National Trust for Jersey facts for kids
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| Formation | 11 February 1937 |
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| Type | NGO |
| Purpose | Preserving and safeguarding sites of historic, aesthetic and natural interest for the benefit of the island. |
| Headquarters | The Elms, St. Mary |
| Location | |
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Official language
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English |
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Chief executive
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Charles Alluto |
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Key people
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King Charles III (patron) |
The National Trust for Jersey is a special group that works to protect important places in Jersey. They look after sites that are historic, beautiful, or important for nature. Their main goal is to keep these places safe for everyone on the island to enjoy.
The Trust had its first official meeting on August 3, 1936. It was led by the Dean of Jersey, Samuel Falle. The government of Jersey officially recognized the Trust the next year. Today, the Trust is the biggest private landowner on the island. They care for more than 130 different sites!
Contents
Historic Farms
The Trust owns several old farms that are very interesting. Some of these farms are described below.
The Elms Farm
The Elms is an old farm from the 1700s. It is located in St. Peter's Valley. Since 1978, this farm has been the main office for the National Trust for Jersey.
It is not a museum, but some parts of the farm are usually open for visitors to explore.
Hamptonne Country Life Museum
Hamptonne is a special museum that shows what country life was like in the past. It is in the parish of St. Lawrence. The Trust bought this farm in 1987. Another group, Jersey Heritage, runs the museum.
Records show that a building was on this spot as early as 1445. In 2005, parts of the movie Under the Greenwood Tree were filmed here.
You can visit the museum from June to September. In October, Hamptonne hosts a fun cider-making festival called La Faîs'sie d’Cidre.
Morel Farm
Morel Farm is a working farm located in St. Lawrence. Some of the buildings on this farm were built way back in 1666!
Historic Mills
Le Moulin de Quétivel is a watermill that has been fixed up. It is open to the public and still grinds flour. You can even buy the flour in its shop!
Military Buildings
The Trust also owns several old military buildings in Jersey. Here are a few of them.
Câtel Fort
Câtel Fort is a guardhouse from the 1700s. It sits high up, looking over Grève de Lecq Bay.
Grève de Lecq Barracks
Construction of Grève de Lecq Barracks began in 1810. Soldiers lived here until the 1920s. The barracks could hold up to 250 troops.
These barrack buildings are in St Mary. They have been restored and are open for visitors from May to September.
La Caumine à Marie Best
Le Don Hilton, also known as La Caumine à Marie Best, was once a guard house. It also stored gunpowder. It is located in St. Ouen's Bay, in St. Peter.
Victoria Tower
Victoria Tower is a type of small fort called a Martello tower. It was built in 1837. You can find it on Le Mont Nicholas, across from Mont Orgueil castle. It looks out over Anne Port and Gorey.
Old Cottages
La Ronce Cottage
La Ronce is a two-story cottage made of granite from the 1600s. It is considered a special historic site. Above the doorway, you can see the year 1621 carved into the stone.
More parts were added to the building, probably in the 1700s. In 2012, the Trust offered a 99-year lease for this property.
Natural Places
Jersey Wetland Centre
In 2012, plans were made to improve the wetland area called St. Ouen's Pond. This area is in St. Ouen. The plans included making the existing bird hide much better. The improvements cost about £102,000. This money came from the Tourism Development Fund and the RBC Blue Water Project.
Le Noir Pré Orchid Fields
Le Noir Pré is made up of two wet meadows next to each other. They are also called the orchid fields. This is because a special orchid, the Orchis laxiflora, grows there. The Channel Islands are the only place in the British Isles where you can see this orchid. It usually blooms in May and June.
Les Monts Grantez
This is a high area that looks over St Ouen's Bay. It has an ancient stone monument called the Neolithic dolmen des Monts Grantez. There are also walking paths, areas where cattle graze, and parking.
The Trust uses this site for its yearly Sunset Concert.
La Vallée des Vaux
La Vallée des Vaux is a woodland valley in the north of St Helier. The Trust owns parts of this beautiful valley.
Fern Valley
Fern Valley is a Y-shaped valley in St Lawrence. You might see red squirrels and Jersey tiger moths (Euplagia quadripunctaria) living here.
Images for kids
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Le Rât
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Morel Farm
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Apple crusher at Morel Farm
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Le Saut Geffroy (Geffroy's Leap)
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Le Moulin de Quétivel
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Le Lavoir de la Rue des Prés
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Le Don Journeaux, a house in St. Clement.
