Groups join forces to tidy La Vallette

A team made up of cruise ship welcomers, members of the Guild of Tour Guides, VisitGuernsey staff and Art of Living community volunteers came together to weed flower beds and give the area a tidy.

Volunteer Julie Madeley said helping out was great fun.

‘We have an amazing team, they are doing a magnificent job.

‘It will be all neat and tidy for when visitors arrive in the summer,’ she said.

The clear-up was a VisitGuernsey event led by cruise pier manager Isabel de Menezes and organised by Andrew Pouteaux, of Art of Living community volunteers, with support from VisitGuernsey marketing and tourism director Mike Hopkins.

Mr Pouteaux said he and Ms de Menezes discussed what needed to be done in the town area.

‘Isabel and I help each other out and were thinking we should clean the place up,’ said Mr Pouteaux.

Ms de Menezes told Mr Pouteaux that tourists come to La Vallette in their thousands so if they could get some volunteers together the area could be cleaned.

‘States Works have been doing a great job recently, it’s nice to come down and see some things are already done,’ said Mr Pouteaux.

He also praised Rosie Henderson for her efforts over the last couple of years.

Mrs Henderson has been committed to coming out and keeping on top of the area since restoration work was carried out two years ago both with groups and working alone.

‘I was chairman of the floral committee of the douzaine [St Peter Port] and I personally think that it’s irresponsible to go in and clear land and just ignore it,’ she said.

In 2017, St Peter Port was entered in the Britain in Bloom competition where it was awarded a gold medal for exceptional high standard and was a contender for the champion of champions.

The newly-landscaped La Vallette area was commended following the work carried out at the time, which saw hundreds of volunteers come to help.

‘The whole area is absolutely steeped in history, there’s the Victor Hugo walk that the States have been cleaning.

‘Visitors want to see weeded flower beds and the States just don’t have the manpower,’ said Mrs Henderson – highlighting why the work of volunteers was so important for keeping Guernsey’s landscapes tidy.