Guernsey gardens and wildlife
Annual Floral Festivals
When Guernsey’s gardens are bursting with bloom, islanders show them off at their very best with floral celebration weeks. Get involved and enjoy the open gardens, walks and talks that are available:
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Sark Wildflower Fortnight: 22 April – 5 May
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Guernsey Floral Festival: 2 – 30 June
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Bloomin’ Alderney 24 – 30 June
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North Show & Battle of Flowers: 21 August
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NCCPG Nerine Festival: 5 – 19 October
Enjoy Guernsey’s natural beauty
There are a large number of Guernsey gardens and wildlife areas to explore whilst visiting the island as the horticultural industry was an important part of the economy for many years and the natural headlands and inland ponds attract a diverse range of wild birds and insects. Glasshouses full of Guernsey tomatoes and grape vineries grew abundantly and whilst they are still important for the island, flowers are now one of Guernsey’s most important exports with lilies and freesias sent daily to the mainland and Europe and Guernsey producing the largest number of Clematis in the world.
Guernsey also has an active programme to encourage the community to become involved in floral displays and the islands’ formal parks and gardens are a riot of colour throughout the seasons. Westerly orchid fields, southerly bluebell woods, wildflowers sprinkled on the cliff top paths, wild hedgerows and vibrant and colourful gardens are just some of Guernsey’s seasonal floral delights whilst seasonal visitors such as puffins, Atlantic Grey seals and dolphins find the island a magnet.
Candie Gardens
Sausmarez Park
Floral St Peter Port
Visit:
Saumarez Park
Guernsey’s largest free public park is full of vibrant colour with seasonal plant beds and borders. Often used for social gatherings, the park has duck ponds, nature trails, a cafe, playground and is home to The National Trust of Guernsey’s Folk and Costume Museum. Also including:
- Victorian Walled Garden Restored Victorian Kitchen gardens courtesy of The Guernsey Botanical Trust.
- Saumarez Nature Trail Nature trail from Cobo Bay to Saumarez Park
- Sculpture Park & Subtropical Garden at Sausmarez Manor Specialising in subtropical plants, the gardens are situated in the grounds of the manor house. Offering many sculptures, the gardens are also an RHS Partner Garden.
Guernsey Freesia Centre
Situated in Vale Parish, the centre not only specialises in Freesia’s but grows and packs them for the UK market. Gold award winners in the Guernsey floral festival, watch videos on flower growing in Guernsey, browse the nursery and buy corms at the gift shop.
Les Cotils Gardens
Open all year round, the 12 acres of gardens looking out towards St Peter Port and Herm are rich with 400 year old oak trees and are abundant with colour from Spring through to Autumn.
Candie Gardens
Once part of a large estate overlooking St Peter Port Harbour, the gardens are now free to enter and host music and public events throughout the peak season. Home to restored Victorian glass houses and a public flower garden, there are also fish ponds, a Victorian bandstand, museum, art gallery and café.
Les Videclins Farm
The tranquil gardens in Castel were developed around a 200 year old farmhouse and offer a sculpted lawn and borders full of grasses, roses, perennials and a variety of shrubs. Surrounded by woodland, the gardens are open by appointment. Tel 01481 254788
Castle Cornet Gardens
A series of period gardens including medicinal and kitchen gardens and topiary situated within Castle Cornet in St Peter Port.
Victor Hugo’s Garden – Hauteville House
Free entry to the gardens at Hauteville House, occupied by author Victor Hugo whilst in exile in Guernsey. Includes a kitchen garden with fruit trees.
Hauteville House Gardens
Guernsey lilies
A Guernsey nursery
Bluebell Woods
South of St Peter Port, the woods are carpeted with bluebells in springtime.
Pleinmont Headland
Magnificent views from the cliff walks where rare birds can be found amongst the flora and fauna.
Fort Hommet Headland
With rare species of plants, butterflies and birds the wet meadow and heathland lead to the once occupied Fort.
Le Vaux de Monel and La Varde Rock
Naturalised woodland valley kept by The National Trust of Guernsey with an outlook over Rocquaine Bay and the flat topped rock of La Varde.
Silbe Reserve
Birds and flowers thrive in the woodland valley and grassland at St Pierre de Bois.
Jerbourg
The peninsula has wonderful views over to France and of the other islands. Complete with a bird hide for watching the many birds attracted to the area and fantastic cliff top walks as well as a WWII bunker.
Rue des Bergers
Part of Grande Mare, two ponds with reed beds and a bird hide attract dragonflies and wetland birds.
Fauxquets Valley
An inland woodland valley with a nature reserve and ponds.
L’Ancresse Common
Historical area with burial mounds and fortifications whilst being close to beaches. Golf course, shooting range and grazing area.
La Claire Mare
An area of the west coast with salt marshes, reed beds and an orchid meadow. Includes the Colin Best Nature Reserve and Les Anguillieres Marine Nature Reserve.
L’Eree Headland
Part of a designated Ramsar site leading to Lihou Island with wildflowers and an ancient tomb.
Lihou Island
Only accessible via the causeway for 2 weeks every month, the unspoilt island is a RAMSAR wetlands nature reserve with varied wildlife both above and below the tidal line.
Orchid Fields
A series of meadows owned by La Société Guernesiaise who cut pathways around the fields in May and June to allow the orchids to be seen.
Port Soif Nature Trail
Wetland conservation area with a trail designed with thought for the needs of disabled people.
Rousse Headland
Sparrow Hawk in Guernsey
Vale Church and pond
Vale Pond & C.J McCathie Nature Reserve Vale
Pond and public viewing hide at the north end of the island.
Rousse Headland
Lovely walks around the fortified headland.
St Saviour’s Reservoir
The Millennium Walk is a peaceful path around the freshwater reservoir and woodland habitat.
Le Grande Pr
Large north coast reed bed, great for bird watching. Views out to Herm island.
Le Gouffre
A south coast area of outstanding natural beauty with cliff walks.
Talbot Valley
Wet meadow, freshwater pond and spring orchids in a beautiful woodland valley.
Gardens and wildlife in the rest of the Bailiwick
Guernsey is part of the Bailiwick of Sark, Herm and Alderney and between the four islands there are fantastic opportunities for adventure! Atlantic Grey seals can often be seen basking on the rocky outcrops whilst dolphins play in the water. From March to July you can catch a boat from Guernsey and go on a puffin patrol or kayak to Shell Beach in Herm or from Herm to Jethou where you can get a closer look.
Herm
Herm Island Garden Tours
Catch the Trident boat from St Peter Port from April to September and take a tour of Herm’s award winning gardens, carefully planted with windbreaks offering shelter to many subtropical plants unable to survive in the rest of Britain.
Sark
La Seigneurie Gardens, Sark
Set within the grounds of a 17th century manor house, the high walled gardens are home to some unusual species such as Australian Bottlebrush and New Zealand Tea Tree. As well as formal gardens there are colour restricted borders, productive gardens and a sensory area. Open 29th March – end October 10am – 5pm.
Alderney
Blonde hedgehogs and black rabbits are some of Alderney’s more unusual species. Puffins, gannets and storm petrels colonise some of the small islets, whilst the island is home to a greater concentration of wildflowers species than most other areas of the UK. Take a look at our Alderney Holidays website for more details.
Saumarez Park in Autumn
An Alderney Blonde Hedgehog
Belvoir Beach, Herm
Other pages which may interest you:
Guernsey events & festivals, Guernsey tourist attractions, Guernsey beach guide, Places to visit in Guernsey, Places to eat in Guernsey, Walking in Guernsey, Outdoor Activities in Guernsey, Guernsey Occupation, Cycling in Guernsey, Golf breaks in Guernsey, Guernsey running trails and events.