3 minute read
The wildflower hub
A native Jersey wildflower hub has been created at Samarès Manor. By its managing director, Caryl Kemp
Could Samarès Manor offer space in a field to sow native Jersey wildflower seed?
Advertisement
This was the enquiry from the Environment Department in late autumn 2019. They also wanted to know if we could harvest the seed from the crop in the autumn, as this could then be sold on to local landowners. I was delighted by this enquiry, as there is presently nowhere in Jersey where seed can be purchased in reasonable quantities. There has been a general concern that UK seed mixes could potentially contain varieties of plants that might then become non-indigenous invasive species.
My own history was that I was a head propagator for at least a decade in the1990s, collecting from stock beds of vegetative material and from seed beds.
So it seemed obvious to me that if individual varieties of wildflowers were sown in a single bed and the bed was weeded to only allow the emergence of that single variety, the person harvesting seed from a labelled bed could be 100% certain that what they were harvesting was specific.
I also felt that this would be a good way of educating the public as they wandered around pathways across the lawns, to learn about the individual species.
‘Team Samarès’ are very tight knit and multi-talented, so we all put our heads together to design the layout of the newly named ‘The Jersey Wildflower Hub’.
“Team Samarès’
The Manor’s owners, Vincent and Gillie Obbard, offered half of their grazing field and the Environment Department agreed to the change of use. To date I am delighted to report that, despite some setbacks with the deliveries of the wood for the Hub structure itself, we were ready to go in early spring with the sowing of the 45 different wildflower species, collected and provided so far by the Botany section of the Société Jersiaise.
In 2020 we came across Yolanda Mitchell, a young Jersey- born botanical illustrator, who is designing all the signage for the Hub and beds. We chose Yolanda for her simplistic, yet stunning illustrations as we were very keen to allow the wildflowers themselves to ‘sing’. All the signs will have both the Latin and common names.
Sixteen of the most valued species are highlighted on signage attached to the Hub, with details such as benefits to pollinators and their medicinal uses.
To date we have three volunteers offering their time from the Société Jersiaise. We feel it is vital to have consistent individuals working on this project, who have a passion and commitment alongside our own home team. Of course, anyone who would like to join the team, please do get in touch!
We began sowing the seeds in March and they are coming along very nicely indeed, the more prevalent varieties will be broadcasted directly into the plots; the trickier ones that need more care will be sown and pricked out into pots and cells until they are ready to be planted into the plots. We are hugely grateful to the Countryside Enhancement Scheme for their financial support to date, along with the Environment Department and the Société’s Botany section for their trust and ongoing support with this hugely exciting project. Watch this space regarding our progress through the next few months. We hope - weather permitting - that the Jersey Wildflower Hub should be full of colour and also, most importantly, full of pollinators busy at work.
Home heating oil doesn’t have to cost the earth.
Reduce your carbon emissions with our Premium Home Kerosene, a cleaner, greener and more efficient form of heating oil. And we’ll offset your carbon emissions at no extra cost so you can heat your home at a price that doesn’t hurt your wallet or the planet. Ask about our Smart+ Heating Package for more savings and benefits.
