‘Hugo 100 years ahead of his time on environment’

ACCLAIMED horticulturist Raymond Evison designed the new Victor Hugo Garden at Candie.

Raymond Evison, left, who designed the garden, points out some of the features to Victor Hugo in Guernsey Society chairman Dinah Bott, Sue-Yin McMahon and her husband, Bailiff Richard McMahon. (Pictures by Adrian Miller, 29476871)

It means people can learn more about Hugo’s lasting legacy from his 15-year residency in the island.

‘It has been a really great thrill to be part of a real community project,’ said the multiple Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner.

When undertaking the project he said he found many common interests with Hugo, and was impressed at his environmental perceptiveness.

‘Victor Hugo was way over 100 years ahead of his time,’ said Mr Evison.

Hugo’s belief that a wild garden allows nature to flourish in its intended state is reflected in the garden. (29476883)

Some plants were sourced from America, Estonia and Latvia, Mr Evison said, with the assistance of Plant Heritage Guernsey and Guernsey Gardens.

Several species were re-introduced to the island from when Hugo was in exile here in the 1850s and 1860s.

Cultivated weeds form part of the garden, as a nod to Hugo’s belief that a wild garden allowed nature to flourish in its intended state away from human corruption.

‘Creating a wild and neglected garden, you might think is easy, but it is not. To make a weed look good at Chelsea you have to be really clever.’

Low willow fencing was inspired by the Norman medieval gardens on a visit to Calais, made specifically to border a vegetable patch.