The official opening by St Clement Deputy and Treasury Minister Susie Pinel will take place on World Wetlands Day on Saturday, 2 February to highlight the Tower’s spectacularlocation; it overlooks the South East Coast of Jersey RAMSAR site, which forms one of the largest intertidal reef sites in Europe and was designated as a Wetland of International Importance nearly two decades ago.

The fortified Jersey Round Tower is owned by the Parish of St Clement and leased to Jersey Heritage. It will house a series of pop-up banners, created by Jersey Heritage, which will tell the story of Le Hocq and the defence of the Island. There will also be information about the geology of the area, the prehistoric landscape, RAMSAR site and wetlands birds.

The Tower will be open to the public between 10am-4pm on 2 February, and then again the following day, before opening on selected dates over the summer season. Guides from the Jersey Tourist Guides Association (JTGA) will staff the Tower whenever it is open and be on hand to answer questions. Capt Brian Nibbs, from JTGA, said: “We opened Le Hocq Tower last February and were delighted when several hundred people came to take a look inside and find out more about its history and the surrounding area. This interest and support from the public has encouraged us to work with Jersey Heritage to open up the Tower on a regular basis.”

Lucy Layton, Jersey Heritage’s Outreach Curator, added: “Le Hocq Tower is an excellentexample of Jersey’s unique form of coastal defence tower and it stands in a beautiful anddiverse landscape. It is no surprise that Islanders and visitors alike are fascinated by the opportunity to see inside the Tower and we are delighted to be working with the Jersey Tourist Guides Association to offer regular open days throughout the season.”

World Wetlands Day will also be marked with a pop-up RAMSAR exhibition in St Clement Parish Hall on Saturday, 2 February between 10am-3pm. It has been organised by Société Jersiaise Marine Biology Section, Jersey Marine Conservation and RAMSAR Management Authority (RMA) and will include displays, talks and an interactive ‘touch tank’.