- Plans to turn Winston Churchill Memorial Park into Jersey’s first botanical garden shelved
- Those behind the scheme wanted to create a Kew Garden style attraction to house endangered plants
- More than 150 attended fiery public meeting last night
- Read comments from those who attended below
- Would you like to see a botanical garden somewhere else in Jersey instead? Take part in our poll
THE Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Park will not be the home of Jersey’s first ever botanical gardens after scores of Islanders sent a clear message to the group behind the project at a fiery public meeting last night.
Following the meeting – where one man was ejected for swearing – Bruce Labey, founder of the Jersey Botanical Trust, told the JEP that the site in St Brelade’s Bay would no longer be pursued and that they would focus their attentions elsewhere.
There was standing room only at St Brelade’s Parish Hall as more than 150 people from all across the Island came to hear and share their views on plans to create.
The Jersey Botanic Garden Trust were trying to secure a 99-year lease for the site.
Addressing the audience Mr Labey said that Jersey could act as a ‘green ark’ for endangered species of plants from all over the world and this would help set a legacy that would last hundreds of years.
He added that a botanical gardens could help turnaround Jersey’s flailing tourist industry and promised to offer educational courses to Islanders to qualify them to work at the park in Jersey.
But despite the vast majority of the room backing the idea of a botanical garden somewhere in Jersey, many felt that the park was the wrong location and questioned the charity’s business plan.
At the end of the 90 minute debate St Brelade Constable Steve Pallett, who chaired the meeting, asked for a show of hands of who would support the idea in the park and only 17 hands were raised – three of which were members of the charity.
Among those that spoke out against the proposals was former St Brelade Constable Enid Quenault, who said: ‘The Winston Churchill Park was bought by the people of Jersey for the people of Jersey so let’s keep it that way.’
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Labey, a botanical garden horticulturalist who has been working on this project for more than 20 years, said: ‘We were expecting it to some extent but we did not think it would quite so ferocious.
‘We came here to listen and we have listened and we will move on and do this somewhere else.’
‘It is a real shame because it has the best micro-climate in Britain and it is massively underutilised.
‘It is doing nothing for Jersey excepting costing the taxpayer to maintain it.’
The horticulturalist said that those who blocked the plans for the park must be prepared to defend it ‘with as much passion’ as he warned that in the tough economic times ahead it was an area he believed the States would look to make savings in the future.
He added: ‘There are hundreds of sites but none of them are as good as this one.
‘It will be different at other sites but there are others available and we will start looking again.’
Explaining how Jersey can play a key role in saving important plant life:
‘The world is changing and the future is not a certain place anymore and I think we need to move many of the vital plant life from the Mediterranean north.
‘Jersey is the ideal place to act as a green ark to save these plants.’
Explaining how the botanical garden could help save endangered species of plant:
‘What Durrell does for animals this will do for plants.
‘It is about conservation and education.’
A comment which invoked a chorus of boos from the crowd after it was implied that families will not be able to afford to attend if a £9 entrance fee is imposed:
‘The Winston Churchill Park was bought by the people of Jersey for the people of Jersey so let’s keep it that way.’
Former St Brelade Constable Enid Quenault lets her feeling be known during a lively debate.
‘I think it is a great idea, I agree with most of it but the only bugbear I have is that it should be free to Islanders – anybody with a social security card should have free access.’
Islander Dave Crocker said he supported the idea but wanted it to be free for Islanders.
‘I love my park. I am fully supportive of a botanic gardens but I do hope you go somewhere else.
‘I think it is absolutely wrong turning a public facility into something that you would charge people to go into.’
Ed Sallis, a resident who lives 50 yards from the park, did not want a botanical garden created there.
‘I am very supportive of a botanical garden in Jersey.
‘My question is that should it not work out, if it has to be turned back on, I would not expect the States to pick up that bill. What plans are in place?’
St Brelade Deputy Murray Norton asking a question of the charity.
Jerseylady: Please, please, please do not change Winston Churchill Park, it is beautiful as it is. Stop changing Jersey. This is one of Jersey’s original places , one that I spent a lot of my childhood in with friends and family. There are other sites that could be used for this idea, which could enhance the Island for locals and tourism. By changing lovely areas that are already here you are destroying Jersey, no wonder tourism is suffering. Leave the Island alone.
rogtanuk: Sorry I am not for the idea of a public park being used for private enterprise and as a St Brealde Parishoner my family are totally against this I have no objection for the botanical garden but lease from private land not public land for commercial gain, there is enough of that going on in the town and Waterfront.
Billydog: This is a public park and should remain so. This park is an integral part of the amenity space in St Brelade’s Bay. Don’t mind an arboretum but an entry fee should not be charged. £9 per head is a lot of money for a family or the elderly who just want to sit in the park. As an aside – is this the same group that proposed a similar scheme at Steephill a few years ago? What happened to that?
Ortchie: It seems to me that creating a botanic gardens would be a wonderful investment in Jersey’s long-term future. People flock to places like this all over the world, and decades, even centuries later, they increase in their appeal and value. Rather than the short-term thinking that prevails in political and financial circles, a project like this would be something our generation could do for those who follow us, and would reflect very well on the Island in the way that Durrell has in the zoological sphere.
count0: The Winston Churchill Memorial Park is an oasis of tranquillity with its plants, shade, paths and waterfall, where one can enjoy a degree of peace away from the bustle of the beach-front. I have enjoyed chilling out there for many years, and I fear greatly that commercialising it and converting it into a botanic garden will destroy that peacefulness. The “small section of park to remain free to visit” will be no compensation for this loss. The changes are bound to impact the local fauna too – red squirrels, lizards, etc. The argument about a unique micro-climate seems unlikely given Jersey’s many coves and bays. However, I suspect the attraction of income will carry the day. One last plea: why not allow visitors to Jersey, like myself, to also be members of the JBGT?
Truthsayer: Sounds nice, but means no more park. Why do we need to mess with what’s ok, anyhow?
Grumpy Old Woman: It all sounded good until the words “construction”, “planning” and “admission fee” were brought into the mix. I think that the anticipated £9 is too much – why does Jersey always have to over-charge for everything? I appreciate that the proposed work may be costly but currently access to the park is free – it may not contain overly exciting botanical specimens but it is a pleasant place where Joe Public can go for a bit of peace and quiet and to enjoy the surroundings. The only plus side would be the security fencing would keep the arsonists out!
Perplexed: Hmmm, let’s take an existing, beautiful area, which belongs to the people of Jersey and is there for all to enjoy, free of charge – fence it in, add a few things to it, take a few things out of it and then charge each person who wishes to visit it £9 for the privilege. I must be missing something, because it sounds ludicrous to me. Don’t we have a botanic garden at Samares already? Why would anyone pay to access what is essentially their own park?
curtainlady: I grew up visiting the park on many occasions and know it well. The fact that it was free to do so was probably the only reason. For so long it has seemed unkempt and unloved, but there is a peaceful ambience about the place because it is a place of trees and flowers and nature. I would love it to be enhanced with imaginative botanic plantings. More people would visit it and a garden can ‘absorb’ large numbers of visitors without it losing its peace and quiet. I am concerned about the entry cost and I hope that ways can be found to mitigate this. Perhaps if there was a volunteer scheme where people who could do some work in the park could have free entry. Charities all depend on volunteers to keep costs down. With the vision that the Botanic Garden Charity has for the park it could become a wonderful attraction for visitors. The States have done the right thing in my view to lease it out and now I hope the Planning department won’t stand in their way to put in the improvements necessary.
Churchill Park is in St Brelade’s Bay, in the west of the Island. It features a memorial bust of Sir Winston Churchill near the main entrance, as well as a waterfall.
Entrances to the park:
Main entrance: from Rue de La Valeuse in St Brelade’s Bay.
Alternative entrance: via Park Estate (steep downhill path this way).
Opening times:
Churchill Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with free admission.
Churchill Park facilities include:
- cafés on the adjacent beachfront promenade
- toilets – including disabled and baby changing facilities in Woodford car park, St Brelades Bay
- a large grass area suitable for picnics – no ball games permitted
- a formal park
The park is not suitable for wheelchairs.
Parking
Public parking available in the adjacent Woodford car park (payment type: paycards).
Source: gov.je
