Open Gardens
Throughout the year visitors will have the opportunity to get behind the gates of some of the very best private gardens in Jersey, rarely accessible to the public. All proceeds raised are donated to charity.
Confirmed Open Gardens for 2009 include:
April 2009
‘Westward’, La Marquanderie, St Brelade’s Bay, St Brelade
The garden at ‘Westward’ has large sloping borders immediately in front of the house, which are almost entirely Mediterranean with sun-loving plants, which tolerate a dry, sandy soil. A stream sweeps gently through the lower part of the garden supplying a small pond. There are curved mixed borders with massed planting of hostas, hellebores, euphorbias and Cornus stolonifera. Beds with potentillas, astilbes, day lilies, agapanthus, salvias and Eupatorium purpureum give interest throughout the year. Massed planting of camellias serve as a backdrop to the summer flowering plants, including roses and hydrangeas. With a strong emphasis on organic gardening, wildlife is prolific.
‘Westward’ will be open on the afternoon of Sunday 5th April between 14:00 – 17:00hrs, with all proceeds donated to Jersey Association for Youth and Friendship. Admission: £3.00.
‘Domaine des Vaux’, La Rue de Bas, St Lawrence
Extended and developed by the present owner Marcus Binney CBE and his wife Anne, there are now some 20 vergees of gardens and woodland. The main tiered garden beyond the terrace has a fountain with a boy on a dolphin and is planted with silver plants facing golf. The valley contains native and specie trees including Magnolias, Cercis, Parrotia persica, Eucalyptus and Cornus Kousa.
’Domaine des Vaux’ will be open on the afternoon of Sunday 19th April between 14:00 - 17:00 hrs with all proceeds donated to JAYF (Jersey Association of Youth & Friendship). Admission: £3.00.
oon of Sunday 2nd August between 14:00-17:00 hrs with all proceeds donated to JAYF (Jersey Association of Youth & Friendship). Admission: £3.00.
May 2009
‘Le Clos du Chemin’, Les Grupieaux, St Peter
This medium sized garden is situated on a windswept hillside overlooking St Aubin’s Bay. The present owner inherited a neglected garden in 1990 and together with her late husband set about re-designing and planting. There are approximately 20 different Magnolia trees, including two yellow ones and a mixture of both mature and young magnolias. A Beehive is situated in the middle of a small ‘wild’ patch where daffodils, bluebells and various wild flowers bloom in succession. The formal Italian Garden is designed for minimum upkeep. The owner has also made a small memorial garden in memory of her late husband and step daughter.
‘Le Clos du Chemin’ is open on the afternoon of Sunday 3rd May between 14:00 – 17:00 hrs with all proceeds donated to Jersey Association of Youth and Friendship. Admission: £3.00.
‘Little Court’, Le Mont Cambrai, St Lawrence
This is the first time the gardens of Little Court have been opened for JAYF . The house is situated on high ground 300ft above sea level and commands beautiful views over St Aubin's bay. The 5 acres of garden include terraced lawns , a rose garden , herbaceous borders , a large walled in fruit and vegetable garden and woodland.
‘Little Court’ is open on the afternoon of Sunday 31st May between 14:00 – 17:00 hrs with all proceeds donated to Jersey Association of Youth and Friendship. Admission: £3.00.
June 2009
‘Lande A Geon’, Le Vieux Beaumont, St Peter
Facing south, the garden at ‘Lande A Geon’ has been landscaped with a series of Terraces and overlooks the magnificent St Aubin’s Bay. There are many fine mature trees to admire including oaks, firs, acacias, a cercis siliquestrum (Judas tree) as well as a cornus macrophylla. In addition, there are also a large number of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas. The most recently developed area has a Mediterranean theme and contains a dry garden and bananas, gingers and a collection of assorted bamboos.
‘Lande a Geon’ is open on the afternoon of Sunday 14th June between 14:00 – 17:00hrs, with all proceeds donated to Jersey Association of Youth and Friendship. Admission: £3.00.
July 2009
‘Old Signal Point’, La Moye, St. Brelade
A stunning garden with spectacular views over the coast and some very unusual plants and trees have been planted in this fabulous garden, which has been totally redesigned in recent years. Open by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. Geoff Hamilton.
‘Old Signal Point’ is open on the afternoon of Sunday 19th July between 14:00 – 17:00 hrs, with all proceeds donated to Jersey Trees for Life. Admission: £3.00.
‘Gracelands’ , La Rue de la Croiserie, Trinity
Gracelands is new to the Open Gardens programme and a description of the garden will be provided shortly.
‘Gracelands’ is open on the afternoon of Sunday 26th July between 14:00 – 17:00 hrs, with all proceeds donated to Jersey Association of Youth and Friendship. Admission: £3.00.
August 2009
‘Les Vaux’, La Vallee de Rozel, St Martin
This stunning informal garden, planted for year round colour and effect is set in the steep sided valley in Rozel and has been continually developed over the last 40 years by its owner, Lady Guthrie. It boasts a water garden, a fine collection of specimen trees, a wildlife garden nestling in the land at the head of the valley, several slate sculptures by the renowned Yorkshireman Joe Smith and wire sculptures of animals by Rupert Till.
‘Les Vaux’ is open on the afternoon of Sunday 2nd August between 14:00-17:00 hrs with all proceeds donated to JAYF (Jersey Association of Youth & Friendship). Admission: £3.00.
‘St John’s Manor’, La Neuf Chemin, St John
This imposing Manor with its own consecrated chapel stands in 10 acres of carefully tended gardens, 40 acres of farmland and surrounding woodlands. Mr Dick, the present owner, has carried out extensive landscaping to best show the main features; the lake, the Japanese garden, stream and walkways. Mr Dick has an impressive collection of vintage cars which are usually on view.
'St John’s Manor’ is open on the afternoon of Sunday 16th August between 14:00-17:00hrs, with all proceeds donated to JAYF (Jersey Association of Youth & Friendship). Admission: £3.00
Gardens Open regularly to the public:
- Eric Young Orchid Foundation
- Jersey Lavender Farm
- Judith Quérée's Garden
- Reg's Garden
- Shell Garden
- Samarès Manor
Howard Davis Park, St Helier and Coronation (Millbrook) Park, on the western edge of St Helier in the middle of St Aubin's Bay are two public parks well worth a visit for any garden lover.
