Big plans for "Durrell-style" zoo for plants in Jersey

Friday 08 May 2015

A local horticulturist is sowing the seeds to set up a “Durrell” for plants in Jersey and plans to rescue endangered species from other islands around the world.

Bruce Labey wants to create the Botanic Gardens of Jersey – a new multi-million pound world-class attraction for the Island.

Mr Labey who trained at Kew Gardens said the Island is the perfect place to grow plants and has launched the Jersey Green Ark Campaign to help get his plans off the ground.

He said: “The beauty of Jersey is that even the tiniest spot can do something for plant conservation because of our soil, our climate, our rainfall. Pretty much everything we can grow outdoors.

"We’ll be focusing on Island plants species from the Mediterranean, putting us right at the forefront of conservation.  We’ll move them north, in these days of climate change, to set up sanctuaries – echoing Durrell’s work with animals, we’ll do the same with plants.

"It's something that the tourism industry would really benefit from too."

His plan is to open one main attraction – “a honeypot of a garden” that will be open all year round and establish a network of satellite gardens all over the Island that will be open to the public at different times of the year.

Mr Labey hopes to secure the perfect site soon. He said: "We have found the perfect site for our first garden, nestled in a beautiful south facing corner, sheltered from the wind and overlooking a stunning bay.  This is a truly glorious location and the park, when completed will hold a world heritage plant collection."

He now needs local support to help him reach his first goal and raise £25,000 to get the ball rolling, draw up plans and secure a lease on the park.

Kew Gardens will make sure he's got plenty to make the new garden grow - it's refurbishing its temperate house in 2018 and has offered to give the Island all its spare plants.

In the meantime Mr Labey will be growing and selling a variety of different plants every Sunday morning at Holme-Growne in Grouville to raise more for his big project.

You can find out more about his plans here.