THE Chateau des Marais could soon get a facelift. Friends of Guernsey Heritage are planning to tidy up the site in co-operation with the States and the two nearby housing communities.

The organisation wants to establish a nature trail through adjacent water meadows to provide a pastoral retreat.

‘It’s still early days, but this would be an extremely important development,’ said Peter Neville, chairman of the Friends of Guernsey Heritage.

‘Some of the local residents currently use the site. They respect it, so they would have to be involved and talked to about what they wanted for it.’

A report prepared about the chateau for La Societe Guernesiaise in 2004 said the area had already been designated as a site of nature conservation importance.

Mr Neville said there were some important wetland habitats at the chateau that Guernsey could not afford to lose.

If the charity’s plans a success, it would like to be involved in the management of the area.

‘We want to help preserve the wet meadow as it contains some very interesting plants and insects. These may be lost to Guernsey if the site is not looked after.

‘One way we can make the area accessible to the public, without destroying the habitat, is to create a nature trail through it.’

The charity does not see any obstacles in making their plans a reality, with negotiations going well at present.

Mr Neville does not believe the funding required would be too high, either.

‘We would hope there wasn’t too much funding needed for it, but I’m sure that, as Friends of Guernsey Heritage, we could help raise funds because we think it’s a very worthwhile project. It’s a special site.’