The Trust is staging its fifth environmental festival - #LoveNature. Staged over the half term holidays from 30th May to 6th June and set in and around St Ouen’s Bay in Jersey’s National Park, the event coincides with and showcases the wild orchids in all their glory at Le Noir Pré.
The aim of the festival is to encourage islanders to discover sites in St Ouen’s Bay such as Le Don Hilton (the White House) and the Wetland Centre, and explore Plémont headland, Mont Grantez, La Mielle de Morville, St Ouen’s Pond – La Mare au Seigneur and the orchid fields at Le Noir Pré,
Wildlife is at the heart of the festival and participants can enjoy dawn chorus and nature walks, see Skylarks and Sand Martins and go on a Puffin Watch with Neil Singleton and Alli Caldeira from Jersey Birding Tours, learn about scientific bird ringing with Cris Sellares from Birds on the Edge and find out about ‘capturing’ wildlife with renowned photographer Romano da Costa.
Nature enthusiasts can join the Trust’s Lands Team on a series of ‘behind the scenes’ trails and pollinator walks, enjoy floral meanders with botanist Tina Hull, landscape, history and heritage walks with Blue badge Guides Nicky Mansell and Roger Noel and Kazz Padidar on inland foraging tours.
The festival is very child friendly and younger environmentalists can discover wildlife on bug safaris and moth trapping activities and rock pool rambles, get up close and personal with birds of prey. They can go on a ‘Wild Adventure’ at Month Grantez or sign up to become a ‘Power Ranger’ and do their bit for climate change at the little white house.
The Jersey Bat Group will be staging a ‘Hugh the Bat’ talk at the Wetland Centre and those wishing to see these elusive creatures can test out bat detectors near the pond.
Another highlight of the festival is experiencing a riot of colour at Le Noir Pré, the orchid meadows, which will be in full bloom and which will be open especially for the event. There are three species of orchids found growing in Le Noir Pré; the Southern Marsh Orchid, Jersey Orchid and the Spotted
Orchid. Orchid counts take place every two years and since 1995 numbers have increased from 1,500 to over 90,000.
The festival is being funded by Jersey Electricity for the fourth year and CEO Chris Ambler, said: ‘Trust’s work to preserve Jersey’s natural environment is immense and we are pleased to have been able to support many of its important initiatives.
‘The #LoveNature Festival is a true celebration of everything the Trust stands for and we want to see protected. It encourages all of us to take time out to appreciate the good things this Island offers naturally.’