‘What will the visitors think?’
Saturday 9th May 2009, 2:29PM BST.
CONCERNS have been raised at the demolition of plants and shrubbery at North Plantation.
The site has been cleared of all the plants and bushes, so that work to replant and restructure the area can begin.
Some islanders have said the work has damaged the habitats of birds and other wildlife.
One Guernsey woman, who asked not to be named, said the area would never be the same again.
‘When you walked past there you could always hear the birds singing, but not any more,’ she said. ‘I am absolutely devastated that they have decided to do this. It’s just shocking.’
She said in the past the bushes and shrubs had acted as a barrier to the sound and the fumes from the cars, but while the area was exposed this would not happen.
‘What will the visitors think when they see this?’ she said.
Floral St Peter Port is carrying out work at the site and both the States Treasury and Resources Department, which owns the land, and the Environment Department have been involved with the reconstruction.
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The visitors may well feel the way I did when I passed a few days ago. Why are they cutting down those mature trees? Has Guernsey got so many wooded areas that they can afford to trash what little they have in town?
Many will remember the line from Joni Mitchell’s song:
“Took all the trees, put ‘em in a tree museum/And charged the people a dollar and a half just to see ‘em”.
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Regardless of whether the work will ultimately improve the look of the site they should have given thought to the wildlife nesting at this time of the year. It would seem that they lack in knowledge, expertise or compassion.
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I certainly hope the area looks better when it is finished, at the moment it looks awful and the buildings along that road behind are not very nice, the only person benefitting at the moment is Christies because they now have a wonderful view from their restaurant, in my opinion those buildings were better covered up, if they think people will stop vomiting and urinating in that area because there will be a few seats, think again.
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I must say it always amuses me when I hear
“The States own this land”
Which mean WE the people own all States land;
When will there be a States that will listen to the people?
It should be in future elections that they will listen more to the people.
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but what about the Follies Rabbit? Is he ok? where will he go? Will he be able to survive in his new home without his cheesy chips supplement? We MUST be told!
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You know we are apt to blow our top over things, and many times with good reason.
However let us all just wait and see how it will look.
If it’s nice (and I feel it will be) then please compliments are golden gifts.
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well said, Eric
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A few manky old bushes have been cut down. What’s the big deal? Hardly the green lung of St PP was it?
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Dont worry, the widlife (was it gazelles & wildebeest) have all been rehomed! I think the pigeons and sparrows will be able to move back in when its finished. Can the unnamed woman make herself known. We will have to make do with the wildlife from the night clubs until works are completed.
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OK, so it is sad to see a tree or two cut down, but this is completely over the top!
Firstly Ted, the island may not have many ‘wooded areas’ as in massive expanses of trees, but there are still tress everywhere! Open your eyes.
Also, the birds in the area are more than capable of finding a new tree to sit in. I do feel bad about the rabbit, but he was taking a risk living there.
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Would have been a good winter project nes pas?
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I think the Follies Rabbit is the victim in all this. So im glad i have photos of him (albeit taken while rather ‘merry’). I Hope i see him again.
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Oh well
The very rare monkeys that swing around the trees on a Friday and Saturday night will have to be sick and urinate somwhere else because the police can now see them from the main road.
Cant see what the fuss is about, it looked flippin awful.
I feel for Follies Rabbit though
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I feel sorry for the deluded woman who thinks the burrows are rabbit burrows! The poor rats will have to move home now!
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They are rabbit burrows aren’t they? A rabbit lives there.
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The rats will be out tonight, and there will be a lot more than holes there.
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