Shaun Gell, Jersey Honey: Five things I would change about Jersey

Friday 02 November 2018

He's a hairdressing salon owner and a honey shampoo maker... and he's got a good few suggestions on what to snip to add a little extra sweetness to an already buzzing island.

According to Shaun Gell, the man behind Gelaires and Jersey Honey, "we are only limited by our imagination."

But what does Shaun think the island might look like if we weren't? He had many ideas about how he'd like to see things improve, but managed to boil them down to just five to share with Express...

1. Modernise Battle and make it bloomin' marvellous

When it comes to the height of our summer, there is nothing better than celebrating it with the Battle of Flowers. While I stand and enjoy the parade and all the hard work that has gone into each of the floats, I can’t help but wish the event was brought up to date. The floats will always be the main focus, but I would start the occasion a week before with the build up of buskers in the town during which magicians and performers would grace our squares, and as the week progressed bringing the excitement and anticipation up to fever pitch.

Pictured: Floats are fab, Shaun says, but why not stir up Battle fever with events and buskers around and about the week before?

Add to the event local bands who work so hard and would love the opportunity to show case their work, add the champagne and beer tents and local produce for the tourists to sample and you have a great mix to showcase Jersey. To support all local businesses taking part, I would make it as cheap as possible for them. During this week, there would be special events to do with flowers, perhaps a celebrity to showcase this side like a version of Chelsea flower show. Our Island is so beautiful, so let’s show it off in bloom and get retailers to help take part with creative window displays using flowers at cost price.

2. Stop speed bumps giving islanders the hump

Somebody please tell me why we need so many! Did they look at the amount of 4x4s and thought, 'We need to put them to use?' Did they get a buy-one-get-one-free deal on speed limit signs? Don’t get me wrong, I am a strong believer in safety first but this has given me the hump.

Pictured: 'Dump the hump!' Shaun says. (LepoRello/Wiki)

There are other ways of reducing speed without making us car sick on a short journey. Lets get creative with chicanes, build in granite boxes the width of one lane so they can support trees and in turn wild life, create extra parking spaces, which help the public in the area but will in turn slow the traffic down. Dump the hump, get creative for the native!

3. A well Fort-out plan for an old gem

Do you remember the good old days when your parents said, 'Let's go to Fort Regent?' It was a full day out with so much to do.

Well, skip to today and take a walk around and you will probably be as frustrated as myself and indeed the staff that work there. Not sure who is running the show, but they need to take a look around. My question is, when was the last time the heads of departments went up and looked at the state of the place? If they did, they would close part of it to the tourists, as this does nothing for our image.

Pictured: A manager like Centre Parcs could be the solution to Fort Regent's woes, according to Shaun.

Speaking with the staff, you hear in their voices the disillusion and they too remember the good old days. Yes, they put a lot of events on and provide a good service, but with so much of it dilapidated is it time to call in someone like Centre Parcs to provide the knowledge and experience to get this incredible location back on the map. This in turn would support our tourism.

4. Our environment, our home

Mankind has for the most part of its existence cut a path out of the wilderness and replaced huts for concrete and we should, and have, celebrated our success at being the master of this planet. But - and there is a very big 'but' - we now know we can not live without the environment and that our ego needs to take a step back and realise that our future depends on how successful our environment is.

Pictured: "Our future depends on how successful our environment is."

I appreciate we want the island to look nice for the tourists and parishioners alike, but I would ask all parishes to work closely with our botanists, take advice from Trees for Life, Bird Conservation, the Bat Group and the beekeepers to find out how they can support the environment we live in. At the beginning of the year, the group would provide a list of the plants that would help support their goal, and this would be cross-referenced with all departments. With the shortlist, a plan would be agreed on where and how best to implement this strategy. If you take a look at Amsterdam, they have increased their bee population by 45% by planting the right flowers.

5. A roast rethink?

There’s nothing better than taking a walk through the fallen leaves first thing on crisp Autumn morning, especially knowing that a roast is being prepared with all the delicious smells emanating from the kitchen... But are we in need of a change?

Recently, I have seen several videos showing the cruelty to the animals going to the abattoirs abroad - images which can leave you stunned. I don’t want to buy into that, but to become vegetarian may be a step too far for me. With that in mind, I have now reduced the amount of meat we eat during the week and now talk to local businesses who supply our meat and talk about the welfare of the animal.

Pictured: For carnivores who can't go totally meat-free, Shaun suggests being more conscious of shop-bought meat's ethical credentials.

So perhaps my last change would be to ask everyone to question where their food comes from and how it is treated, as I could not distinguish one supermarket from another. Consider paying a bit more to our local farmers as they take great care over their stock and, unlike supermarkets, if you have a question you can easily pick up the phone and speak directly to the main man himself and know the food you put on the table for your family is of the highest standard in every way.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and not Bailiwick Express.