Islanders are being encouraged to visit Val de la Mare reservoir in St Peter to see the first blossom of Japanese cherry trees gifted to Jersey last year.
The sakura trees, which were planted at Val de la Mare Arboretum in November, were donated through the Sakura Project – a scheme launched in 2017 by the UK and Japanese governments to celebrate Anglo-Japanese relations.
So far, more than 7,500 cherry trees have been planted across the UK as part of the initiative.
To mark the start of the blossom season, Jersey Trees for Life held a gathering last week at the arboretum. Twenty volunteers had spent the morning building “dead hedges” – natural barriers made from cut branches that provide a safe habitat for wildlife.
It was the first event of its kind at Val de la Mare, where Jersey Trees for Life looks after the arboretum and surrounding woodland. The site is Jersey’s second largest reservoir and features a 2.8-mile trail with ten collections of rare trees from around the world.
Alex Morel, CEO of Jersey Trees for Life, said: “It’s easy to see why Japanese cherry blossom is iconic.
“Sakura in springtime is an unforgettable sight and it was fantastic to be able to share the moment with so many of our volunteers and team.
“We encourage all tree enthusiasts and nature lovers to visit Val de la Mare at this wonderful time of year.”
She added: “We’re grateful to our Japanese friends for their generosity and looking forward to seeing the sakura blossom time and time again.”
More information about the Sakura Project is available at online.
GALLERY…
