of the team. The award comprises a silver brooch or cufflinks featuring the elm leaf logo. Previous recipients have included Ms Sally Langham, Mrs Cristine Burnham, and David Mashiter.

Kindly supported by Ogier

Buying and eating local produce has so many benefIts!

...not only will your food generally taste better, as you’ll be eating what’s in season, it’ll have also travelled less, will support local producers, benefit the environment (less food miles and packaging) and help boost the local economy too.

Farmers also help to ensure that our countryside looks beautiful too, as they’re responsible for ensuring the Branchage is kept in check throughout the year.

John Garton

Allan McCaffey

Our top sustainable Genuine Jersey products are:

Jersey Royals

Jersey Dairy

Jersey Sea Salt

Seafood

Watercress

Cider Apples

Jersey Beef

Tomatoes

Eggs

Micro Herbs

We’re lucky to have access to our island's finest export for far longer than those overseas as farmers keep growing for the local market until September. You can expect a larger, more flavourful (if you listen to the growers) potato at this time of year.

Milk, butter, yoghurt, ice cream, cream, you name it all. Jersey Dairy products are made from milk produced exclusively by the finest purebreed Jersey cows, which can trace the purity of lineage back to 1763.

Made by harnessing the power of the sun to convert sea water gathered from St Catherine’s bay into a beautiful artisan product.

Crabs, lobsters, oysters, scallops are all native to the island and caught most days (weather dependent) so always fresh and delicious.

Grown by Colin Roche, the Island's only commercial watercress grower, supplying the major supermarkets, all local food wholesalers, individual shops, stall-holders etc.

Apple orchards and cider-making are an intrinsic part of Jersey history, having once shaped the landscape, culture and economy of the Island. During the early 19th century, no Jersey table was considered complete without a bottle of cider and apple orchards filled the countryside. Now La Mare Wine Estate and La Robelline are our cider makers on the island.

A relative newcomer Blanc Pignon are rearing Jersey wagyu beef and Jersey Angus for the local market.

Whilst we no longer export our tomatoes we have several excellent producers who pride themselves on their sustainable production methods. All of the island’s egg producers have chickens which are free to roam, ensuring their hens are all as happy as they can be and their eggs are delicious too.

They may be small but they’re incredibly mighty in both flavour and their nutritional value. They also take up limited space to grow and reproduce quickly.

If you’re looking for sustainable products the best thing to do is always check where what you're buying has been grown and keep an eye out for the Genuine Jersey mark when you’re making your purchases, or buy directly from the farmers via

Colin Roche

Dougie Richardson

LA VALLETTE, ST JOHN A HIDDEN GEM

By Robin Kelly

Walking down Rue des Barraques towards Bonne Nuit, you could be forgiven for overlooking one of the Trust’s prettiest houses, La Vallette. At the end of a long track, the old farmstead can be found in a sheltered position – La Vallette means ‘the little valley’. There are distant sea views to the north coast.

It seems likely that there has been a house on this spot from as early as the C16. The original farmhouse was a simple linear building, with two rooms on either side of a hall and a staircase leading to the first floor bedrooms. This included a small bedroom, “le cabinet”, over the entrance hall and meant for young children. Meals would have been taken in the kitchen while the best furniture would be found in the main room on the ground floor (‘le parloir’).

The thick, granite walls, the large, corbelled granite fireplace in the original kitchen and the design of the

woodwork and stairs, indicate C17 construction. The exterior of the house also points to its earlier origins with its solid chimneys and ‘witches stones’ (pièrres dé chorchièthes). These flat pieces of stone, protruding from the side of a chimney, were there to protect water from running down the chimney stack – indicating that the house was originally thatched. The roof was eventually replaced with pantiles.

Below the simple, undecorated staircase is a large granite salter, kept for the preserving of pork during the winter.

The field to the north of the entrance track was purchased by Thomas Pinel in 1675. This is the earliest information about the ownership of La Vallette. However, the house was in the ownership of the Pinel family for many generations.

Elizabeth Pinel married Charles Le Masurier in 1790 and a few years later, they altered the front, south-facing façade of the building, modernising it by refacing the building with the finest ashlar stone and erecting a simple classically styled timber porch, set on unfluted Doric columns. A datestone CLM EPN 1796 commemorates this work. Their seven children were born at La Vallette.

The main house, as well as the detached barn to the north of the house, are shown on the 1795 Richmond Map (with the name M P Le Masurier), sandwiched between the Mont Mado granite quarries and the harbour at Bonne Nuit.

In 1808, Charles Le Masurier was authorised by General Don to build a powder magazine, La Hurvase, as part of the Bonne Nuit Bay defences.

The building incorporated a datestone with his initials, CLM 1808. After the magazine was demolished, the datestone was recovered and is now set into the west wall.

A single storey dower wing was added in 1826. There is a datestone with the initials of Charles Le Masurier and Elizabeth Sophie Rondel, a very early and rare example of two Christian names carved on a datestone. The dower wing was designed as a ground floor living room and bedroom for the dowager. Charles and Elizabeth had one daughter, also called Elizabeth Sophie. Elizabeth Sophie became ill in France, and her father brought her back to Jersey. The parish records for St John for 23rd December 1834, show the three members of the family as having died, the most likely cause being the illness brought back from France. Charles was 38, Elizabeth was 36 and their daughter was only 12. La Vallette then passed to Charles’ brother, Philip, who was the

great-grandfather of another Philip who bequeathed the property to the National Trust.

It seems that no members of the Le Masurier family moved into La Vallette after the deaths of Charles, Elizabeth and their daughter as, by 1901, the Gavey family, Joseph, Harriet and their three sons, were in occupation. Joseph Gavey was a stonecutter, possibly working in the nearby Mont Mado quarry. Unfortunately, in 1925, Joseph was admitted to St Augustine’s Home for the Poor, Hauteville, as “a cripple, paralysed and in a critical state of health”. His wife, Harriet, died in 1927 and due to his injuries, he was unable to act as her executor, a role which he requested was taken over by the Dean of Jersey.

The house was inherited by Philip Le Masurier, who was living with his wife, Elsie Stanley Bowers, at Hughenden, Victoria Road, Georgetown. His will,

dated 25th November 1960, left life enjoyment of La Vallette to his wife. It was his wish that the character of the buildings should not be changed during his wife’s life enjoyment nor trees cut down except with the approval of the Council of the National Trust for Jersey. Elsie Stanley Bowers Le Masurier died on 23rd December 1965 and, after probate was granted on 26 January 1966, the house and surrounding fields, came to the Trust. Her household furniture and personal effects at Hughenden were left to her sister, Mary and her husband Sidney Le Couillard. She is buried with her parents in St Saviour’s Churchyard.

In 1969, the Trust engaged the architectural practice of Taylor Leapingwell to draw up plans for the modernisation of the house. The stables to the west were incorporated into the house, the cart shed became a garage and the servants’ quarters to the east were given over to storage. Although,

to this day, the house remains on a septic tank, two bathrooms were added to the first floor. The well and pump no longer supply water to La Vallette as the property is now on mains water. The adjoining fields remain in agricultural use, being let to Jersey Royal.

The house underwent considerable repairs, “with the aim of making it a comfortable and convenient house to offer on lease without detracting from its character or losing its period features”. As a result, in August 1970, the Trust put together a loan exhibition of period furniture from about 1800. The public were encouraged to visit, to see how the house might have looked almost 200 years earlier, when Charles

and Elizabeth Le Masurier transformed the south façade.

Today, visitors to the gardens will discover the granite apple crusher, a quern for grinding corn and the staddle stones or granite “mushrooms” (les pièrres des haugards) a low, hay-drying structures, used to raise hayricks off the ground to prevent access by rats and other vermin. The exterior of the house remains unchanged and would be familiar to those living at La Vallette at the beginning of the C19.

The Trust looks forward to welcoming you to the La Vallette garden for an afternoon tea and music from Harmonious Friends which will be open

as part of the 2023 programme for the Heritage Open Days weekend.

The author acknowledges the assistance of the staff of Jersey Heritage (Archive). Reference was also made to Old Jersey Houses Vol II (Joan Stevens) and The National Trust for Jersey Furniture Souvenir Catalogue 1970, written by Joan Stevens and Richard Mayne.

TEA IN A TEEPEE AFTERNOON TEA AT LA VALLETTE

Heritage Open Days

Saturday 16th September

Enjoy homemade cakes or scones, jam and cream and hot drinks in a delightful teepee tent in the lovely garden at La Vallette. At end of a long track, the old farmstead can be found in a sheltered position – La Vallette means ‘the little valley’. It seems likely that there has been a house on this spot from as early as the C16. Although the house will not be open, visitors can enjoy the garden and the exterior of the house and listen to live music performed by ‘Harmonious Friends.'

Address: La Vallette, La Rue des Barraques, St John Parking: In the main field off La Rue des Barraques

Look out for the National Trust flag

Food consumed will be at own expense.

RagwortFriend or foe?

“Ragwort is highly poisonous to livestock and should be controlled in grassland” – Leaflet provided on the Government of Jersey’s website and produced ‘Weed and Vegetation Specialist SAC.

“Plant that kills horses has infested the country” Daily Mail article in 2013.

“Suspicion is not enough evidence to prove Ragwort poisoning” – Esther Hegt and Dr Pieter (University of Canterbury – Biological Sciences, Christchurch, New Zealand.

“Ragwort is mildly poisonous, but the taste of the plant is usually offputting to livestock. That’s why it's not unusual to see horses in fields chomping on grass but leaving the ragwort – clever things.” – Friends of the Earth information website – A Ragwort mythbuster.

If there’s one flowering plant in Britain that causes controversy its Ragwort. A quick web search will reveal countless opinions, and contrasting theories regarding the dangers Ragwort poses to grazing animals and its benefits to pollinating insects.

We live in a time of misinformation and polarised political views, so perhaps its unsurprising that even a native plant can cause controversy? The Trust’s Land Manager, Jon Parkes, investigates the opposing views to see if he can separate fact from fiction.

To be clear, we are referring to Common Ragwort, Senecio Jacobaea. Jersey has very small numbers of Oxford Ragwort, Senecio squalidus, (and potentially a few hybrids), but if you see Ragwort anywhere in Jersey, it will very likely be Common Ragwort. It is often mistaken for Tansy, St John’s Wort, Hawkweed, Golden Rod, and various other yellow flowering plants.

In Frances Le Sueur’s book, ‘Flora of Jersey’ (still the best book describing the island’s plant life despite being first published in 1984), describes S. jacobaea as: “Common on uncultivated and in neglected fields”. No mention of its native status, and an unusually short description for a Botanist! Had someone already judged and convicted this plant already?

The Government of Jersey’s website is clear about Ragwort - “Ragwort is a poisonous weed of extensively farmed grassland and unmanaged ground which may cause loss of stock. Cattle and horses are susceptible to poisoning whereas sheep and goats are more resistant but not immune”.

Contrast this with the views of Entomologists, who highlight the massive benefits of Ragwort –According to The Wildlife Trust’s website, Common ragwort is one of the most frequently visited flowers by butterflies in the UK and more than 200 species of invertebrate have been recorded on it. The beautiful adult black and red spotted Cinnabar Moth drinks the nectar of Ragwort and its equally colourful yellow and black caterpillars eat the plant. We are all familiar with the plight of our dwindling pollinators and the catastrophic consequences we face if we wipe them out. So why are we destroying Ragwort without at least considering the potential negative implications of this for our natural environment?

Ragwort is poisonous to mammals. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause liver failure and death, if eaten. Any person keeping livestock should be aware of the potential dangers. However, a cow or horse would need to consume 5-25% of its body weight, in Ragwort, in order to ingest a lethal dose of toxins. A goat would need to eat 125 - 400% of its body weight. Ragwort is not the only UK plant that is toxic to grazing animals. Foxglove, Cuckoo Pint, Ivy, Black Bryony, White Bryony, Bracken, Elder and Spindle are all reported to potentially cause fatalities, if eaten. We should also probably include Daffodils here, one of our most poisonous plants. Yet no one is suggesting that these plants should be eradicated.

In 2002 The British Equine Veterinary Association and the British Horse Society published the results of a survey that claimed as many as 6,500 horses die every year, in the UK, from ingesting Ragwort. That is from a population of around 600,000 horses. This was quite a jump from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Flood’s figures, who gave an estimate of 10 deaths in 1990. So, what’s going on here? The figure of 6,500 horses dying from Ragwort poisoning in the UK, was derived from the results of a questionnaire sent to all Veterinarians belonging to the British Equestrian Veterinary Association. Only 4% of its members responded. When asked how many cases of suspected or confirmed Ragwort poisoning were treated, 283 cases of suspected poisoning were reported. This number was then extrapolated across all members of the association, and it was concluded that, given the data, if 100% of Vets completed the questionnaire, casualties would equal 7,075 horses. These are worrying figures for horse owners. And it’s not just the equestrian community who share this concern. Prince Charles wrote to Natural England to ask how it would combat “the spread of injurious weeds such as ragwort”.

However, it is important to keep in mind firstly, the small sample size of the research, and secondly, the likelihood that a Vet is more likely to fill in such a questionnaire if they had previously treated cases of Ragwort poisoning. The opposite is also true; Vets who had not treated any cases of ragwort poisoning, would be less likely to complete the survey. The 4% of BEVA members that

responded to the survey, reported that they had seen, on average, three suspected (not confirmed) cases of Ragwort poisoning (not deaths). This raises the question of whether the low numbers of Vets completing the survey, was due to the fact that the majority of Vets simply hadn’t had any cases to report?

One conclusion one can safely draw from this questionnaire data is that, in 2002 283 horses were presumed to have died from Ragwort poisoning. It is unknown how many of these cases were confirmed with a postmortem, the only way to prove an animal death was caused by Ragwort poisoning. This procedure, which carries a high cost, is not usual practice.

It is important to state that no one is claiming that horses and cattle aren’t injured by this plant. Where it is unseen and baled into hay, it can certainly make animals ill and potentially kill them

The Trust’s view is to deal with high concentrations of flowering Ragwort, where it occurs near horses or other grazing animals. The British Horse Society offers practical advice on this, suggesting that land within 50 metres of where ragwort is growing should be considered high risk for horses and cattle.

If the Ragwort is growing within 50100 metres of land used by horses or land used for forage production, then this land is considered a medium risk. If the Ragwort is growing over 100 metres of land used by horses/livestock or land used for forage production, then this land is classified as low risk (bhs. org.uk)

In the right place, we leave Ragwort to it and watch for signs of the black and yellow Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars. They will strip all the vegetation and the plant won’t produce any seed. When conditions are favourable and a high number of plants appears, the following year usually sees a glut of Cinnabars and so the balance is redressed. Nature does this very well.

Not everyone has caught up to this mindset of working with nature to restore balance in our countryside. Jersey law states that “Ragwort is specified as an Injurious Weed under the Weeds (Jersey) Law 1961 which requires occupiers to prevent it from spreading. Land occupier co-operation is required to control this weed and prevent it from maturing, seeding and ultimately spreading throughout the island. This is a legal requirement if you are the occupier of the land upon which the weed is growing.”

It does not specify that it is illegal to have it on your land, which is another perception that people commonly share. Ironically, when Ragwort has grown tall enough to be noticed by adjoining land owners, grazing animals are more easily able to identify Ragwort and avoid its nasty taste. One thing that is not in doubt is Ragwort’s value

to wildlife. A FIT count, or Flower-Insect Timed Count, is when a single plant species is observed for ten minutes and the number of pollinating insects which lands on its flower is recorded. During a recent Trust FIT count at Victoria Tower, 17 insects visited a single Ragwort plant in just ten minutes. The national average, in the month of July, is 15 insects. The record for plastic grass is still 0.

In conclusion, is it possible that the majority of online information, the Government’s own advice, Prince Charles and even the BBC’s Countryfile programme have it wrong? The answer is a non-committed, “we just don’t know”, as there isn’t enough research out there. However, it is clear that strong views and public guidance available, have derived from one limited piece of research and a generous sprinkling of bias.

Things don’t always have to be black and white (or maybe black and yellow in this case). Perhaps Ragwort is both great for invertebrates, and bad for horses and cows? Further research and a more nuanced approach is required when managing this controversial plant. We all like to say that we “love nature”. But do we only love it on our own terms? We can’t handpick the bits we like and ignore the rest. The interactions, between all beings, create the eco-systems we, and every other creature depends on. That is nature. Those interactions and complexity, found in every habitat, are the magic ingredient.

Reflection over the past year as a Ranger Volunteer Co-ordinator and moving into a new role.

Restrictive Covenant Agreement

It was in 2017 that I first heard about the Restrictive Covenant scheme, which is available through the National Trust. It consists of a law passed by the States of Jersey in 1984, which allows the Trust to enter into binding agreements with landowners restricting the use of land. For example, any owner of land may agree with the National Trust that their land should not be developed or should be limited to certain types of use. The National Trust has the power to enforce the agreement by means of a Restrictive Covenant Agreement passed before the Royal Court. This can be for period of time or in perpetuity.

After our parents died, my siblings and I inherited the property Auvergne in St. Peter, together with the outbuildings and surrounding fields. From 1954 to 2001, the land was farmed by our parents as a small dairy farm. Since then, the fields have been rented out to a neighbouring farmer and grower. In recent years, we have become increasingly concerned at the loss of agricultural land in Jersey to developments. This was brought to a

by Kate Le Ruez

head when the latest Bridging Island Plan was passed by the States in 2022, where over 60 vergees of good agricultural fields were rezoned for development. It made us realize even more that we need to protect our fields and open spaces both now and for future generations.

We got in touch with the National Trust, who were most helpful, explaining everything to us regarding how the Restrictive Covenant works. We decided on the wording for the contract, which was then drafted by our lawyers and passed before the Royal Court in March this year. I would add that there was absolutely no cost to us, as the legal expenses were covered by the National Trust. Jersey is continuously losing good farmland to developments, so I believe now is the time to safeguard our open spaces before it is too late. I would certainly encourage others to think about this if they have land they wish to protect. It is a simple process and you are still the owners of the land.

Black Butter Lé Nièr Beurre

It is that time of year again, as observed by John Keats ‘the Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’. Autumn is nearly upon us and the annual tradition of Black Butter making at The Elms is taking place from 5 – 7 October.

Lé Nièr Beurre

La Faîs'sie d'Nièr Beurre or Black Butter making is an annual festival staged by the Trust at its headquarters, The Elms in St Mary. It celebrates an old Jersey tradition that took place on many farms throughout the island at the end of the apple harvest. During the 17th and 18th centuries about 20 per cent of Jersey's arable land was given over to orchards, mainly to make cider to give to the farm workers as part of their wages.

The left-over apples were then used to make black butter. Traditionally, families would get together at the local farm to peel the apples. Meanwhile, a gallon of cider would be put over a fire in a large brass preserving pan and left to simmer all day. The peeled apples

would then be added along with sugar, lemon, liquorice and spices. Volunteers would take turns stirring the mixture with a large wooden paddle throughout the night and into the next day until the mixture was ready. It was an important social event where people were able to sing, dance and play music whilst the black butter was slowly cooking. Black Butter, despite its name is not a butter but a conserve and can be eaten on toast or used in desserts such as an apple crumble.

Volunteers are invited to participate in this local tradition either by coming along on the Thursday and Friday to peel apples, or for those hardier souls, to stir the mixture throughout the night with a traditional ‘rabot’ or paddle. There are numerous tasks and it is a lovely way of getting together, having a chat with old and new friends, enjoying the community supper on a Friday evening and contributing to this piece of Jersey history. All of your efforts will also raise money for the Trust.

Volunteers can peel apples, watch the mixture being stirred all through the night, get involved in jarring up and then enjoy homemade food, pumpkin

carving and live music on market day when the Black Butter goes on sale.

Apple Preserves Competition

Rathbone Investment Management International is once again generously supporting this year’s event and are a major sponsor of the famous Dalemain Marmalade Festival in Penrith in Cumbria.

So, adding to the usual hive of activity in and around Lé Nièr Beurre, our apple preserves competition will take place to see who can make the best apple jams, jellies, and other apple based products. The competition is open to all ages and features a Children’s competition.

New for 2023 is the introduction of a category for chutney. Having staged numerous workshops over the years in the Pressoir at The Elms with Lesley Garton from The Chilli Kitchen, we felt confident that enough of our members and supporters would be fabulously proficient in the art of chutney making! Like all the other categories, the chutneys must include apple.

Donna Le Marrec (Marketing and Events Manager)

Programme

Thursday 5 October 2 – 5pm

Embrace the community spirit and peel apples at The Elms amidst the wonderful and autumnal aroma of apples. Meet old and make new friends, enjoy tea, homemade cake and Jersey wonders whilst you work…peelers and gloves provided although you can bring your own…

Friday 6 October 10am until 10pm. The wood fire will be lit first thing in the Bakehouse, we carry on peeling apples and these are cooked in a large bachîn over the fire and stirred continuously until Saturday morning. Come along to peel and stir and enjoy a community supper and some amazing live music which takes place in the evening in the marquee on the front lawn of the Elms Main House.

Parking is available at The Elms on Thursday and Friday.

Saturday 7 October 10am until 4pm. The apple mixture is taken off the heat to cool and spices added including liquorice, mixed spice and cinnamon by mid-morning. Once cooled and ladled into jars the Black Butter is sold in the produce market.

Enjoy homemade sausages and cider, wood fired pizza and homemade cakes from various stalls. Other artisan products will include chutneys and sauces, honey and crafts. Children can enjoy apple ‘crafts’ and pumpkin carving. The highlight of the day will be the judging and giving out of awards in the Apple Preserves competition.

Parking is available at Granite Products on Saturday with a free shuttle to and from The Elms.

Categories

• Apple Jam

• Apple Jelly with and without alcohol!

• Chutney

• Apple Pie

• Apple Cake

• Best in Show

• Fun CategoriesAnd best Children’s apple ‘shaped’ biscuits

For more information and to get involved please look out for regular updates and entry forms on the website and in our office.

SPOTLIGHT ON KEN SYVRET MBE

How does one reflect and recall on a lifetime involvement with an organisation, for that is what it has been for me and The National Trust for Jersey.

But how did it all begin. In early 1968 a client of our office sold a piece of land in La Vallée des Vaux to the Trust. At that time Clifford du Feu of Mourant, du Feu & Jeune was the Trust’s lawyer. After attending the Royal Court the day of the transfer, in 1968, he and I were chatting, and he suggested to me that perhaps I would like to join the Trust Council. After some thought and a word with Edgar Becquet by whom at the time I was employed, although qualified I was not a partner. Mr. Becquet readily agreed that I could join and so it was.

My first Council meeting was on 8th April 1968. I joined 20 others, an almost impossible number to chair but Brigadier Anderton had spent a lifetime in charge of men and knew how to chair a meeting. They were all what we would today call green enthusiasts but for my part I was very green on matters concerning the Trust; there was much to learn. On the basis that one learns more by listening than talking I did just that. Some members of the Council I knew well, Dick Le Sueur, Raoul Lemprière, Helier Mourant and, of course, Clifford du Feu. They were people I much admired and respected for their work

for the Trust and the environment, which, in those far off days was not an agenda item as today.

One amusing thing which I recall of those early days was of our then Secretary, an honorary post, Dr G. I. Higson. The Council met in the Library at the Société Jersiaise, the Trust had no headquarters in those days, and Dr Higson kept the handwritten Minutes of each meeting which were read in full at the outset. Dr Higson had great difficulty with some Jersey names, both places and family names. Mrs. Phyllis Green, who was also a Council member, and I both spoke Jerriais and were familiar with these names. We exchanged glances as Dr Higson struggled with Poindestre, Les Deserts, (which was the name of the land which had been the catalyst for my involvement with the Trust), and others. But he and Brigadier Anderton were loyal servants of the Trust and with others laid the foundations of the post-war success begun by Carlyle Le Gallais and Dr Philip Bentliff.

So, it continued. Monthly meetings with much to discuss but always in our minds the lack of resources. Much had to be done by volunteers to keep the Trust properties and land in good order, but little to spend on paid employees to undertake the more demanding tasks. Then came, late in 1986, the news that Miss Amy Filleul had made a substantial

bequest to the Trust. Using the words of the 2005 Handbook “This simple bequest revolutionised the Trust’s finances and status, at one stroke the Trust was transformed from a small pressure group and property owner into a major element of influence in the Island’s environmental concerns”; and Dr Higson in his annual report of 1986 stating “(it) will have a profound effect on the affairs of the Trust”, and so it did.

There followed, seven years later, the outstanding gift of The Elms by Nicolle Perrée. These two gifts, as the words of the Booklet confirm, changed the Trust; it had wonderful headquarters and resources to employ a limited but hard-working staff. The roots of what we see today were, at that time, showing the early shoots of greater success.

But back to my time with the Trust; I continued as a Council member and in 1980, after a period as a Vice President, I was elected President, a daunting task but one which I entered with a determination to continue the hard and dedicated work of past presidents. Work was undertaken at Grève de Lecq Barracks, properties and land were acquired notably Victoria Tower and land at St Martin overlooking La Baie de St Catherine. But Presidencies come to an end and the rules at the time stipulated that a maximum of three years was the term allowed. However, in 1987

I was re-elected as President. This next term brought more activity and more difficult decisions. There had been great debate about Hamptonne, that fine Jersey farm in St Lawrence. I recall meetings with Dr Arthur Mourant of the Société Jersiaise and our own Council member Philip de Veulle, exploring and trying to find ways of acquiring the property and restoring it. Despite all our efforts the money was just not available. Early one Tuesday morning, I do not recall the exact date, the then President of Planning, John Le Sueur, the Connétable of St John, was interviewed on Radio Jersey and inter alia said that the ‘preservation’ societies had failed to do anything to save the property. I was not best pleased, left home immediately and stood outside the entrance to the States Chamber waiting for the Connétable to arrive. I remonstrated telling him of the work which had taken place, regretfully unsuccessful, to raise the funds. I told him that if the property were to be saved then the States would have to be a party to it. I have to say that both he and Senator Reg Jeune, who was President of the Finance Committee, as things were in those days, produced the money and provided half the purchase price. The negotiation to purchase Hamptonne was an education. Four of us sat around Mr. Jack Emmanuel’s kitchen table, Mr. Emmanuel, his lawyer, Advocate Michael Voisin,

Advocate Richard Falle, the then President of the Société, and me. It took some time, but we departed with a done deal and the rest, as we say, is history, and it really is, for we have preserved the most historical scene of Jersey country life for generations to come. There were other achievements, the repair of La Ronce which would not have happened but for the persistence of Dick Le Sueur and the generous donation of Mrs. Cynthia Rumboll. And whilst all this was happening work with the now greater workforce was progressing on the numerous properties in the care of the Trust. Roy Cabot and Ernie Le Brun were facing a heavy workload with both La Ronce and Hamptonne. The large gateway doors at Hamptonne, which my family sponsored, are a testament to the skills of these talented joiners.

My third and last term as President ended in 1996. Two moments of those years stand out. Dr Paton’s family has long connections with Jersey and in 1995 I was privileged to stand on the north coast in St John at a short ceremony to accept the gift of 78 vergées of coastal land with outstanding views along the north coast both to the west and east and to the French cost. It is the largest tract of land acquired by the Trust in a single gift which also includes agricultural land. Queen’s Valley in Grouvillle had been a matter of great

debate and controversy for some time and the Trust became involved on two fronts, first the preservation of the valley and secondly the question of how to deal with the land owned by the Trust within the Valley. It was a difficult and delicate situation. The Trust has always been on good terms with the Jersey New Waterworks Company and in particular with the board as then constituted. But with a willingness on both sides to achieve a negotiated agreement rather than fight all the way, this was done. The Trust parted with the small area of land in Queen’s Valley and in exchange acquired, with the help of a legacy from Miss Izett Croad, Tesson Mill in St Peter’s Valley, which was fast falling into complete disrepair and in addition the return to the Trust of an area of land in Fern Valley, St Helier, with friendship and mutual respect retained.

Then it all ended, well partly, for I remained on the Finance Committee, more recently the Finance Advisory Body until December 2022. My 52 years of involvement with the Trust have been at times worrying and of concern that we were doing the right thing for Jersey and the environment but never dull. I have made many friends, learned much and will always be grateful for the many opportunities not least visits to Bermuda and Holland to attend World National Trust conferences.

Marine Protected Areas:

A long-term, sustainable vision for Jerseys marine environment.

Policy:

At COP 15 in Montreal last December, after four long years of negotiation, a huge environmental commitment, officially known as the KunmingMontreal Global Biodiversity Framework, was agreed by the vast majority of countries in the world. This framework sits under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, a treaty that originated back at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The framework includes several targets relevant to the marine environment, notably the effective restoration of degraded habitats and at least 30 per cent effective protection of marine habitats by 2030, aka ‘30x30’. In relation to the ocean, the value of 30 per cent is widely recommended by leading scientists around the world in order to reverse adverse ecological impacts, preserve fish populations, increase resilience to

climate change and sustain long-term ocean health.

Some of you may be wondering why this Global Biodiversity Framework is relevant to Jersey. Well, the framework was developed under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which came into force in Jersey in 1994. As a result, this means that Jersey has an obligation to reflect the Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and set a domestic 30x30 target within policy. As Jersey has yet to set out its ambition for 30 per cent marine protection, this has created a special opportunity and now is the perfect time to progress that ambition.

At the time of writing, the Jersey Government is preparing its first, and very comprehensive, Marine Spatial Plan. Having been involved in the stakeholder engagement to date, this plan is looking positive for

our marine environment. In 2022’s Bridging Island Plan, it was agreed that the Marine Spatial Plan must include the development of a ‘network of MPAs’ (Marine Protected Areas). This is very positive to hear, as it sets the precedent for future marine protection. However, this aim lacks the ambition, and international responsibility, for Jersey to reflect the target of reaching 30x30 in policy. With the Marine Spatial Plan providing the perfect opportunity to set out clear ambitions and recommendations, it absolutely must have a strong focus on reflecting 30x30, to ensure Jersey delivers longterm sustainable management of our marine environment. If Jersey does not adopt 30x30, then it will not only fail to meet its agreed responsibilities on an international and domestic stage, but it will also be falling behind on the global and local mission to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.

Existing Protected Areas:

Aside from the 30x30 policy and Marine Spatial Plan opportunity, Jersey has already started its roadmap to a sustainable future for the marine environment. Of our 2,455 square kilometres of territorial sea, 6.5 per cent is designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPA), primarily in the form of No Mobile Gear Zones (no trawling and dredging) and one No Take Zone (no fishing or extractive activities), designated at Portelet Bay in 2022. Research to date has shown that this existing small network of MPAs is having a positive influence on diversity, with increased numbers of species compared to open areas.

With Jersey’s current MPAs prohibiting the use of dredging and trawling, they represent a gold standard approach to

conservation. This is in stark contrast to the UK, where despite MPAs covering more than 38 per cent of the UK’s domestic seas, a mere 8 per cent of this network is fully protected from damaging fisheries such as trawling and dredging.

While the quality of Jersey’s MPAs are high, they only cover 6.5 per cent of territorial waters. Over 93 per cent of Jersey’s seabed remains unprotected from mobile fishing gears and development such as offshore windfarms, including many sensitive habitats. This prevents these areas delivering the maximum benefits to the Island that, given proper protection, they could. A large proportion of Jersey's key marine habitats remain unprotected outside the current MPAs: shallow sandy reef (74 per cent), kelp forest (85 per cent), maerl beds (87 per cent), and sandmason worm habitats (36 per cent). As a result, considering habitats like these play key roles in

nutrient cycling, drawing down and storing carbon and support numerous life stages of marine species, including commercially important ones, there is a brilliant opportunity for a win-win scenario to be achieved, benefitting biodiversity, climate and fisheries.

When designating future areas for protection, it’s important for Jersey to maintain its gold standard approach to MPAs and support them with legislation to prohibit trawling and dredging. This approach doesn’t have to mean ‘no fishing’. Jersey’s MPAs (apart from Portelet Bay) only prohibit the use of mobile fishing gears, such as trawling and dredging. All other ‘static’ fishing methods are still permitted in these protected areas, such as hook and line fishing, potting, netting, foraging, spearfishing and hand-diving. With any future designation of MPAs, there is a brilliant opportunity to maintain this approach and support the lower-impact forms of fishing within MPAs.

Current Activities:

Work is already underway in developing and supporting methods of low-impact fishing. Lobster and crab are the dominant species targeted by the fishing industry. Financially, they account for about 70 per cent of all landings in Jersey. As a result, they are experiencing a fair amount of pressure and after conversations with the local fleet, there is an appetite to explore diversification, to make fishermen more adaptable to the natural variations in stock levels. Blue Marine is undertaking trials such as ‘scallop potting’. This is where lobster and crab pots are slightly modified and a light attached to the inside. The scallops are sensitive and attracted to the light, so they swim in and can’t escape. This method isn’t necessarily being trialled to transition existing dredge vessels away from mobile gear, but more to diversify the

Take Home Message

Jersey’s political responsibilities to set a target of 30 per cent marine protection are clear, thanks to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and its agreed Global Biodiversity Framework. The Marine Spatial Plan is the perfect moment to set the 30x30 ambition. If Jersey doesn’t do this, then there will have been a huge, missed opportunity to reach its international responsibility,

crab and lobster fleet, therefore taking pressure off the two stocks which experience high intensities of fishing.

In addition, the Government of Jersey announced a marine support scheme earlier this year to support the fishing and associated marine industries with rising costs. Support will be prioritised to those operating in an environmentally friendly way. As a result, the Blue Marine team are trialling more efficient oil and fuel filters on some of the fishing vessels operating with low-impact methods. These filters are more efficient, reducing the amount of fuel and oil used, emissions and the number of oil changes. The aim is to support the fishing industry in exploring options to reduce their environmental footprint, and therefore increase their accessibility to funding streams such as the marine support scheme.

As well as supporting good fishing practices, it's also important to champion them. Sustainable fishing practices operating within MPAs creates a brilliant opportunity to give Jersey global recognition for its high quality, sustainable seafood, similar to the likes of Jersey Dairy and Jersey Royals. Blue Marine developed a ‘Jersey Hand Dived’ brand that launched in 2021 to promote hand-dived scallops, the divers who source them as well as restaurants who serve and outlets that sell them. This initiative and its label showcase one of Jersey’s most sustainably sourced foods, giving the hand-dived scallop industry a voice and recognition for its sustainable efforts.

as well as set a precedent for real and significant marine protection. Jerseys MPAs, although small, are well managed and backed by good legislation. Any further MPAs being developed under the Marine Spatial Plan should replicate this gold standard approach. Finally, there are many ways in which fishing can work hand in hand with marine protection and it's important to continue researching how this can be done, but also championing

and celebrating the people and methods that are already doing so. Through a combination of all these factors, Jersey can set out a vision and achieve a long-term, sustainable future for its marine environment where it effectively tackles the biodiversity and climate crisis, while benefitting all of us who depend on a healthy ocean.

Brilliant Buildings with Upcycled Materials

Upcycling is a way to turn old things into something new, but without needing to break down the product, in the way that recycling would. By repurposing your old items, you are positively contributing to the environment by extending the life of the item and saving it from the rubbish tip.

Here is a great way to use up some recycling and create a cardboard building from recycle-able materials!

You will need:

1. Card/ boxes/milk cartons etc.

2. Double-sided tape and Sellotape; glue stick & scissors.

3. Things for colouring & decorating: Paper, coloured card, pencils, coloured pens, paint, lollypop sticks, milk cartons, egg boxes, plastic containers (for windows), sweet wrappers, beads, shells, fabric.

Method:

1. Once you have an idea or rough drawing of the type of building you wish to create, select an old box roughly the same shape as your building. Then work on big parts of the structure such as roofs or towers (it would be great if your roof can come on and off so you can decorate inside!),

2. Then work on creating your doors & windows. Think of ways for how the doors will open and close, and how you might glaze the windows. Sweet wrappers can be good for this!

3. Once you have finished the outside you can start to furnish/decorate the interior. For example, you could use card, fabric and lollipop sticks to make a sofa and use old fabric or coloured card for wallpaper.

Some other things to consider might be: Does your building need stairs? Are you planning on laying a carpet or putting up wallpaper?

These brilliant buildings are great fun to create, and a great option for those rainy days!

Here are some lovely examples:

A Georgian Christmas

As the nights draw in and the days get colder, the 16 New Street team turns its attention to Christmas – and with 1,500 visitors expected during the month of December, the pressure is on to put on a magnificent display.

From creating dazzling floral arrangements to welcoming visitors on site and serving customers in the Christmas shop, the Trust volunteers support every aspect of the festivities at 16 New Street and without their involvement the site’s most popular event of the year, Father Christmas at 16 New Street, simply would not happen.

Christmas at 16 New Street truly is a team effort

says Museums & Collections Manager, Catherine Ward, “and having the support of such a creative and collaborative team of volunteers makes the whole experience so rewarding for everyone. 16 New Street has a magical atmosphere at Christmas time, but it’s the volunteers who bring the house to life for our visitors.”

This year, as in previous years, the Trust is also grateful for the support of local business, Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management, whose staff have been busy networking behind the scenes - with a special client in the North Pole - to make sure Santa’s reindeers are fit enough to make the long journey south to 16 New Street this winter with their sleighs laden with gifts and chocolate coins.

Running a popular event such as Father Christmas at 16 New Street is not without its challenges for a small organisation that is heavily reliant on volunteers and, several years ago, the Trust was criticised for controlling numbers by offering tickets to members only: “People ask us why we don’t open up Father Christmas at 16 New Street to more families,” says Catherine. “For the Trust this event is so much more than just a family day out… as you immerse yourself in the festivities at 16 New Street it is easy to forget that the building you are exploring was once threatened with demolition and, without the intervention of the Trust, the historic setting for our Father Christmas event might have been lost. By offering tickets to members only we are expressing our gratitude for their support. Also, by controlling numbers over the past three years we have been able to offer a percentage of the tickets to children in the community who require additional educational support and families on low incomes. Without the generous support of Canaccord, this ongoing partnership with CYPES and Brighter Futures simply would not be possible.”

Booking is essential for our Father Christmas event. Note that due to its popularity, this event is restricted to members only. If your membership is about to expire, make sure you renew by the end of October as tickets go on sale on 1 November and you will need your membership number to book.

Stirring the Christmas pudding with Louisa in the Georgian Kitchen has become a Christmas tradition for many families. We think that last year’s pudding was stirred by more than 1,000 visitors. That’s a lot of wishes!

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The large arrangement over the front door, and the matching wreath, are created by florist Claire Evans, kindly supported by Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management. The bay garlands on the railings and all of the interior arrangements are created by Trust volunteers.

This year’s installation in the Dining Room, the Land of Sweets, is inspired by Hoffman’s ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’, first published in 1816. Grateful thanks to Dian Mezec and Lindsey Noble, the 16 New Street ‘Cooks’, for creating the magnificent edible displays.

Ready, Steady, Decorate Georgian Style

The Georgian House might look small and bijou from the outside, but decorating the three floors in Georgian style requires lots of volunteers, good teamwork - and a vast amount of greenery, all foraged from the Trust’s land.

Thankfully with 170 sites in the Trust’s care there is plenty of winter pruning to be done and one of the first tasks for the team is to cut enough foliage to decorate eleven mantlepieces, four banisters, five fireplaces and around 15 metres of ornate railing. Hardy evergreens such as holly, rosemary, bay, laurel, macrocarpa (Monterey cypress) and green oak are plentiful on the Trust’s land and, being tough and long lasting, they tend to work well for all of the structural elements.

Secateurs at the ready, the second job for the volunteers is to clip the foliage into shorter 6-in lengths and sort them into buckets. As the buckets are whisked upstairs to the Club Room, a dedicated team of ‘spriggers’ creates individual bunches of mixed foliage, binding them with wire. Experience has taught the team that making lots of little bunches on day one speeds things along a bit – and, although it takes the best part of the day to create around 200 bunches – it’s a welcome chance for everyone to have a catch-up around the table in the club room.

Over at the Elms, chief garland volunteer Jill Green is responsible for the garlands on the railings. Having previously created the floral displays for Longueville Manor, the Trust is grateful for Jill’s expertise as she deftly attaches hundreds of sprigs of bay onto around 25 metres of rope. Once finished, the garlands are fixed in place on the 16 New Street railings by Trust joiners, John and Steve, and embellished with ribbons and twinkling fairy lights.

On day three a team of volunteers from Canaccord will arrive to decorate the gigantic tree in the Club Room. This will form the backdrop for the Trust’s Father Christmas event, sponsored by Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management, so the decorations need to be balanced and attractive.

Downstairs in the dining room, a team of Trust volunteers including Rose-Marie Dawkins, tackle the first of the fireplaces, incorporating fiery red cornus from the walled garden at the Elms into the arrangement for dramatic effect.

The banisters extend across all three floors of the house and require a methodical approach to make them look balanced and full. The first task for volunteer Sharon Eddie is to attach branches of macrocarpa (sourced from the Trust’s land at Grantez) to the spindles. The next stage is to embellish the displays with sprigs of foliage, ribbons, pine cones and oranges, under the watchful eye of Catherine. “I started volunteering at 16 New Street last year” says Sharon “and made so many new friends and learned some traditional ways of using seasonal foliage and natural materials to transform the house in the weeks

leading up to the Christmas events - it really got us all into the Christmas spirit. I particularly enjoyed creating the garland down the staircase, especially when so many visitors admired our efforts.”

With several corporate events and weddings booked in November and December, the mantlepiece in the Drawing Room requires special attention. To keep with the elegant theme of the room, dried hydrangeas (sourced from the 16 New Street garden) are incorporated into the design along with rosemary, bay, nuts and berries.

The deadline is drawing near and there is a lot of clearing up to do before the first customers arrive on Thursday 16th November for the launch of the Trust’s late-night shopping event. Although Christmas Day is still 5 ½ weeks away, 16 New Street is ready for business. Let the festivities commence.

If you are interested in volunteering at 16 New Street, contact Museums Manager, Catherine Ward: catherine@nationaltrust.je

Getting ready for Winter...

It always makes me smile when visitors to the garden think I can put my feet up in the autumn and winter as there is no gardening to do.

That is far from the reality as the preparation for the following season all starts way before the spring.

As the herbaceous perennials start to die back in October there is a short period where things are allowed to take their course but once November arrives the real hard work starts. As the garden is quite big we have to enable plenty of time to get the work done before everything starts to grow again. If you leave it too late it makes cutting the plants back very difficult without damaging the new growth, plus I have found there is less time to get things shipshape with the increasingly short winters.

It’s important to cut ALL the herbaceous perennials down once things start to die back. This then reduces the detritus allowing any lurking slugs and snails to live and breed. The most common question I am asked is about deterring slugs and snails and good husbandry is definitely one of

the most important and now you can see any weeds that were underneath. Once you have pulled the weeds and tidied up it’s a good time to reduce or dig out any plants that have become too big. If they just need moving, only do it if it’s not too cold or they will sit and sulk, otherwise wait for the warmer weather in the spring.

Be ruthless is my motto. If it is not performing well then bin it.

As long as it’s not too dry or too cold then it is a good time to put compost on the borders. Don’t be tempted to do this work until the soil is moist and definitely not frozen otherwise you are in danger of trapping the cold and dry. Every year I like to spread compost as this not only feeds the plants but it helps to hold the moisture in reducing evaporation in the dry periods. I never use fertiliser in the garden, don't waste your money. It really is not necessary if you are applying compost.

Now you just need to check for any weeds over the coming weeks, buy new plants to fill any gaps and with any luck all your plants are regrowing and are strong and healthy and once they knit together there is no space for any weeds! Now sit back and enjoy……but not for too long!

Judith Queree

guernsey - Pesticide Free?

My name is Gordon Steele and I’ve lived in Guernsey for 16 years now. I grew up on the edge of the woods and downs of Surrey followed that with university studies in biology and 4 years in research. After a corporate career I’ve now been able to return to that first love of nature and the environment.

I was asked if I had an hour spare to help the Pollinator Project; little did I know. I’m now the chair and its certainly an active role with something happening every day of the year.

We focus on habitat protection, education programmes, science and campaigning against the use of pesticides. These seem to us to be the best way to protect our biodiversity and engage with local communities.

What is the current situation in Guernsey regarding pesticides, their uses and availability? Who uses them and for what?

Pesticides by which we mean all the toxic chemicals used as insecticides, fungicides, herbicides are ubiquitous in our modern lives. We use them on our pets to control ticks and fleas, in our beehives to control mites, to clean our boats, on our roads to kill weeds and to control pests, diseases and rodents in our homes, gardens and countryside.

Some of them have been beneficial to humankind but they come at a high price to our health and our environment.

In Guernsey pesticides are used by members of the public, farmers, amenity owners and the States of Guernsey and we have a heritage of them being used in the growing industry. But it is changing. Thousands of products have been withdrawn from sale around the world as we learn more about their side effects.

We largely follow the controls in place in the UK but must take particular care that they don’t enter our drinking water system. When they do the authorities have acted. Last year the Health and Safety Executive withdrew the sale of weedkillers containing glyphosate to members of the public, partly because of spikes in samples over bank holidays when people are out in their gardens. It’s too easy as a consumer to apply more than the label says is safe or repeat the spray without waiting for the first application to work. This follows action by States Works who also gave up the use of glyphosate for controlling weeds on the roads, paths, and public areas in favour of mechanical and cultural controls.

Agricultural use in Guernsey is focused on the dairy industry with a small area laid down to potatoes each year. Some of our younger farmers have been

by Gordon Steele

selecting seed for cereals without seed dressings. So progress here too. If you can avoid it and the cost that goes with it, then that’s great.

We do however have a problem hanging over us from the growing industries with many redundant vineries and packing sheds still holding products which have since been banned. In an amnesty in 2021 we took back some real nasties from householders and retired growers and there is plenty more out there.

Why is Guernsey seeking to change the current situation?

There are threats to human health which are closely monitored around the world but the damage to our environment often takes years to emerge. We need to act now for future generations.

We’re often asked “but aren’t all these products tested”. Yes, is the short answer, but only in a limited way in the laboratory and field trials. The combinations marketed now and the addition of wetting agents and adjuvants which seek to make them work better mean we often don’t know the impact they will have until it’s too late.

We are all dependent on nature in one way or another. Our pollinators are needed for more than 70% of the food we eat, imagine life without

strawberries, peaches, tomatoes, almonds, coffee or chocolate. Or our cliffs and gardens without the colour of wildflowers. So we need to adapt.

What is the long-term aim of the Guernsey Pollinator Project regarding the ban or control of pesticides?

We’d like to see Guernsey as a green island- supporting and celebrating its nature in all forms and doing that without resorting to pesticides. It does mean changing the way we produce food, getting more familiar with seeing nature in all its forms in our daily lives, and using alternatives to pesticides. So, we’re not calling for an immediate ban on all pesticides, but we do admire the progress made around the world with pesticide free zones, boroughs, towns, and cities.

What are the timescales?

• We’re aiming for small incremental steps with a few short-term targets in 2024

Commence a communications programme promoting the alternatives in 2024

Promote active return of unused products also in 2024

Update information for house buyers and estate agents

• Update the licencing for commercial spraying

And we hope to hear news from the UK on a grant application one of the team has made to research pollinator variety and abundance

How is it going? Has any progress been made?

We welcome the steps that the States have made, and we sit on a pesticide reduction group with a number of partners from the government and utilities. Aside from the ban on sales of glyphosate to the public, an annual audit of all pesticides sold and applied in Guernsey is underway. That’s a huge step forward and is probably unique in the British Isles. That will help us all see what’s being used and where. Guernsey Waste have also been promoting the drop-off points for unused pesticides. And for the last 4 years we’ve been helping a local research scientist Dr Miranda Bane who has applied for funding from the UK to explore the impacts on pollinator abundance and diversity of this reduction in pesticide usage.

Meet Our New Council Members

The National Trust for Jersey staged its AGM on Friday 28th April and 5 new Council Members were elected.

Maggie has extensive experience of working for the UK National Trust and has worked at Assistant Director/Director level with significant responsibilities across all disciplines. As such Maggie has a wide breadth and depth of experience of the voluntary sector, trustees, working with staff teams and ensuring that the aim of the charity is always at the forefront of everything that is undertaken. Maggie has been a 'critical friend' to the National Trust for Jersey for many years and wants to further this relationship as we grapple with climate change and the nature crisis that we all face.

Greg Morel. Greg is the Director of the Jersey based environmental consultancy Terra Mare Ltd and formerly worked in the public sector in marine protection. Greg's aims as a council member are to secure and maintain a strong membership base, plan for the longer term in terms of financial planning and assets, ensure scientific rigor and analysis in decision making and assist the Council in its dealings with Government.

A former member of Council from 2015 - 2022 and former Vice President, Antony is an Historic Buildings Consultant and Chartered Building Surveyor who feels that his knowledge and experience as a built heritage professional can support the wider strategic aims of the Trust.

Greg Morel

Antony Gibb

Maggie Morgan.

James Linder

An economist, James considers the Trust to be a key institutional anchor in preserving the island's wildlife and heritage. He feels that access to nature and the preservation of the island's built heritage is core to what makes Jersey special to both current and future generations. James is hoping that he can support the Trust and its council by applying his experience as an economist and his time spent working with the Government of Jersey.

Claire Follain

Claire is a busy working professional working for the Government of Jersey. Claire considers that the next 5 to 10 years will be a critical period for the Trust (and other charitable bodies) as its aims will be inextricably linked with the local and global economy. Claire is passionate about recognising, valuing and celebrating Jersey's tangible and intangible identity which she feels is being steadily eroded. An experienced trustee Claire feels that the National Trust remains the primary protector and champion of the cultural and physical heritage and character of Jersey and holds a critical position in the island in terms of independence from Government.

Discover what lies beneath our waves with Jersey Snorkel Trails!

In Jersey, we are lucky to have some of the richest shallow marine habitats in the British Isles, from extensive seagrass meadows to maerl beds, kelp forests to reef structures; all harbouring a wealth of marine life. Combined, this marine environment has created a variety of idyllic snorkelling spots within our emerald waters. To showcase this, Blue Marine Foundation (Blue Marine)— in partnership with Bouley Bay Dive Centre and kindly supported by Mourant— has set up two snorkel trails as part of a network proposed for Jersey’s stunning coastline, brimming with around 3,200 species of mesmerising marine life waiting to be discovered by locals and visitors.

In 2022, Blue Marine established the first snorkel trail on the south-west coast at Portelet Bay, named Snorkel Portelet. This trail encompasses four routes, all named after some of the stunning anemone species found in our waters. The Strawberry anemone, for example, is encompassed by a striking pattern resembling the fruit of its name. By following Snorkel Portelet, you can swim through a forest of billowing kelp and thong weed, while spotting flatfish and blennies, before drifting over a bed of seagrass.

This summer, Blue Marine set up a second snorkel trail on the north coast at Bouley Bay, the home of our only dive centre. This trail, named Snorkel Bouley, consists of three routes, all named after some of the resident species of fish. Follow Snorkel Bouley to explore rocky reefs sheltering wrasse and pipefish, before snorkelling across the bay over sandy seabeds lined with a forest of seaweed and kelp, discovering rays, cuttlefish, and spider crabs.

Both Jersey Snorkel Trails are selfguided, which means there are no underwater markers. Instead, information signs located at both bays include maps, which highlight the snorkelling routes to follow to see as much marine life as possible. At Portelet Bay, one sign can be found at the top of the path opposite the Portelet Inn, with the other located a short way up the steps from Portelet Bay Café. At Bouley Bay, the sign is located on the railings in front of the public toilets. Important safety information within these signs should be read before snorkelling, making the snorkel as safe and enjoyable as possible. Leaflets containing all the information needed to explore both Jersey Snorkel Trails, including a checklist of marine species to be discovered, can be found at Bouley Bay Dive Centre and Portelet Bay Café, along with Portuguese, French and Polish translations. If you wish to have a guided tour of either Snorkel Portelet or Snorkel Bouley, then this can be booked through Bouley Bay Dive Centre.

The aim of Jersey Snorkel Trails is to connect people to the sea, providing an opportunity for all generations to spark an interest in and appreciation for our oceans. Children— as the next generation of ocean stewards— are the key to the future of our seas. Over the last two years, Blue Marine have partnered with Bouley Bay Dive Centre to deliver an educational outreach programme for over half of Jersey’s primary schools. To date, around 600 pupils of ages nine to 11 have been given these underwater experiences, with 400 of these having participated this summer. During the last seven weeks of the school term, Blue Marine visited 11

local primary schools to teach the pupils all about Jersey’s marine environment, including some of the exciting species they might spot on their snorkel. During the week, each class had a snorkelling lesson led by the experienced staff of Bouley Bay Dive Centre, which included safe snorkelling practices, as well as helping them increase their confidence in the water. To finish the week, the pupils were led around one of the snorkel trails at either Portelet Bay or Bouley Bay, putting their new skills and knowledge into practice. It’s incredibly rewarding to see these young children develop a passion and knowledge for our marine environment. A particular highlight was experiencing their first-hand, uncontainable excitement as they learnt how the majority of the species shown in the lessons were in fact local to our waters and can be seen through snorkelling.

The final aspect of the Jersey Snorkel Trails initiative is the development of a citizen science project, led by the Société Jersiaise. By scanning the QR code on the information signs, snorkellers can download the Epicollect app, search for the project “Jersey Snorkel Trails Recorder” and log details of marine species that were seen, along with any photos. This provides an exciting way for anyone to get involved in monitoring the biodiversity in each bay, helping scientists to see how it might change over time. The people of Jersey don’t quite realise how rich and diverse our waters are. There is a huge amount to see on our doorstep and grabbing yourself a snorkel is a brilliant way to immerse yourself and get discovering the world beneath the waves.

Kathryn Smith, Project Officer - Blue Marine Foundation

Heritage Open Days

16th and 17th September

Heritage Open Days celebrate the Island’s built heritage and specifically those properties gifted to the National Trust for Jersey, by allowing free access to historic and unique properties that are not usually open or would normally charge an entrance fee.

The event is part of the national celebration of architecture, history, and culture in association with the National Trust in the UK and is a wonderful opportunity to explore and enjoy these sometimes hidden, often curious and always interesting places.

For many years, the Trust has strongly advocated the principle of "Discover, Enjoy and Protect", which recognises that our historic built environment needs

to be accessible if it is to be valued by our community. Opening the doors on our tenanted properties gives people not only an opportunity to discover and enjoy Jersey’s rich architectural heritage but also gain a greater insight into the work of the trust and why we are so passionate about protecting these buildings for the future benefit of our Island.

We hope that the work we have undertaken at such projects as Morel Farm, New Street and the Foot Buildings demonstrates the value and necessity of traditional skills.

However, the Trust is increasingly aware that traditional craftsmanship and skills are being gradually eroded by mechanisation, particularly in the field of joinery. The trust

is hoping to work with a few partners in the near future to help address this issue so as to ensure we have the right skill base to look after and maintain Jersey’s historic estate for many years to come.

The Island's participation is supported locally by the Jersey Community Foundation, and it takes place over the weekend of 16 and 17 September.

A varied programme sees some of the Island's most historically significant properties open free to the public with walks and cycle tours, an art exhibition by ArtHouse Jersey, demonstrations of traditional skills at The Elms and an afternoon tea with live entertainment at La Vallette

Programme of Activity

Saturday 16 September

10am to 4pm

Please follow directional signs.

The Elms.

The Elms in St Mary - headquarters of the National Trust for Jersey - was bequeathed to the charity in 1975 by Nicolle Perrée. The property comprises a main dwelling house, subsidiary farmhouse, an extensive range of outbuildings including a boulangerie (bakehouse) and pressoir (cider barn) a walled garden and cider apple orchard.

Address: The Elms, La Chevre Rue, St Mary, JE3 3EN.

Parking: Top Field (please follow directional signs)

Les Côtils Farm.

This farm complex in rural St Helier comprises a main house, pressoir, stables, pigsties and potato store and was bequeathed to the trust in 2003 by Donald Le Brun. The main house has undergone a comprehensive programme of renovation and refurbishment, while the former pressoir has been renovated into a two/three-bedroom cottage.

Address: Les Cotils Farm, La Rue des Cotils, Mont à L’Abbé, St Helier.

Parking: Field at Les Cotils. Please note only the main house will be open for viewing

Morel Farm.

This Grade 2 listed farmstead was the first property gifted to the trust in 1939. It comprises a farmhouse, pressoir and bakehouse and several other outbuildings. The farmstead was fully restored in 2023 with funding from the States of Jersey Fiscal Stimulus Fund to create three selfcatering units.

Address: Morel Farm, La Rue de la Fontaine, St Lawrence

Parking: Field Opposite arch on La Rue de la Fontaine The Farmhouse wil be open for viewing although free, to manage numbers this property will be ticketed. Please visit www. nationaltrust.je or Eventbrite.

Le Rât.

Set in an unspoilt valley in St Lawrence, Le Rât is a fine example of local vernacular architecture of the 16th or early 17th century. Purchased by the trust in 1937 for £200, the cottage was sensitively renovated in the late 1990s.

Address: Le Rat, Mont L’Evesque, St Lawrence

Parking: St Lawrence Primary School Car Park

Bellozanne Abbey.

Despite its name being a misnomer - no such abbey existed in Jersey -, Bellozanne Abbey off Grande Route de Mont à l'Abbé, is of considerable archaeological and historic significance. Constructed on the Fief of the Abbot of Bellozanne, the twostorey, five-bay granite farmhouse has rare medieval features including octagonal and round chimney stacks with fire hoods and a chamfered arched doorway, circa 1500.

Address: Bellozanne Mont à L’Abbé, St Helier

Parking: WestHill Country Hotel

WWII Occupation relics

In addition to trust properties, the Jersey Fortification Study Group will be opening a World War Two German water storage bunker at Sands in St Ouen's Bay. Also known as the RN High Tower it is part of a network of Occupation fortifications on the west coast.

Address: Water Storage Bunker, Sands, La Grande Route des Mielles

Parking: Public Car Park next to Sands

Look out for the National Trust flags

10am to 2pm

Heritage Trails

Cycle Tour Around Heritage Open Day Properties

Join Cycle Tour Guide Nicky Mansell on a circular cycle ride around some of the properties open as part of Heritage Open Day; The route will be on cycle paths and small lanes through St Peter’s Valley and the lanes of the west. We will be able to go into the properties and hopefully find a cake spot en route. This is for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness as there are a few hills involved and around 18 miles of riding. Electric bikes are welcome.

Time: 10.00a.m.

Meeting: The Gunsite Cafe

Duration: 3 hours

Guide: Nicky Mansell

Price: Free but booking required –www.nationaltrust.je or Eventbrite

Tea in a Teepee

- Afternoon Tea at La Vallette

Enjoy homemade cakes or scones, jam and cream and hot drinks in a delightful teepee tent in the lovely garden at La Vallette. Walking down Rue des Barraques towards Bonne Nuit, you could be forgiven for overlooking one of the Trust’s prettiest houses, La Vallette. At end of a long track, the old farmstead can be found in a sheltered position – La Vallette means ‘the little valley’. It seems likely that there has been a house on this spot from as early as the C16. Although the house will not be open, visitors can enjoy the garden and the exterior of the house and listen to live music performed by ‘Harmonious Friends.'

Address: La Vallette, La Rue des Barraques, St John

Parking: In the main field off La Rue des Barraques

Look out for the National Trust flag Food consumed will be at own expense.

The Lanes and Pathways

Surrounding The Elms

Join family history guide Sue Gorin on a wonderful circular walk around the lanes of St Mary and the top of St Peter’s Valley. Find the tracks which were once said to be our roads and discover how each family of the parish would take a part in mending and repairing these roads. We will explore the life of intrigue of Gigoulande Mill and discover the new pathway as the Crown is re-establishing this iconic place in Jersey's history.. Suitable footwear is required as it may be muddy around Gigoulande Mill.

Time: 10.00a.m.

Meeting: The Elms

Parking: Parking in the top field. Follow signs

Duration: 2 hours/Moderate walking

Bus Route: 7

Guide: Sue Gorin

Price: Free but booking required –www.nationaltrust.je or Eventbrite

Buried history: Almorah Cemetery stories. The sprawling Almorah Cemetery high above St Helier is filled with fading monuments recalling fascinating people, events and stories from our Island’s rich recent history. Discover some of them on this ramble around the graves with historian Ian Ronayne, from lost boys to flu victims and from Jesuits to Jersey garrison.

Time: 2.00p.m.

Meeting: Outside main cemetery

Parking: Limited outside cemetery

Duration: 2 hours/Moderate walking

Bus Route: 5

Guide: Ian Ronayne

Price: Free but booking required – www.nationaltrust.je or Eventbrite

Home-making, hay-making

An ArtHouse Jersey pop up exhibition at Greve de Lecq Barracks featuring the work of Oliver Le Gresley. On display will be a series of ink drawings exploring the physicality of agricultural labour, and how this leads to a sense of place and belonging.

Address: Greve de Lecq Barracks, Greve de Lecq, St Mary

Parking: Greve de Lecq Barracks

Programme of Activity

Sunday 17 September

10am

10am to 4pm

E Bike Cycle Tour Around the East

Join husband and wife team, Andy and Lucy from Lakeys Tours, on a fun cycle route out east taking in some of the open properties. The tour will finish with a picnic at Victoria Tower, so please bring along a packed lunch. E-bikes are available to hire for the tour from https:// www.lakeys.co.uk/bookyourbikehire

Time: 10.00a.m.

Meeting: Lakey’s Bike Hire, 23 The Esplanade

Duration: 3 hours

Bike Hire: a discounted rate of £38per bike (usually £50). Bike Hirers are welcome to keep the bikes for the rest of the day and return any time before 5pm.

Guide: Andy & Lucy Horsfall from Lakeys Bike Hire

Price: Free but booking requiredwww.nationaltrust.je or Eventbrite

La Ronde Porte

A two-storey farmhouse on Grande

Route de St Martin, La Ronde Port was bequeathed to the trust in 2022 by the will of Philip Le Sueur. The farmhouse, which is set back from the main road, has adjoining, and attached outbuildings and a farmyard. There are also pigsties connecting to a two-storey bakehouse that retains a corbelled fireplace with bread oven.

Address: La Ronde Porte, Les Grands Chemins, St. Saviour

Parking: St Michael’s School, La Rue de la Hougette, with a free shuttle to and from La Ronde Porte.

Foot Buildings

It took a ten-year campaign and two years of painstaking restoration work totalling £1.5m to secure the future of three modest but important early 19th century town houses in Pitt Street. Colloquially known as the Foot Buildings, they included a former music store run by Francis Foot, a gramophone dealer and photographer who documented Jersey life in the early 1900s. It has been turned into a coffee shop (Locke's Café). Flats, 4, 5 and 6 will be open to view along with the Café.

Address: The Foot Buildings in Pitt Street, St Helier

Parking: Parking in Sand Street or other public car parks.

Transformer Station

The Transformer Station in Chemin des Maltières, Grouville, known as OT substation, Le Bourg, is located near the car park below the Queen’s Valley Reservoir, only some 3m back from La Rue du Moulin de Bas, and was built in the German occupation by Organisation Todt. The Sub Station or “Schalthaus” was one of 3 located on the Island, but sadly it is the last remaining example, with the others being demolished in the late 70s.

Address: Chemin des Maltières, Grouville

Parking: Lower Car Park – Queen’s Valley Reservoir

Look out for the National Trust Flag

Wakofest Personnel bunker and water storage tank

The Jersey Fortification Study Group will be opening the Wakofest personnel bunker and water storage tank at El Tico in St Ouen's Bay. Members of the

group will be on site to explain the history of these Occupation relics.

Address: El Tico, La Grande Route des Mielles

Parking: El Tico or car parks in the vicinity

Look out for the National Trust flags!

Heritage Trails

Historic Farmsteads

Join your guide Sue Gorin on a circular country ramble from Brook Farm in St Martin to the newly acquired farmstead, La Ronde Porte in St Saviour. Find out all about the families that lived and worked in these wonderful historic properties.

Time: 10.00a.m.

Meeting: Outside Brook Farm

Parking: Parking in the field Opposite Brook Farm

Duration: 2 hours/Moderate walking Bus Route: 3 (to Midland Stores and a short walk)

Guide: Sue Gorin

Price: Free but booking required

The lost towers of St Ouen’s Bay

The magnificent sweep of St Ouen’s Bay contains numerous fortifications from several periods of Jersey’s history. But several of the most important and imposing are missing today – lost in time to nature and the needs of others. Discover the story of the eight towers of St Ouen in a walk along the bay with historian Ian Ronayne, including those that remain and those that have been lost.

Time: 2.00 p.m.

Meeting: Lewis Tower

Parking: Les Laveurs Car Park

Duration: 2.5 hours/Easy walking though some walking through low sand dunes and over broken ground

Guide: Ian Ronayne

Price: Free but booking required

Heritage Town Trail

This walk, led by architectural historian Stuart Fell, looks at some of the architectural delights and curiosities of the St Helier town centre, and will explore the transition from traditional ‘historic’ buildings to modern architecture. A particular focus will be the idiosyncratic work of local architect Adolphus Curry, whose buildings defy architectural convention.

Time: 2.00 p.m.

Meeting: Royal Square – by the George II statue

Guide: Stuart Fell

Parking: Car Parks in St Helier

Price: Free but booking required

Sue Wheeler unveiling the Don Wheeler sign 6 at the Transformer Station with her family,  Nick, Phil and Louise on her 80th birthday

12 Bays of Christmas

Hot off the heels of the ‘30 Bays in 30 Days’ Sea swimming event which raised over £11,000 for the National Trust for Jersey and Jersey Hospice Care this summer, the ‘12 Bays of Christmas’ event encourages local sea swimmers who brave our chilly waters every day throughout the year to take part in this festive challenge.

Islanders who have continued swimming since the summer or are seasoned year-round swimmers are encouraged to take a dip in 12 bays between 1 and 31 December. Each bay has a festively themed name, for example ‘Port let it Snow’, ‘Jingle all the Ouaisné’ and so on.

2023 will be the third year that this challenge has taken place and every year, participants get more festive! Participants wear Christmas themed bathing suits, hats and have even been known to get together pre and post swims to sing Christmas carols with a sea theme.

The 12 Bays of Christmas

An event run by Jersey Hospice Care and

Simone and Beccy are two year round swimmers who participate in the 12 Bays of Christmas event….Here they talk about their passion for the sea and year round swimming…

1. Bauble Bay (Bouley)

2. Rocking around "Rozel Bay"

3. "Le Saie" in a manger

4. "Anneport" and stilton

5. Once in "Royal bay of Grouville"

6. Robin Bay

7. Deck "La Haule"

8. Jingle bell...croute (Bel Croute)

9. Port let it snow (Portlet Bay)

10. Jingle all the "Quaisne"

11. Snow port (Beauport)

12. Santa Ouen (St Ouen) - Le Braye Only

To register your place, please go to Race Nation https://race-nation.co.uk/event/3881 The event is generously supported by F Nicholson & Son Limited, building, roofing and scaffolding contractors.

Kindly sponsored by:

Bauble Bay (Bouley)

Rocking around “Rozel Bay”

“Le Saie” in a manger

“Anneport” and stilton

Once in “ Royal bay of Grouville” Robin Bay

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. Deck “La Haule”

8. Jingle bell... croute ( Bel Croute)

9. Port let it snow (Portlet Bay)

10. Jingle all the “Quaisne”

11. Snow port (Beauport)

12. Santa Ouen (St Ouen) – Le Braye Only

The National Trust for Jersey

Events

We would like to encourage our members to book events online. This helps us not only to monitor ticket sales more effectively, but also helps to manage our limited resource within our small office team.

Of course if you would prefer not to book online you can telephone 483193 or call into the office between the hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Log onto: www.nationaltrust.je/events

Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 Sept

HERITAGE OPEN DAY

Many of the Trust’s properties will be open over the course of the weekend. The Open Days offer you the wonderful opportunity to explore and enjoy some of the Island’s finest historic buildings. Special events and activities will be organised at the key sites.

Meeting Point: Various

Time: 10am – 4.00pm

Price: FREE

september october

Thursday 5 – Saturday 7 October

BLACK BUTTER FESTIVAL LÉ NIÈR BEURRE

Embrace the community spirit and participate in the ancient art of making Black Butter which takes place over three days at The Elms, the headquarters of the National Trust for Jersey. Apples grown for cider were once Jersey's main crop. Today fewer cider apples are grown but the making of black butter (Le Nièr Beurre) carries on. Come along and peel apples, which are then cooked in a large copper pan or ‘bachin’ over an open fire or help to stir the mixture which is cooked until dawn. The event culminates in a produce market where the freshly made Black Butter is put into jars and sold.

Location: The Elms

Meeting Point: Carpark below Faulkner

Fisheries, or La Rocque Harbour

Time:

Thursday: 2 – 5pm

Friday 10am until 10pm

Saturday (Market Day) 10am until 4pm

Price: Free

Kindly supported by Rathbones

Wednesday 4th and 11th October

JANE AUSTEN DANCE CLASS FOR BEGINNERS

Budding Elizabeth Bennetts and Mr Darcy’s are invited to join us for a Jane Austen dance class in the magnificent setting of the Georgian House. Dancers are encouraged to dress in Brigertonstyle for this special event – and there’s a prize for the best dressed dancer. Suitable for all ages and abilities. Please wear flat shoes. Grateful thanks to Tony and Tina from Simply Ballroom, Jersey.

Meeting Point: 16 New Street

Time: Time: 6pm – 7pm OR 7pm – 8pm

Price: £10 for Members; £15 for Non-Members.

Saturday 14th October

MAGICAL MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES – KIDS SING ALONG CONCERT WITH GEORGI MOTTRAM

Children of all ages are invited to dress up and join us for a Disney Musical Extravaganza at 16 New Street with chart-topping soprano ‘Princess’ Georgi Mottram

Venue: 16 New Street

Time: 2.00-2.45 OR 3.30-4.15pm

Price: £5 Children; £10 Adults; Babes in Arms (under 2s) FREE

autumn half term

23rd – 29th October

WOODLAND WONDERS

Children are invited to explore the wonderful woodlands in St Peters Valley and Waterworks Valley.

Join our Education Officer for some woodland adventures. Learn about the different tree species, and take part in a variety of creative activities, such as natural artwork, and collect tree seeds to grow your own trees at home. There will be lots of Forest School activities, plus den-building in Waterworks Valley.

Meeting Point: Quétivel Mill/ Le Don Sinkins – booking essential

Time: TBC

Thursday: 13:00

Friday 27th October and Saturday 28th October

THE GRUESOME GEORGIANS OF 16 NEW STREET

Enjoy a spooky family day out at 16 New Street this half-term. Learn some Horrid History facts, find out about gruesome Georgian medicine, view some foul food and enjoy some craft activities with the Trust’s volunteers.

Meeting Point: 16 New Street

Time: 10am – 4pm

Price: £6 Adults; £3 Children; Under 6s and Trust Members

FREE. Children are invited to dress up for this Halloweeninspired event.

Thursday 16th, 23rd, 30th November

LATE NIGHT SHOPPING AT 16 NEW STREET

Enjoy mulled wine and mince pies as you browse for presents in the Trust’s wonderfully atmospheric Christmas shop. All profits go towards the Trust’s work –protecting Jersey’s historic buildings and areas of natural beauty.

Meeting Point: 16 New Street

Time: 4pm-8pm

Price: FREE

Thursday 23rd & 30th November

FESTIVE MUSIC BY CANDLELIGHT

Enjoy a special Christmas concert in the atmospheric setting of 16 New Street Georgian House.

Meeting Point: 16 New Street

Time: 6pm- 7pm & 7.30pm – 8.30pm

Price: £14 Members; £16 Non-Members to include a welcome drink

Kindly supported by Ogier

Tuesday 28th November

CHRISTMAS PAPER GARLAND

Come along to the Pressoir at The Elms to make a beautiful Christmas Bird Garland with artist Kerry-Jane Warner. Using small stamps and embellishments, decorate vintage wallpapers to cut out and create this lovely Christmas decoration. Festive refreshments will be included.

Meeting Point: The Pressoir at The Elms Time: 6pm– 9pm

Price: £1£20.00 to include seasonal refreshments.

Parking: The Elms

december

1 to 31 December

12 BAYS OF CHRISTMAS

The 12 Bays of Christmas event is back for 2022! The festive challenge encourages islanders who have continued swimming since the summer or are seasoned yearround swimmers to take a dip in Port let it Snow and Jingle all the Ouaisne, to name but a few!

Thursday 7th, 14th, 21st

December

LATE NIGHT SHOPPING AT 16 NEW STREET

Enjoy mulled wine and mince pies as you browse for presents in the Trust’s wonderfully atmospheric Christmas shop. All profits go towards the Trust’s work –protecting Jersey’s historic buildings and areas of natural beauty.

Meeting Point: 16 New Street

Time: 4pm-8pm

Price: FREE

13th December

HAND-STITCHED BAUBLE WORKSHOP

Join Beverley Speck for some creative festive fun to make a Christmas bauble using simple hand stitching. Take some time out in this relaxing session where Beverley will take you step by step to sew a charming candle motif Christmas decoration.

Meeting Point: The Pressoir at The Elms

Time: 6pm - 9pm

Price: £ £20 to include seasonal refreshments.

Parking: The Elms

14th December

CHRISTMAS NEEDLE FELTING BAUBLE WORKSHOP.

In this Christmas craft workshop Beverley will teach you how to needlefelt a joyful Christmas bauble in wonderful festive surroundings. You will be provided with a full needle felting kit to complete your festive decoration.

Meeting Point: The Pressoir at The Elms

Time: 6pm - 9pm

Price: £20 to include seasonal refreshments.

Parking: The Elms

Saturday 2nd, 9th, 16th December

FATHER CHRISTMAS AT 16 NEW STREET

Christmas in Jersey wouldn’t be complete without a special visit to see Father Christmas at 16 New Street. Tickets for this event are restricted to Trust Members only. Tickets go on sale on 1 November.

Meeting Point: 16 New Street

Time: 10am – 4pm

Price: £10 per child to include a gift

Booking essential

Kindly supported by Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management

Tuesday 19th – 22nd December

WASTE-FREE-FESTIVITIES

Families are invited to The Elms to join our Education Officer and local artists to learn how to turn household rubbish into all kinds of festive-themed decorations.

Meeting Point: The Pressoir at The Elmsbooking essential

Time: 10am – 12pm or 2pm – 4pm

Price: Free to NTJ members – suitable for children aged 4 -11 years-old (children must be accompanied by an adult – adults go free)

Parking: The Elms

Kindly supported by Jersey Electricity

The above events would be supported by a regular guided walking programme for Members, events at 16 New Street and Le Moulin de Quetivel and the Education Programme.

CONTACT DISCOVER

Get in touch. We would love to hear your questions, comments and ideas.

The National Trust for Jersey

The Elms La Chève Rue St Mary Jersey JE3 3EN

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DESIGN & PRODUCTION TEAM

The Idea Works Limited

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EDITORIAL TEAM

Donna Le Marrec and Charles Alluto.

Contributors: Charlie Malet de Carteret, Conrad Evans, Charles Alluto, Catherine Ward, John Garton, Robin Kelly, Jon Parkes, Josh Feldman, Kate Le Ruez, Donna Le Marrec, Ken Syvret MBE, Freddie Watson, Judith Queree, Gordon Steele, Kathryn Smith, Simone Springate and the Boulay Bathers

PHOTOGRAPHS

Credits to: Rod Bryans, Gary Grimshaw, Charlotte Horton-Slater, Matt Jarvis, Visit Jersey, John Lord, John Ovenden, Kathryn Smith,

Front Cover: Matt Jarvis.

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Correct at the time of print September 2023

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