BLUEBELL WOODS’ – NEAR ST PETER PORT
In April an explosion of blue hails the start of spring in the beautiful secluded wooded area behind Fort George near St Peter Port. Robust imported Spanish bluebells can threaten delicate native bluebells, but ‘Bluebell Woods’ has not been affected, and for one month there is an endless carpet of the deeper blue local variety.
BRIDGET OZANNE ORCHID FIELDS – LES VICHERIES
The thriving Orchid Fields, considered the best in the British Isles, are resplendent with four varieties of wild orchids in May, including the Loose Flowered Orchid, a species not found in the UK. Visits in May
CANDIE GARDENS
Once part of a private estate, the restored Victorian Candie Gardens offer the best view across St Peter Port harbour, with a rare example of a late 19th century public flower garden. Home to the oldest known heated glass-houses in the British Isles, dating back to the late 18th century. Open all year round until dusk.
SAUMAREZ MANOR GARDENS AND NATURE PARK
The gardens and nature park are jaw droppingly dramatic. Camellias, magnolias, banana trees and hundreds of exotic plants, ponds, art sculptures – utterly different. Children often call it "the jungle". Open all year round until dusk.
CASTLE CORNET GARDENS
The 13th century castle contains a number of gardens created through the ages. The 16th century Sutler’s Garden was a vital source of herbs for medicinal and kitchen use. The Governor’s Garden from the 18th century is a tapestry of lavender and purple sage.
Open March – October.
VICTOR HUGO’S GARDENS
The gardens of Victor Hugo’s exile home Hauteville House have been faithfully renovated by the city of Paris and include a kitchen garden, fruit trees and Hugo’s United States of Europe Oak – a living link with this great visionary. Open April – September.
HERM ISLAND
Just 20 minutes by boat from St Peter Port, the entire island is a car-free garden. There are so many species of plants on Herm that even the head gardener has lost count! Each year almost 20,000 summer flowering plants are planted and 25,000 trees have been planted in past ten years. Guernsey’s representative in the Britain in Bloom competition, Herm, won a gold award and was overall winner in the Small Coastal Resorts category in both 2002 and 2008.
LA SEIGNEURIE GARDENS, SARK
One of the finest formal gardens in the Channel Islands. Recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society. Open April – October.
EXOTIC, ABUNDANT, WILD, FECUND!
The Giant Geranium and Giant Echium (originating from exotic climes); the largest producer of clematis in the world; producer of two-thirds of all freesias sold in the UK and wild flowers in abundance. The mild maritime climate in Guernsey, creates a global garden all year round. The island has over 449 plants which flower in January alone.
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