Helen Litchfield has designed the North Plantation for Floral Guernsey.

THE designer behind the North Plantation regeneration plan has asked critics to be patient and see how beautiful it will be.

Helen Litchfield, who was commissioned by the St Peter Port Floral Committee, has revealed details of her proposals to address concerns.

‘Wait and see. The planting will be completed on 2 June and we would welcome comments then as it will look marvellous,’ she said.

‘I can understand why people have been concerned, it is a very public area, but it will be very green and beautiful and natural.’

The initial criticisms were due to the removal of some shrubs and trees, she said. ‘But we have hardly removed any trees, just two hollies that were in a very poor state and were badly pruned, and various shrubs.

‘We left the lovely turkey oak and the beautiful horse chestnut and the bank of mature hollies will also stay – and it wasn’t quite nesting season when this was done. We didn’t find any nests.

‘The shrubs removed were mainly small and we will be replacing them with an awful lot more. They will be wildlife-friendly with a lot of berried shrubs and plants that will be great for butterflies and birds.’

She said the area would look very much as it did in the Victorian era, with a modern and somewhat sub-tropical twist.