Trees receive expert care after sale of land to the National Trust for Jersey

Trees receive expert care after sale of land to the National Trust for Jersey

The National Trust for Jersey called in tree contractors after the sale of three States-owned prime potato-growing fields overlooking St Catherine’s Bay finally went through in April – nine months after Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis accepted an offer of £112,200 funded by a wealthy Islander.

The fields on both sides of Route Le Brun, known as Pine Walk, came with 59 trees of varying species and sizes, of which 43 need attention – but not all at the same time.

Maintenance of the trees – which are thought to be a century old – was a requirement of the purchase and the trust was keen to start work before birds began to nest and wildlife started breeding to minimise the disruption to nature.

Picture:DAVID FERGUSON. (24568157)

Trust lands manager Jonny Parkes said: ‘There was a lot of dead wood in the pine trees which posed a risk to those travelling along the road so the tree contractors have been removing it.

‘We have found a couple of poplar trees with fungal infections which we are surveying to see if they will have to come down at a later date outside the nesting season.’

The sale was delayed over a dispute about who was responsible for road drains. Although the parish of St Martin has offered to take them on, that decision has yet to be ratified by a parish assembly.

Trust chief executive Charles Alluto says they couldn’t delay any longer as that risked the fields being left fallow this year but they hope to resolve the matter successfully with the parish.

Once the work is complete Jersey Hemp will take over the land which is going to be cultivated using organic farming principles. If this trial of the Island’s new wonder crop proves beneficial, trust chief executive Charles Alluto says it could be grown at other farmland sites owned by the charity.

‘Potatoes have been grown in the fields for a very long time and we feel it would be a good opportunity to rest the land and introduce crop rotation,’ he said.

‘It gives us an opportunity to explore the potential of a new crop while also supporting a new agricultural business and further diversification in the agricultural industry that will be help to improve the health of the soil.’

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