Island says goodbye to its gardener

HERM'S assistant gardener James Cordingley is moving on to pastures new after almost five years spent making his horticultural mark on the island.

James, along with girlfriend Jana Ondrejovicova, will be moving back to England to face a new challenge. With his new job at Penshurst Place and Gardens in Kent, he will again be an assistant gardener, but with a larger team and more opportunity for advancement.

The 14th-century stately home has been the location of many film and TV productions, including The Other Boleyn Girl, Merlin and Henry VIII. It has inspired such literary luminaries as Percy Bysshe Shelley, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Virginia Woolf.

James will be assisting the head gardener in the design and care of more than 51 acres of gardens.

'I was at Writtle College from 2003 to 2006 studying a BSc (Hons) in horticulture,' said James. 'I had a brief spell at a carnation breeder's before arriving in Herm in November 2006.'

In the past few years on the island, James has gained a huge amount of experience and has used his extensive gift and knowledge to greatly benefit Herm. He has also been part of the fire and first aid teams.

'James has brought the island to the standard it's at today and the standard it will stay at,' said head gardener Brett Moore. 'The valley project was entirely down to him and he did a magnificent job.'

He was also instrumental in transforming the gardens of the White House Hotel last winter.

Jana first came to Herm a few months after James' arrival. She came as a student from Slovakia to work the summer season at the Mermaid Tavern. For the past few years, she has worked at the beach cafes during the summer months and on the painting team in the winter.

'When I first came to Herm, I didn't even know where I was going,' said Jana. 'Suddenly I met James and ended up staying all these years.'

Now they will make a new life together in England.

As for Brett and James, they have been a wonderful team, winning Floral Guernsey and securing a place in Britain in Bloom twice in just four years.

'Now James is going from paradise isle to the Garden of England and we wish him all the luck in the world,' said Brett. 'We may not be together as a team, but we'll always be together in the gardens.'