Fern Valley

First time visitors to this site are often pleasantly surprised to discover such a tranquil and
attractive area, with a wealth of wildlife, so close to town. This wet meadow bisected with a stream and surrounded by woodland is situated in the Parish of St. Helier. The land covers 24 vergees 18 perches, i.e. around 11 acres. The best time to visit the site for wildflowers and butterflies is from March to September, but the area is definitively worth a visit at any time of year.

History

The site takes its name from the numerous ferns to be seen in the woodland; examples include Lady Fern, Hart’s-tongue and Common Polypody. The site was purchased by the Trust in 1989 from the Jersey New Waterworks Co. Ltd.

Flora and Fauna

The woodland surrounding the meadow is made up of a variety of trees, but predominately Oak, Ash and Sycamore. There are some ancient, and very large, oak pollards [link to Woodlands introductory section] along the woodland’s western boundary with the meadow, and there are also some large oak coppice stools, both of which are unusual features in Jersey and evidence of past management.

In spring, a fine assortment of wildflowers, including Bluebell, Primrose, Dog Violet and Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage appear in the woodland, followed a little later (late May/June), by Foxgloves. A variety of insect life is also present, much of which is associated with dead wood and seldom seen by the casual visitor. More conspicuous is the Speckled Wood Butterfly, which favours dappled shade and is numerous here. Other butterflies to be seen include the Purple Hairstreak and Holly Blue.

Rustling in the woodland undergrowth betrays the presence of small mammals such as voles and shrews, although these are rarely seen by the visitor, who is much more likely to glimpse a Red Squirrel in the tree tops. A good range of birds are also present, including Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, the Chiff-chaff, Blackcap, Short-toed Treecreeper, Greater-spotted Woodpecker, Jay and Woodcock.

The meadow is of equal interest from a wildlife viewpoint. Early flowers include Cuckoo-flower, Ragged Robin and Meadow Buttercup. Later, Water Forget-me-not, Hemp Agrimony, Marsh Thistle, Water Mint and Greater Bird’s foot-trefoil appear. In drier parts of the meadow, Lesser Stitchwort, Wood Spurge and Lesser Bird’s foot-trefoil can be seen, as well as Agrimony and Black Knapweed, both of which are rare in Jersey.

Many of these wildflowers are attractive to butterflies, a wide variety of which can be observed on sunny days. These include Orange Tip (the caterpillars of which feed on Cuckoo Flower), Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Small Tortoiseshell. A colourful day-flying moth, the Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria), also occurs. Equally conspicuous are the large dragonflies, several species of which can be seen hunting over the meadow or patrolling the stream. These include the uncommon Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii), and in late summer, the Migrant Hawker.

A Kestrel can often be seen hovering over the meadow in search of small mammals, and Barn Owls have also been observed hunting at dusk. Flocks of small seed-eating birds, such as Goldfinches and House Sparrows, often visit the meadow to feed from the heads of thistles and other tall plants.

Site Management

Although Fern Valley is not an especially large site, it has a complex variety of habitats. This is reflected in its management, the effects of which are being monitored by National Trust for Jersey staff and volunteers, as well as the Natural History Section of the Société Jersiaise. Management practices may well continue to evolve in the light of further experience

The main management input is currently directed at the meadow area, and it is intended to maintain the woodland in roughly its present state, until a management plan is produced. Some sycamore control is undertaken, especially where this favours the regeneration of other tree species. Dead or dying trees are a natural part of a woodland ecosystem, and these are only felled where they represent a possible danger to visitors. Dead wood is left on site to provide a valuable habitat for fungi and insect life.

The meadow is managed by a combination of grazing and cutting. Some areas are left ungrazed and uncut during the summer in order to allow wildflowers to set seed, and to maintain nectar sources for insects throughout the season. It is essential that the arisings (i.e. the cut material) are removed; otherwise the fertility of the meadow would increase, resulting in the smaller plants being crowded out by coarse vegetation. Some stretches of the stream are cleared each year to provide open water for the Golden-ringed Dragonfly, and control of invasive species such as docks and the poisonous Hemlock Water-dropwort is undertaken when necessary.

Management of the meadow area is very labour-intensive, as the ground is seldom dry enough for access by tractors or other large machinery, so the bulk of the cutting work has to be carried out using hand-operated equipment. The arisings are also raked up and removed by hand. With the decline in the size of Jersey’s dairy herd, it has proved increasingly difficult to obtain satisfactory grazing for small sites with relatively poor access, such as Fern Valley. Conservation grazing is an essential management tool on many National Trust for Jersey owned sites, and ensuring that it continues will be a major challenge in the years ahead.

Visitor Access and Facilities

There is a maintained circular walking route. Limited parking is available at site entrance, but visitors should ensure that they do not obstruct the track.