Jersey - Countryside

Jersey is an island that cover about forty five square miles. The landscape and countryside in particular has managed to remain unchanged due to Island's planning laws. The countryside itself is a huge attraction for ferry passengers. The Jersey Island plan itself covers the following development strategies:

In the green zones there is no development at all

Sensitive Landscape Areas - Strong presumption against development with occasional exceptions to agricultural development

Agriculture Priority Zone - only Agricultural development permitted

The rural environment consists largely of open fields, woodland, cliffs and headland, small country lanes, trees and hedgerows.

Most of the fields are small, bordered by granite walls or hedgerows and accessed from small country lanes. Cotils (steep south facing slopes) are also used extensively for farming of the Jersey Royal potato and other crops.

There are 450 miles (720 kms) of road in Jersey, most of which are quiet country lanes with little traffic (St Helier and the main arterial roads are busy). These roads are ideal for walking, cycling and horse riding.

Jersey also has a network of over 40 miles (64 kms) of ‘Green Lanes’. These quiet, country lanes have a speed limit of 15 mph (24 kph) and give priority to walkers, cyclists and horse riders. ‘Green Lanes’ exist in all but three parishes and it is anticipated that the network will be extended to all 12 parishes over the next few years to provide a linked island-wide network.

There is also a cycling network which includes coastal and rural cycle routes together with an Airport cycle route. The network consists of 96 miles (154 kms) of on-road routes and an off-road track running all the way along the south coast to Corbière.

Cycles are available for hire from many of the Island’s cycle hire firms and cycle Tour guides.

Jersey can boast a host of wildlife, including rare species not seen in any other part of Britain:


Woodland
Bluebell, primrose, stitchwort and wild daffodils can be found in spring and many species of birds such as chiffchaff, blackcap, willow warbler, goldcrest and spotted flycatcher can all be seen in summer.

Hedgerows
In spring the hedgerows abound with daffodil, stitchwort, three corned leek and alkanet while in summer the hawthorn, sorrel, campion and hogweed burst into bloom. The only resident owl is the barn owl but most common species of birds can be seen throughout the Jersey year. Among the less familiar species, however, are the short-toed-treecreeper, Cetti’s Warbler, the Dartford Warbler, cirl bunting and serin. Red squirrels still live in Jersey and, unlike the rest of the UK Mainland; their numbers have not suffered as the Grey squirrel may not be imported.

Dunes
Dwarf pansy, shepherd’s cress, early purple orchid and loose flowered orchid can all be found. In the summer months, the Dunes come alive with common centaury, evening primrose and sand crocus.

Cliffs/Headlands
Wild daffodil, thrift, horse-shoe vetch and sea campion can be found in February to April. In the summer months, Foxglove, birds foot trefoil, tormentil, autumn squill, wild golden rod and sand crocus can also be seen in abundance. In autumn this changes once again to betony, bell heather and saw wort. In the winter, yellow gorse can be seen.
Various species of birds choose the cliffs and headlands as their home, these include the puffin, razorbill, fulmar, petrel and common tern in the summer and redstart, yellow wagtail, hoopoe and wheatear in the autumn.

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Open field/inland habitats
Wheatear, sand martin, pied flycatcher, redstart and yellow wagtail can be found in spring. In the summer, swallows, swifts, cuckoos, linnets and whitethroats abound.
Guided nature walks take place from May to September each year with a qualified guide who works as the Information Officer at the Environmental Services Unit.

The Amendment of the Island Planning Law in 1983 to allow the designation of sites of particular high ecological value as Sites of Special Interest (SSI) has now borne fruit as the first three sites, Les Quennevais Dunes, Les Landes and Le Lande du Ouest (Gorselands) have been approved.

There are several reservoirs within the Island which can be walked around. These include Queen’s Valley and Val de la Mare. Other reservoirs include Millbrook, Grands Vaux, Handois, Mourier Valley and Dannemarche.

There are several headlands which can be visited for walks or viewing areas. These include Portelet, Noirmont, Beauport, La Corbiére, Les Landes, Plemont, La Col de la Rocque, Sorel, Ronez, Fremont, Belle Hougue, Vicard Point, Jardin D’Olivet, L’Etacquerel, Tour de Rozel, La Coupe and Verclut.

National Trust properties in the countryside include:-

Hamptonne - Jersey’s countrylife museum can be found in the Parish of St Lawrence. Hamptonne consists of a collection of historic houses and dwellings which have been restored to their former glory

· Morel Farm

· La Pierre de Baissières

· Le Rât Cottage

· Le Moulin de Quétivel

· Dolmen du Mont Grantez

· La Fontaine de St Martin


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