It’s a year since the demolition of the former holiday camp began and Plémont Headland has transformed from a dilapidated eyesore to a green open space. The next stage of the site’s transformation is to sow heather seed across the site in the hope that it will establish and develop as part of a maritime heathland habitat. The National Trust for Jersey’s Lands Team will be working alongside the States Environment and Transport and Technical Services departments to cut areas of Heath at Les Landes and collect the arisings to spread across the former Pontins site with the help of year 4 and 5 from Les Landes School. As well as Common and Bell Heather the Trust hope that seed and cuttings from other heathland plant species such as western gorse and broom will be picked and also spread across the site. National Trust Lands Manager Jon Parkes commented:
“Dwarf shrub heath and maritime grasslands are two of Jersey’s most diverse habitats and such an iconic part of our north coast. Our aim is to help facilitate this restoration process by giving nature a bit of a helping hand. Heather isn’t easy to grow and requires quite specific conditions such as acidic, free draining shallow soil and low nutrient levels. It may take a number of years for these conditions to be suitable, but getting a seed bank of desirable plants into the soil is a good start.”
The Trusts Education Officer Jo Stansfield commented:
“We are delighted that children from Les Landes Primary School will be joining us in our continuing mission to restore Plémont to its natural beauty. We hope that the children and their families will enjoy the area for many years to come”
The seedbed preparation and sowing with Les Landes School will take place on Friday 18th September from 1pm till 2.30 pm at Plémont Headland (next to car park).
The Trust Rangers will also be taking groups from the school around the site to explain what has happed to the site since it was acquired by the Trust in July last year and the future hopes for the site.
For further information regarding this press release please call Conservation Officer Jon Rault on Tel 483193 or email jonrault@nationaltrust.je or Lands Manager Jon Parkes; jonparkes@nationaltrust.je
learn more about the national trust at www.nationaltrust.je
