The programme will showcase the Plémont headland, which until recently housed the derelict former Pontin’s Holiday Village, and the unspoilt heathland nearby at Les Landes.
Among those who were interviewed for the programme was naturalist and former National Trust for Jersey president Mike Stentiford. He spoke about the Line in the Sand campaign, an event at St Ouen’s Bay on 4 October 2009 where Islanders lined up in their thousands to signify their opposition to excessive coastal development.
An estimated 7,000 Islanders of all ages formed a huge human chain stretching from Le Braye to just short of L’Etacq
Less than 24 hours after the event ended, the then Environment Minister, Freddie Cohen, revealed that the rally would affect future planning decisions
Mr Stentiford said: ‘I hope the programme will prove a showcase for Jersey’s coastline and give a strong indication as to how Islanders value and protect it.
‘Countryfile wanted to know about Line in the Sand, about why it had been done and what it had achieved,’ Mr Stentiford added.
‘A lot of Islanders were feeling frustrated about it and so was the National Trust. No-one seemed to be taking any notice in the States. It was the biggest peaceful demonstration that Jersey had ever seen. Well over 7,000 people turned out. It was a wonderful show.’
The controversy surrounding Plémont headland, which was bought by the National Trust for Jersey last year after the States voted to fund half the purchase price of £7.15m, will also feature in the hour-long show.
The site stood derelict for years as developers submitted plans to build homes on the land, while environmental campaigners argued that it should be returned to nature. The site has now been cleared.
Mr Stentiford: ‘For my part it was to give the comparison about what we have at Les Landes and what we are doing at Plémont.
‘We wanted to show them that we want to emulate what we have at the maritime heathland of Les Landes which was designated a site of special interest in 1996.’
Mr Stentiford said that due to Jersey’s beautiful coastline programme makers were spoilt for choice about what to include in the show.
‘To be honest they could have been filming here for a month – there are so many positive stories relating to the coast and countryside,’ he said.
‘To have that little push on national television, I think will be great for Jersey.’
