Conservation Policies

Under the care and ownership of the National Trust are a number of important historic buildings and ecologically sensitive sites. These sites require ongoing management and maintenance in order to ensure that their intrinsic value is safeguarded and potentially enriched. In order to achieve this objective the Trust has developed the following conservation policies to both inform and act as guidance in respect of the management of its sites. At the current time there are two separate policies for both lands and buildings but ultimately they share much common ground and will grow closer together as the Trust seeks to adopt an increasingly holistic approach to its heritage sites.

  A. Principles of Land Management for Conservation and Amenity

The National Trust for Jersey aims to acquire and safeguard land for the benefit of both wildlife and the people of Jersey.

With this central aim in mind the Trust has adopted a policy seeking to manage its land using ecologically sensitive methods. The Trust will therefore seek to use proven conservation management practices on its lands, to keep up to date with the latest developments in conservation through appropriate research and liaison with other bodies, and to provide examples of good practice which can be adopted by others. The Trust strongly supports the principle of sustainability to help safeguard Jersey’s natural environment for the future, and it recognises its key role in helping to implement the island’s Biodiversity Strategy.

The Trust currently employs a Lands Team consisting of four full-time Rangers, headed by a Lands Manager. The team plans and undertakes the majority of the work on its sites, although contractors and volunteers play an increasingly important role.

Underlying the main policy are the following principles:

1. Survey, Monitoring and Management Planning
Ecological survey work undertaken both by the Trust and other organisations such as the Société Jersiaise, will be used to help formulate management plans and management operations on Trust lands. The results of work undertaken will be monitored using appropriate techniques such as species recording and fixed point photography. Management plans will be progressively introduced for all Trust sites, beginning with those of highest ecological importance.

2. Management Practices
The Trust will endeavour to use the best management techniques and the most appropriate equipment available, to maintain and enhance the conservation value of its lands. Necessary management operations will be planned so as to cause minimum disturbance. For example intensive woodland management work and reed-cutting will be undertaken outside the main growing season. In addition more environmentally-friendly products and equipment will be evaluated and introduced whenever possible.

3. Staff, Training and Resources
The Trust is keen to ensure that its Lands Staff obtain and develop the necessary skills to be able manage the Trust’s lands in accordance with current nature conservation practice. Given its increasing land portfolio and limited resources the Trust will seek to find the resources necessary for its lands management work through appeals, sponsorship, and applications to relevant bodies such as the Jersey Ecology Fund.

4. Liaison with Other Bodies
The National Trust for Jersey will liaise closely with both Jersey-based, UK and overseas organisations to share expertise and experience of land management issues, and to co-operate on specific projects as appropriate. The Trust will also comment on relevant government policy in the hope of achieving increased protection for the natural environment in Jersey.

5. Public Amenity and Site Safety
The Trust encourages public access to its sites, whenever this is compatible with the needs of wildlife or with safety considerations. The Trust seeks to ensure that such sites are safe for visitors and free from litter. On site facilities such as signage and parking will be sympathetic to the surroundings and will be kept in a good state of repair.

6. Education and Promotion
The Trust’s lands offer considerable potential for education and for raising awareness of the organisation and the need for increased resources and support. The Trust is seeking to expand such activities, often in partnership with other organisations, but such work will only be undertaken if it does not cause damage or unnecessary disturbance to wildlife or to the fabric of a site.

  B. Principles of Property Maintenance and Repair

These old buildings do not belong to us only…They have belonged to our forefathers and they will belong to our descendants unless we play them false. They are not our property, to do as we like with. We are only trustees for those that come after us.
William Morris, 1889

The National Trust for Jersey seeks to preserve and safeguard buildings of historic and architectural interest for the benefit of the island.

It is now widely acknowledged and accepted that the preservation of historic buildings is best achieved through a regular programme of maintenance as opposed to major programmes of repair and refurbishment. Such basic tasks as clearing the gutters and downpipes on an annual basis, replacing loose roof tiles and repointing are essential to ensure that a building remains water tight and free of damp. With this in mind the Trust employs 4 full time craftsmen to ensure the Trust’s properties are properly maintained and kept in good order.

When undertaking any repair works to an historic property the Trust ensures that the following basic principles are observed:

1. Careful recording
When any work is proposed for a building it is essential that a detailed record is made of the building fabric in its current state. Such a record should include detailed drawings, photographs, and documentary evidence and research relating to the use and history of the building. The record should be treated as a working document and updated as works progress. By preparing such a document a greater understanding of the building can be achieved ensuring that any specific or design work is developed from a fully informed perspective.

2. Minimum intervention to the historic fabric
It is of paramount importance that any work undertaken should be achieved with the minimum of intervention to the historic fabric of the building.

3. Honesty in repair
Where repair works are carried out it is essential that an honest approach is adopted and works are executed without any attempt at disguise or artificial ageing. One should seek to match existing materials and methods of construction in order to safeguard the historic integrity of the building. If modern materials and methods are used in order for the building to comply with statutory regulations, then it is essential to establish that these methods have been proven satisfactory over a sufficient period of time.

4. Avoidance of all speculative restoration and reconstruction
The Trust does not seek to restore buildings to their former glory. The historical value of a building lies in the integrity of its fabric and design. The unnecessary replacement of historic fabric or the addition of “period” features can diminish its authenticity and reduce its value as a source of historical information. However, where significant architectural elements of a building have gone missing and sufficient accurate evidence exists for replacement, then a course of reinstatement would be considered subject to discussion with the Historic Buildings Department.

5. Recognition of the sanctity of historic fabric
The Trust always seeks to retain wherever possible the original fabric of the building. Additions and alterations are of importance to the cumulative history of the building and wherever possible their removal should be avoided. After all it is often the development of change that gives our buildings their unique significance.

6. Wherever possible all works should be reversible
If possible any changes made should be reversible without damage or loss to the original fabric. This will enable future re-evaluation of the historical significance of the building without being compromised by current alterations and repairs.

The Trust however recognises the importance of keeping historic buildings in beneficial use and often this may involve a degree of adaptation or change in order to meet modern requirements and standards. By applying the above principles the Trust would seek to ensure that any works undertaken did not damage the existing fabric and were of sufficient high quality to safeguard the future of the building.