‘Let’s keep Guernsey known as the Island of Flowers’

Reading the Press lately I have noted many parishes are starting to clean up their own areas. Many years ago I led the St Peter Port floral team from within the douzaine.

This was a job I enjoyed so much, we worked hard and for so many unpaid hours.

My team had a few members from the douzaine but included parishioners who were dedicated to making their parish the best. This we did many times.

I also started up the floral awards for best displays and gardens – this gave many areas pride in their area and so many private gardens in St Peter Port joined in. Many of these gardens were from States houses and were a credit to the tenants. I did notice where they lived those in same neighbourhood kept their garden nice and tidy, and any weeds bordering their houses were removed, giving it a loved area.

Now we only have the shows that include private gardens.

This was judged in July. But how many know about these competitions?

More should be done to let people know and encourage them to enter as this will also give them pride in the area they live in, and others will also follow.

Floral Guernsey used to include the private gardens in their awards and I myself have won many gold awards – this also encourages others.

Guernsey is known as the Island of Flowers, let us keep it that way and include things like that within the Press reports.

Many of us older ones would know about these awards and most do keep their garden in top condition and weed outside their own houses.

How many States house tenants know about the awards for their own gardens? There is a cup for the best one.

This was given in 1953 by Kitty Robilliard and is given out every year. At times housing used to have a big awards evening and those who entered were invited and met with other gardeners. It used to be a great evening and awards given out plus a bit of money to help pay for plants the next year.

All the photos were on display in their office to encourage others to keep their gardens nice.

It is good to read in the Press that parishes are encouraging residents to help with keeping the parish clean of weeds.

I now live in St Sampson’s and the area I am now in is cleaned of weeds by a man in his 80s.

Others also join in to help and we enter into the Floral Guernsey awards. We have won many prizes and this gives all a feel-good factor to wake up and see so many beautiful floral areas where we live.

I thank Floral Guernsey for their support in these competitions, but we do need more advertising to say these awards are going on as I am sure more will join in.

This would keep our island nice and go back to being the Island of Flowers again and not weeds in gutters blocking drains.

Also Floral Guernsey needs funding or they cannot support the parishes.

Remember thousands of working hours keeping places nice are done by hundreds of volunteers.

Katina Jones
St Sampson’s