22nd March, 2017
Our Gorgeous Garden in Spring
As many of our regular guests and visitors know, St Brelade’s Bay Hotel is surrounded by 5 acres of magnificent gardens. The talent behind the scenes is our Head Gardener Eric Woosnam who has been working in the gardens of St Brelade’s since March 1971.
Starting as junior gardener and being promoted to Head Gardener in 1980, the gardens are Eric’s pride and passion. There isn’t a plant in the garden that Eric doesn’t know the history of, some of which have amazing stories. Take for example the Marjorcan Palm which was grown from a seed brought back from his holiday in 2000, the now 17 year old palm tree is one of many variety of palms that make the garden so lush.
The busiest time of the year is undoubtedly the second week of May when he, along with Karl Benest his assistant plant for up to three weeks. They will be filling the garden as well as 50 tubs and 150 window boxes with vast quantities of flowers and shrubs. To give an idea of the scale, we will order roughly 850 Petunias, 1300 Lobelia and between 6000 and 8000 Begonias.
If you have not seen the gardens in summer the best vantage point is from our Petit Port Cafe, with views of the gardens, pools and the shimmering ocean in the distance, its a sun trap that cant be beaten.