Tree count up 340

ISLANDERS gathered on a warm spring morning to help gardeners Brett Moore and James Cordingley with a large tree-planting project.

More than 340 trees donated by the Woodland Trust were planted at the bottom of Fisherman's field, along the fence beside the path.

Although the gardening team works hard on the upkeep of the island year-round, in the run-up to Britain in Bloom the rest of the community like to get involved and help make their mark on Herm's beauty. There will also be plenty of activities for the island children to enable them to play their part.

There is nothing nicer than seeing a tree or flower bringing aesthetic pleasure to visitors and knowing it was you who put it there.

It is a lovely way for islanders to get together and work to make our home a nicer place.

As an incentive, there were delicious home-made cakes and cookies for the hungry workers, provided by beach cafe worker Jana Ondrejovicova.

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Work on St Tugual's Chapel is coming to an end as spring approaches.

Although the building work has gone on for several months, without it the bones in the Manor Garden might never have been discovered.

At least 25 skeletons have now been found, although little more is known about them now than at the time the first skeletons were accidentally uncovered by the builders.

After a very interesting talk from States archaeologist Philip de Jersey last week, the island schoolchildren – complete with safety gear and hard hats – were able to enter the newly-renovated church.

Each of them had the opportunity to climb the scaffolding and to sign a piece of slate to be found by future generations the next time the roof is replaced.

Nine-year-old Elliot Knight had only one pertinent question that he wanted to ask future Hermites: 'Hello. Do you have hover cars?'