Guernsey based off-shore law firm Appleby has been working with The Lihou Charity Trust for the last two years to create and install an interactive Museum and Education Centre.
Based within Lihou House, the new museum tells the fascinating story of the islet from 10,000 years ago up to modern times.
Those attending tomorrow’s Duck Race organised by the Friends of Lihou, will be among the first to see it.
The project has been an initiative of the Appleby Corporate Social Responsibility team, who have financially supported the project and also provided hands-on support.
The museum was officially opened by this Bailiff at a launch event earlier this month.
Appleby Project manager Stuart Harrison who supported with the physical build and helped with painting and decorating the museum rooms said he’s really pleased with how it has turned out.
“One of the key criteria that drives our CSR decisions is to support local charities and where-ever feasible to partner with local businesses,” he said.
“Once the warden, Steve started to regale us about the rich and varied history of Lihou Island the concept of a museum to tell the story of Lihou was born! The island’s history is extraordinary. For a small tidal peninsula on the edge of the Atlantic, it has a rich and vast history spanning many important dates in the history of mankind. We have also managed to curate a small collection of artefacts.”
The Museum which officially opened on Thursday, has also launched an online resource in relation to the museum highlighting the island’s natural habitat and wildlife.
A key part of the work the Lihou charity’s work is to offer opportunities for residential educational visits to every school child across the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Richard Sheldon, Managing Partner of Appleby Guernsey said: “This has been a tremendous project for the wider Appleby team to be involved with. Those who preferred to write could help collate the material, those who wanted to do something practical could help with the more manual aspects of painting and decorating and those who were project managing the development were completely hands on at every stage of the build. We are proud to have been involved in delivering a museum and education centre for the Lihou Trust which will be visited and enjoyed by Guernsey school children for years to come.”
Almost every primary school across the Bailiwick sends students to stay over night in Lihou, with this trip being the first time many of them have stayed away from home overnight.
Lihou House Warden, Steve Sarre said the visuals and information within the museum space will benefit these experiences for years to come.
“We have already seen a big impact. We have had our first school group over already and as soon as they walked into the house, they were instantly interacting with the new Lihou Island museum and education centre. Listening to the stories, pressing buttons and looking at all of the fantastic artwork and artefacts around the rooms. I have also been using our new website with the students showing them about lighthouses and the types of sea life that live on our foreshores around Lihou before we go out looking for them, which is done using the interactive ViewSonic TV screen we now have and this has had all the children fully engaged, informed and ready to use the knowledge gained when we go exploring around Lihou.”
There will be an opportunity for everyone to visit the Museum on Sunday 13 April from 12:30 to 15:00 when the Friends of Lihou host the annual Lihou Duck Race.
For more information visit: Lihou Duck Race 2025 | Facebook