Meet Donna.
Events and Marketing Manager at The National Trust for Jersey.
Donna Le Marrec, Events and Marketing Manager at The National Trust for Jersey, is locally born with a real passion for her island. Morel Farm, a fabulous property recently refurbished by the Trust to an impeccable standard, is now available for visitors to let.
For guests planning a short stay at Morel Farm, we asked Donna to share some insider hints and tips to help guests make the most of their National Trust for Jersey experience.
Stay at Morel Farm.
A National Trust for Jersey gem.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the island’s history by staying at Morel Farm, located in the heart of the island’s countryside in the Parish of St Lawrence. This beautiful Grade 2 listed farmstead was gifted to the National Trust for Jersey in 1939 and, following a full restoration in 2023, now offers three luxurious self-catering units. Each one has been beautifully furnished to suit the original character of the property using a variety of period furniture and paintings, many from the collection of the National Trust for Jersey.
All guests staying at Morel Farm enjoy complimentary entry to all the Trust’s accessible sites; including the working water mill, Le Moulin de Quétivel (open May-September) in St Peter’s Valley, the Georgian House Museum at 16 New Street in St. Helier and Hamptonne Country Life Museum in St Lawrence.
The National Trust for Jersey was established in 1936 and safeguards a variety of the island’s historic sites, including cottages, farms, water mills and military buildings. It also manages approximately 2% of Jersey land, which forms an integral part of the island’s natural environment and encompasses a rich variety of habitats, including woodland, farmland, heathland, meadows and wetland.
The Trust organises numerous events and educational activities throughout the year, including Open Days, guided walks and its popular mid-summer Sunset Concerts.
Day 1
Settle in and explore the Jersey War Tunnels.
Once you’ve settled in and had a cup of tea, familiarise yourself with your delightful new neighbourhood with a wander around the grounds. Morel Farm is situated on a ‘Green Lane’, a network of country lanes that criss-cross the island. Covering more than 80 kilometres with a maximum speed limit of 15-mph, these lanes give priority to walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Stroll a few metres along to the top of the lane and the yellow line on La Rue Rouge Cul, turning left into Les Charrieres Malory. At the bottom of this verdant country lane, you’ll reach Jersey War Tunnels (open March-October). This interactive museum tells the true story of life in Jersey during the German Occupation in WWII and a vivid reminder of what the island went through during this war-torn years.
Enjoy a self-guided walk around the headland, stopping off along the way to take a selfie with our giant puffin sculptures with the sea and other Channel Islands as your backdrop on a clear day.
Afterwards, venture down into stunning Plémont Bay where you can explore the caves (make sure to do this as the tide is falling!) and then stop into Plémont Bay Café for a spot of tea and cake or lunch.
Day 2
A day out at Plémont.
Situated on the island’s north-west coast, between the windswept maritime heathlands of Les Landes and the rising cliffs of Sorel Point, Plémont headland is a landscape of considerable importance. The site is also adjacent to the last remaining colony of puffins in the island.
Between 1930 and 2000, Plémont had been the site of a holiday camp, which subsequently closed and fell into disrepair. The Trust campaigned long and hard to return the area back to nature and successfully acquired the land in July 2014. Following the clearance of the buildings, landscaping works were carried out to enhance access to the area, including the creation of two ponds, repair of medieval drystone walls, construction of a benefactor acknowledgement area, planting of 2,000 trees and shrubs, discreet seating areas, installation of bat boxes and a new circular pathway.
Day 3.
Explore the National Trust for Jersey Sites.
Hire bikes from Lakeys Bike Hire and experience a leisurely day of cycling, passing by or exploring many of the National Trust for Jersey’s sites. These include 16 New Street Georgian House Museum, our headquarters at The Elms, Le Moulin de Quétivel and the Foot Buildings in St. Helier (where Locke’s Coffee and Grub is located) And, of course, there’s plenty of opportunities to stop off for refreshments or a picnic along the way.
The Georgian House, Hamptonne and Le Moulin de Quétivel
Hamptonne Country Life Museum, (open year round) is owned by the National Trust for Jersey but managed by Jersey Heritage and a must-see during your stay. Experience the rural Jersey of yesteryear at this traditional 15th-century house and farm. Explore the different farmhouses and meet characters from the past who will tell you about Jersey life through the centuries.
To walk through the front door of 16 New Street (open May-September) is to step back in time and experience life in Regency Jersey. With evocative sounds and smells, you’ll be transported back to a time of elegance when gentlemen smoked clay pipes, ladies drank priceless tea, and the threat of French invasion was always a hot topic of conversation. You might also get the chance to meet the resident cook who is always keen to impart her recipes and tempt you with a taste.
Day 4
Head out to the 'wild west'.
Enjoy a day in the ‘wild west’ of St Ouen. The Wetland Centre (open year round) is perfectly located overlooking La Mare au Seigneur (St Ouen’s Pond) nature reserve and acts as both a state-of-the-art bird hide as well as a wetland interpretation centre. The centre’s 16 viewing windows afford truly incredible views of the reserve and its wildlife. The windows are located at differing heights, offering adults, children and those with mobility issues a unique perspective from which to bird watch without disturbing the resident waders and waterfowl. A green roof covers the whole facility, enabling the centre to blend in with its natural surroundings and provides important habitat for native wildlife.
Enjoy the surrounding area, the coastal path and the breathtaking St. Ouen’s beach along the ‘Five Mile Road’. Look out for Marsh Harriers who can be seen year-round in Jersey. However, the months of October and November provide particularly spectacular viewing opportunities. At this time of the year, all the island’s Marsh Harriers (and possibly some individuals from neighbouring areas) congregate at St Ouen’s Pond in the late afternoon, gliding over the reed bed before settling down to roost at dusk.
Birding Tours Jersey offer a range of escorted birding tours, wildlife and wellness walks throughout the year, discovering local resident species and visiting migrants
