When James Manger’s Blue Chicken House Bakery coop in Brock Road, St Peter Port, was broken into last month, with the cash box ripped out and the card reader and camera stolen, he learned that the incident was not the first of its kind in Guernsey, as other hedge veg sellers shared their experiences of theft and vandalism.
Following his experience, Mr Manger said he was looking to set up the Guernsey Hedge Veg Alliance, to create secure shared outlets and continue the local novelty in a more sustainable way.
He raised the idea earlier this week and said he had already received messages from other hedge veg sellers keen to get involved.
‘We also had a former police officer offering to help us with security and surveillance, and to understand the procedures and what goes on, on the other side,’ he said.
‘There’s definitely people interested and we thank the media for creating a bit more awareness and letting people know who may be interested in joining or being part of it.’
The aim is to protect the stalls and create new opportunities for sellers, while giving them a stronger voice.
Hedge veg stalls around the island sell local products including bread, vegetables, flowers, plants, cookies, brownies, fudge, honey, and cheese.
Mr Manger, pictured, said that his idea of an alliance would build attractive outlets with proper security, and by documenting theft and vandalism properly as a collective voice, could push for incidents to be taken more seriously.
‘It feels like this is very important to the community and I think that maybe a community-based group is the best way to deal with it,’ said Mr Manger.
‘It would be with the people that hold the values close to them, rather than leaving it out to the masses, where maybe it’s not considered as important.’
He said there was already a possibility to create the first Hedge Veg Alliance outlet at Guernsey Airport, which would have space for four or five producers.
The alliance would also be keen to work with garages, hotels and other businesses that could benefit from hosting a range of local products and bring more customers into their premises.
‘We’re not looking to get rid of what we already have here in Guernsey,' Mr Manger said.
'We’re looking to combine forces with the people that do it and create a community around that focuses on hedge veg stalls, the safety of hedge veg stalls and perhaps empowering new people that maybe haven’t got the confidence or don’t know how to go about starting their own.
‘We’re looking to create a community around it which gives everyone a focal point and gives us all a stronger voice together.’
The first Guernsey Hedge Veg Alliance meeting is due to take place on Sunday 23 August at 3pm.
Updates are currently being posted on the Blue Chicken House Bakery Facebook page.
There has also been an event set up for the meeting at https://fb.me/e/5OJo1hJzV.
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