Head gardener Brett Moore’s visit to South Africa has helped inspire Herm’s Floral Guernsey efforts. (0220056)
THE Herm gardeners are working hard this summer to prepare for Floral Guernsey.
The main project is the Woodland Walk.
A three-year project, the walk was begun at the beginning of this year and the first part is now open to visitors.
Starting at the top of the Drive, it runs adjacent to the main path but winds gently through the woods.
‘The walk will end in Valley Panto, which will eventually be an open area with borders and hard landscaping,’ said gardener James Cordingly.
‘We will be using granite boulders and the island’s other natural resources.’
The first phase still has work to be done on it but it is possible to walk along it now and enjoy the shady pathway through the trees and flowers.
There is already a living seat made out of willow. Several islanders attended a willow weaving course in Guernsey earlier in the spring, and the seat was inspired by that.’
Another influence is obviously head gardener Brett Moore’s visit to South Africa last year and the garden tours he attended there, combined with Herm’s warm climate, in which tropical plants flourish.
‘There is still a lot of work to do,’ said James. ‘We still have to put in fencing and plants. The majority of the plants will be South African, with some Australian as well.’
With the Floral Guernsey judges visiting in less than a month, followed by the royal visit, we all want the island to be looking its best this summer.
A plant sales area at the potting shed is open to visitors who want to take a little bit of Herm home with them.
It is generally open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays between 2 and 5.
Brett is conducting his popular garden tours every Tuesday, starting at 11am and turnout has been very good this year. All bookings for the tours are through the White House Hotel.
Article posted on 12th June, 2009 - 10.00am
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