About the garden
Owned by
Judith Quérée
Set into the side of a beautiful valley in the north-west corner of Jersey in the Parish of St Ouen is a garden created by Judith and Nigel Quérée. The areas that are now gardens were full of household rubbish – even an old car emerged from the undergrowth. Now, four decades on, two distinct gardens have been created with a collection of more than 2,000 plants originating from all over the world – including a collection of more than 100 salvias and more than 200 clematis that can be seen climbing on every fence or rose.
The dry garden around the 350-year-old cottage contains many salvias and a myriad of sun lovers and plants that cope with drier shade. A Campsis radicans f. flava cascades over the Welsh slate roof and a Pandorea jasminoides and Rosa banksiae var. banksiae thrive against the warm pink granite of the cottage.
Accessed by a wooden walkway the lower garden takes you to the valley floor where natural underground springs provide moisture in even the driest years for plants like Iris, Lobelia, Primula, Sidalcea, Aconitum and Monarda. Under a canopy of old Jersey oaks, a collection of seven different species of tree fern relish the humid dappled shade.
Surrounding the gardens are three meadows – years of dedicated work have made them into grass and wildflower-filled wildlife havens for many insects, mammals and birds. For example, providing an important habitat for a healthy population of voles enabling resident barn owls to breed successfully. Nut and fruit trees of every kind provide important food for wonderful red squirrels that thrive in Jersey. Also, a large collection of sculpture by British artists adds interest and humour.
