PLANS to turn Jersey into ‘the garden centre of Europe’ moved a step forward when Senator Ted Vibert, a strong supporter of the scheme, presented proposals to the Tourism Investment Board.
The idea is that of horticulturalist Peter Ricou , who, as originally reported in the JEP last March, has launched a plan to create a whole series of garden attractions that would help to generate tourism income, and at the same time provide a viable use to which ‘vacant’ or unprofitable agricultural land could be put.
Mr Ricou, who was born and grew up in Jersey, now lives in Somerset and works as a landscape consultant and lecturer.
He has managed the marketing of other landscape firms and worked with the ITV garden ‘Road Show’ creating feature gardens.
He has also gained gold medals for his garden design and landscaping works.
He has proposed that Jersey should have a series of gardening theme parks based entirely on gardens, with a core project based on a site such as the Howard Davis Farm in Trinity.
If the Tourism Investment Board approves the sum of £30,000 for a feasibility study at its next meeting, the study could be ready by late 2004 or early 2005.
Senator Vibert said that it appeared that the best way forward for the scheme would be to form a trust, with trustees consisting of people interested in gardening who would administer the scheme.
He has asked any reader who might be interested in this to contact him.
Article posted on 7th July, 2004 - 12.00am
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