Transformation of Belvedere aims to bring the public back

THESE days it’s fit for cows to chew on, but sadly not much more than that. Its sunny days of glorious military spectacles with thousands of islanders flocking to the field are of a different age.

But Belvedere Field and its surrounds on the north and western side overlooking Town and Le Val des Terres is undergoing a slow transformation that could see the whole area revitalised and, once again, well used by islanders.

Andrew Pouteaux and the Art of Living community volunteers, in conjunction with the La Valette Legacy Team and various States departments, are six months into a clean-up of the whole area which he hopes will make Belvedere a prime choice to visit, walk around and soak up the views of the Russel and neighbouring islands.

Mr Pouteaux believes his project can be completed by the end of the year and is putting a plan together to ensure it remains in prime condition.

‘Belvedere was held back when Fort George was sold off because it was thought to be of historic interest to Guernsey,’ he said.

‘Unfortunately, Fort George moved on, Belvedere hasn’t and the time has now come to reclaim Belvedere for the island as an extremely attractive area with the most beautiful views over the islands, the port and the Town.’

With money tight, Mr Pouteaux says it will not happen overnight, but already there has been significant progress.

‘It has got to be done in stages, because that’s all we can afford.

‘Bit by bit we are just going to reclaim; the Postern Gate looks better and we are working our way around.

‘The “lookout” is now good at the bottom and there’s a lot of work to do up the side. We’re coming up the side of the Belvedere Field and then there is the field itself which needs to be given attention.

‘My dream for it is that on a lovely summer’s day there are a lot of people sitting on picnic blankets, with the kids sitting around enjoying the view and able to enjoy their island. That’s what it’s all about.

‘I am wildly ambitious and I’d like to think I could get this done this year.’

The project leader says he is already grateful for the support and interest shown by key bodies, including Rosie Henderson as coordinator with the Community Service Team that goes out in all weathers. Over the winter they have cleared much of the older outer walls.

‘Assisting me openly are States Works – tremendous support there – the agricultural people at Burnt Lane have been giving very good support and there’s Land Management, who have been very supportive in their attitude. Historic Structures, too, have been very supportive of what we are doing, very impressed with what we are uncovering and how we are uncovering it.’

He says the biggest challenge facing the project is ‘inertia’.

‘You have got to talk to people and persuade them to do something differently from what they’ve done in the past and that’s quite a task.

‘Some people say: ‘‘It’s all right, why are you so bothered about it?’’. They are not trying to see what it could be or how it could be so much better for everybody.

‘The other one is the matter of maintenance when it is done and that is under discussion in many areas.

‘The cost to overhaul it is a lot of human labour. Once you’ve got States Works providing tractors and trailers, the other portion of States Works saying we’ll help you possibly on the tipping fees and various other people saying ‘‘yep, that’s a good idea’’ and go with it, it is very doable. It’s not a lot of money. Just a few thousand pounds and a few thousand more to keep it there.’