Battle of Flowers shed guide: Find out where to witness the action on Battle Eve

  • With the Battle of Flowers just two days away, the JEP continues its countdown series to this year’s carnival
  • Find out where this year’s floats are being built so you can tour the sheds on Wednesday evening
  • My Battle – meet the designer of the St Helier entry
  • Read below to see why school pupils have been helping with the Grouville float

IF you’re going to one of this week’s two Battle parades, then why not get into the spirit of the event early by soaking up the atmosphere tomorrow evening in some of the sheds and marquees where the floats are being built?

Across the Island, hundreds of parade enthusiasts will be working into – and in some cases even through – the night to ensure that their floral exhibits are finished in time for judging ahead of Thursday’s Grand Day Parade.

If you haven’t been to a Battle shed on the eve of the big parade before then prepare to be amazed by the sheer dedication and hard work that goes into all of the entries – and not forgetting, of course, the wonderful sense of community spirit that you will witness.

By seeing the floats in the final stages of their building and flowering you will be able to truly appreciate Jersey’s annual carnival even more, as you can witness their transformation from those final hours of building to their participation in the big parades.

After months of hard work – some teams started work on their floats before Christmas – Battle teams would all love nothing more than to see lots of friendly faces and to hear words of encouragement throughout Wednesday afternoon and evening.

And while some of the smaller teams will have stuck their final flower on their float by the early evening, others won’t be seeing their beds at all and will be working throughout the night.

So why not take a walk to your nearest Battle shed to show some support tomorrow?

Or, if you fancy making an evening of it, why not get in the car with your family or friends, a bag of sweets and a map or Sat Nav, and head off on your own, unofficial, pre-Battle tour?

Who knows, you may even catch a glimpse of Miss Battle, Chantelle Mundy, or Mr Battle, TV star Craig Phillips, at one of the venues.

Most of the sheds and marquees have signs on the roads, in case you get lost, so see how many of them you can make it to.

Optimists Club team members work on this year's entry, Eye of the Tiger

  • Battle headquarters at Meadowbank, Rue des Prés Sorsoleil, St Lawrence: The Optimists Club (and juniors); Whiteside Family and Friends (and juniors); Bidan Family and Friends (and juniors); Friends of Galaad; Miss Battle’s float.
  • St Brelade’s Battle shed, Rue Carrée, Mont à la Brune, St Brelade: Parish of St Brelade.
  • Grouville parish shed (at the bottom of Grouville Hill, turn down Rue du Grouville, opposite the parish hall. The shed is on the right): Parish of Grouville (and juniors).
  • Marquee at the RJAHS in Trinity: Parish of St Clement.
  • St Lawrence community centre (next to parish football pitch): Parish of St Lawrence (and juniors).
  • St Peter’s Battle shed, Rue de l’Eglise (at the back of St Peter’s Youth and Community Centre): Parish of St Peter (and juniors).
  • St Saviour’s parish depot, Rue des Prés trading estate: Parish of St Saviour (and juniors).
  • Peacock Farm Trinity, Le Maistre Brothers (Growers) Ltd, La Rue de la Piece Mauger, Trinity: Parish of St Martin.
  • Shed in quarry on Bouley Bay Hill, Trinity: Parish of Trinity (and juniors)
  • St Helier Parks and Gardens, Mont à l’Abbé, St Helier: Parish of St Helier
  • Unit 2, Peacock Farm, St Martin, Parish of St Clement Juniors; Ollivro Family and Friends.
  • Five Roads Farm, Route de Trodez, St Ouen: Adrian and Friends (and juniors)

Pupils at First Tower School recently had a chance to learn all about the hard work that goes into building a Battle float.

Staff at the primary school have allowed members of the Grouville team to get changed into their costumes in the school hall before the parades, and to say thank you the team invited Year 6 pupils from the school council up to their shed on the last day of term.

‘The children came down and experienced first hand what Battle is all about,’ said Collette Labey from the Grouville Battle team.

‘Team members including Sue Coutanche – one of our designers – Lucy Baker and Shona and Sandie Livingston were on hand to show them all of the skills that are required to build a Battle of Flowers float, such as harestailing.

‘They all had a great time and we received really positive feedback from the school.

‘We have to teach the younger generation in order to keep Battle going!’

Angela Crowcroft

Float designer and wife of parish Constable Simon Crowcroft Angela Crowcroft: 'We have people of all ages, from 5 to 94, contributing'

JCG art teacher Angela Crowcroft has put her creative talents to use by designing St Helier’s float for the past five years

When was your first Battle and how were you involved?

Six years ago I was persuaded to help design a St Helier/Funchal-themed float in paper and real flowers for the reformed St Helier Battle of Flowers Association.

The then Deputy Debbie de Sousa was very enthusiastic to see St Helier back in Battle.

Knowing I was an art teacher she asked me to get involved and I have remained involved ever since.

How have you been involved since?

I have designed five floats for our association.

We discuss possible themes as a group, usually choosing a relevant cultural idea.

I choose the colours, paint the background, help the outstanding technical team and try to bring it all together with my artistic eye.

What are you doing this year?

We chose to highlight the 70th anniversary of the last visit of the SS Vega that brought Red Cross parcels to the Island from Lisbon.

These food parcels saved many people’s lives and are iconic memories for older Jersey people.

The float features part of the steamship with smoke, and giant contents on the front, including a rotating tin of dried milk.

On the back there is a victory celebration going on in red, white and blue.

Our music includes popular wartime songs with our dancers in period costumes, borrowed from the JADC, accompanied by vintage car and bicycle. Miss St Helier and Junior Miss St Helier will appear dressed as Red Cross nurses and Mr St Helier will be a member of the ship’s company.

What’s the best float or performance you’ve ever seen in the Battle?

Any floats from St Clement parish are always amazing and of course I have enjoyed all of the St Helier floats.

Why do you love being involved with the Battle?

It is a fantastic event that brings people of all ages together.

I enjoy seeing the creative ideas being brought to fruition.

In our parish group we have had people of all ages from 5 to 94, from nursery to old people’s homes contributing.

We are lucky to get technical advice and help from the Parish depot team, too, and excellent premises in which to work on and store our float.

Last year's St Helier entry Wish You Were Here

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