Mike Stentiford has been lobbying for formal protection and financial support for the coastline since he led the A Line in the Sand demonstration in St Ouen’s Bay in 2009.
And after £100,000 to do this was allocated in the Government Plan, Mr Stentiford had additional reason to celebrate over the Christmas holiday.
He said: ‘It has been an exhausting and, at times, very difficult process by myself and the park’s chairman, Jim Hopley, but we have just kept on with it. Our National Park may be small compared to others around the world but we should all be proud of it.
‘Jersey’s landscape and seascape are assets that we should cherish and be proud of and this will help to put the environment at the top of the political agenda.
‘It is important that we look after the environment as we have lost so much biodiversity in the world and here in Jersey.’
The concept of a coastal National Park received formal endorsement in the 2011 Island Plan and the area was rebranded as the Jersey National Park in 2016.
However, it has since suffered from a lack of significant financial and human resources as Mr Stentiford and Mr Hopley were left to soldier on largely by themselves and in a voluntary capacity, assisted by conservation organisations and States countryside rangers.
The money will be spread over the four-year life of the Government Plan with annual payments of £25,000 subject to the achievement of aims set out in a business plan.
Mr Stentiford says the search is under way to find people with the right environmental, conservation and heritage credentials to form a board to manage the Jersey National Park.
He also hopes that private donations and corporate support will result from the government’s investment in the environment.
A part-time park officer, Jerry Neil, has been appointed and a six-year lease on the States-owned Frances Le Sueur Centre in St Ouen’s Bay will deliver an interpretation hub for the park from the spring.
Mr Neil, who comes from a finance background, says he is keen to start raising awareness of the Jersey National Park to residents and visitors.
He said: ‘The park provides great economic opportunities to attract visitors to the Island. We want people to enjoy the natural and historic environment within the park’s coastal boundaries, to learn more about it, the habitats and the biodiversity.’
Senator Lyndon Farnham has suggested that the park – which covers 16 % of the coastline – should be expanded to include the waters around the Island but Mr Stentiford declined to comment on this.
