NO description of Weighbridge Place in the run-up to Monday’s royal visit could do justice to the frenzied preparations to transform a sometimes vacant space into a thronging celebration of things that make Jersey special.
Dodging lorries, forklift trucks and an electrician’s van is Farm Jersey’s John Garton, who conceived the idea for what has been called the Jersey Expo, although that word also falls short of conveying just what will be going on when the King and Queen arrive.
Much better is Mr Garton’s own enthusiasm.
“Sometimes you forget that the Jersey cow is the best milking cow in the world; the Jersey Royal next to it is the highest-priced potato in Britain; and then opposite there are the oysters which, because of the Island’s tidal range, provide a fantastic story; and then we have our accreditation from the Marine Stewardship Council. In Jersey, we really do punch above our weight, and we want to show that off to the King and Queen, and make the Island proud,” he said.
The space will be divided into two, with the area closest to Route de la Libération – managed by the government’s climate change manager Jane Burns – devoted to the environment, climate change and the community, and the other half run by Mr Garton himself to showcase the Island’s agriculture and fisheries.
Photographs will act as a backdrop but Mr Garton explained that the challenge would be to make this “a truly three-dimensional experience”. To prove it, an area complete with water troughs and canopy is being constructed for the seven Jersey heifers that will be presented to the King by the Island’s dairy farmers.
Meanwhile, to showcase the Jersey Royal Potato, the expo does not rely on the odd bag of spuds here and there; instead, a section of côtil has been constructed with a wooden frame that will contain eight furrows to be dug, allowing their Majesties to appreciate the growth of the Royal at different stages of its development; and how better to illustrate the work of the Jersey Beekeepers’ Association than ask them to bring a colony of bees along.
Things are no less interactive when it comes to fishing. Spaces are set aside for a small fishing boat and for a tank to sustain the latest catch, with lobster pots at the ready to illustrate how their design helps ensure the sustainability of stocks by trapping only those that are mature. Meanwhile, there will be displays of pottery made from clay taken from the Royal Bay of Grouville and a range of Genuine Jersey products.
Across a pathway, in the area run by Ms Burns, the emphasis is on environmental issues and the Island’s pathway to net-zero carbon emissions.
She explained: “We know the King is a very enthusiastic environmentalist, so what we are trying to show in our area are Jersey’s habitats, and why they are special and worth protecting but also that we are different and we do things differently.
“We are going to take him on a tour of how Jersey is responding to the climate emergency, starting with some general background to when we declared a climate emergency and what we are going to do about it.”
To illustrate that theme, Jersey Electricity will explain the Island’s low-carbon energy supply and, assisted by Digital Jersey, illustrate what a future windfarm might look like, while some of the Island’s latest emergency service electric vehicles will be on show.
Move More Jersey will present their cycle without limits project that promotes cycling to all sections of the community, while Acorn will be showcasing their bike maintenance project. Among the activities exploring sustainability, Jersey Trees for Life will arrange a demonstration of potting as part of an initiative to encourage Islanders to “foster a sapling”.
Steve Cartwright, chief officer in the Bailiff’s Chambers, was no less excited by preparations at Weighbridge Place. “Understandably it’s a short visit, so rather than going all over the Island, it seemed logical not only to bring their Majesties to St Helier but to bring the Island to St Helier. We’ve got gun salutes to welcome them, the activities in the Royal Square and this fantastic expo that’s taking place along with the tea party with 340 people there.
“I think it’s going to show Jersey in its best light, and I hope that when they leave they’ll see how supportive of them the Island is, and they’ll know that in their wake there is this fantastic event going on for the public,” he said.
But perhaps the last word should rest with Mr Garton, given the special constraints that apply to a royal visit.
“Three weeks and two days ago I told everyone what I’d conceived, and they went for it and said ‘how long have we got?’. I said: ‘Three weeks, guys’. Their enthusiasm has been absolutely fantastic.”
The expo will be open to the public on Monday following the departure of the King and Queen until 6pm, and again on Tuesday from 10am until 4pm.
