Val de la Mare - Jersey Trees For Life

VAL DE LA MARE ARBORETUM

An arboretum is a botanical garden devoted to trees. As you walk around Val de la Mare reservoir you’ll notice various tree species which are clearly not native to Jersey. These include such fine specimens as eucalyptus, giant redwood, Korean birch and Japanese cedar.

Val de la Mare Arboretum comprises the following tree collections:

Australasian Collection 
American Collection 
Birch Collection 
Chinese Collection 
Conifer Collection 
Elm Collection 
Japanese Collection 
Mediterranean Collection 
Mixed Oak Collection 
North American Collection 
Pine Collection 
Walnut and Wingnut Collection

The Australasian Collection was the most seriously affected by the storms of January 2023, with several trees upended or otherwise damaged and a clean-up cost of around £1,500.

Despite the loss of two eucalyptus and a New Zealand ribbonwood, however, most of the specimens survived, providing a reminder of the hardiness of nature in addition to that of its sheer power.

Val de la Mare Arboretum was created by the Moores family in 1975 in memory of their son, Nigel. Seeds were carefully sourced from around the world and planted by the States of Jersey. Once the initial funding had ended, however, ongoing care of the trees suffered and the area became neglected.

In 2021, Jersey Trees for Life entered into an agreement with Jersey Water to assume responsibility for planting, maintenance and ongoing care of these diverse and wonderful trees.

More recently we have been working with leading plant biologists to map all the trees of significance within the arboretum, to write a collections policy and to formulate an overall plan for the area which will dictate how it develops over the coming decades.

SUPPORT US TODAY

Did you know that you can help us by volunteering; a healthy and fulfilling way to make a meaningful contribution to Jersey Trees for Life and the wider local community?

You can also support us by signing up for an annual membership, with proceeds helping us maintain and grow throughout the year.