Vallée des Vaux

Vallée des Vaux is a steep-sided, largely wooded valley on the outskirts of St. Helier. The National Trust for Jersey owns much of the woodland in several separate blocks, together with some open land, all of which were acquired between 1937 and 1990 and amounting to over 20 vergees [3 ha] in total area. Much of the remaining land in the valley has been developed for housing, and it is likely that a great deal more of it would have been built upon, had not the Trust managed to acquire the land.

As with many woodlands, springtime (for wildflowers and birdsong), and autumn (for leaf colours and fungi), are the best times to visit Vallée des Vaux, but a brief escape from the bustle of town can be enjoyed here throughout the year.

History and Wildlife

The Trust’s first ever donation of land, Le Don Le Gallais, consists of two blocks of woodland, the northernmost of which is the largest (over 8 vergees / 1.5 ha) of the Trust’s holdings in the valley. This, along with a smaller area of woodland, was donated by Mr and Mrs Carlyle Le Gallais in 1937, and consists largely of Sycamore, Beech, Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) and Oak, with smaller numbers of other trees, such as Ash and Wild Cherry. Much of the ground between the trees is quite open, although in places there are dense thickets of Holly and Bramble. There is a well-defined roadside bank, which is topped with trees and shrubs. The ground flora, fungi and insect life of Don Le Gallais and the other Vallée des Vaux woodlands may not be as rich as in the Trust’s St. Peter’s Valley woodlands, but they do support Red Squirrels and a good variety of birdlife.

Other Trust woodlands in Vallée des Vaux include Le Grand Côtil (Don Janes), a long, narrow and steeply sloping area opposite the Harvest Barn pub, consisting largely of sycamore, although there are some fine old oaks along the roadside. La Fiotterie is a small area which was planted up in 1986, with oak and beech and other native trees. The nearby Les Deserts was originally planted as an arboretum in the early 1970’s with a varied assortment of trees and shrubs, including some conifers, but maintenance proved impractical on such a steeply sloping site, and it is now managed as a conventional woodland.

Le Don Le Feuvre is a small area of developing woodland consisting mainly of sycamore, ash and oak, with some large patches of gorse, to the north of the Harvest Barn. A large duck pond separates this site from Le Don O’Meara; this small piece of land consists of a block of woodland and an expanse of bracken, fronted by a grassy area by the roadside.

The Trust’s remaining holding in the Vallée, Dawson’s Garden, has an interesting history. Situated between Le Grand Côtil and Les Deserts, this site was part of a private garden owned by Lt. Colonel P. Dawson before it was donated to the Trust in 1989. In 2002, it was decided to replant the area as a Hazel coppice. Hazel is an important plant for wildlife, supporting many insects and providing food and cover for small birds, as well as nuts for Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) and other small mammals. Furthermore, within a few years, the coppice will provide materials such as pea and bean sticks and stakes for use in the Walled Garden at The Elms and at other Trust sites.

Site Management

The Vallée des Vaux woodlands, particularly Don Le Gallais, suffer from many of the problems associated with urban fringe woodlands in the UK. These include fly-tipping, the trampling of vegetation away from paths, and occasional vandalism to trees and roadside fencing. As well as attending to these problems, the Trust must also ensure that the many trees bordering the road and adjacent properties, as well as the footpaths within the woodlands, are maintained in a safe condition.

Woodland management itself is currently ‘low key’, although there has been past tree planting on some of the sites, and here a programme of thinning or coppicing will be introduced where necessary. The newly-planted Dawson’s Garden Coppice will be managed on a regular coppice cycle, both for the benefit of wildlife and to provide useful products. As with other National Trust for Jersey woodlands, dead wood and rotten stumps are left on site to provide additional wildlife habitat whenever possible.

Visitor Access and Facilities

Both parts of Don Le Gallais have well-maintained footpaths and good access points from the adjacent road. Access to most of the other Trust sites mentioned is very difficult owing to the steep terrain and lack of paths, and they are best viewed from the roadside.

Parking within Vallée des Vaux itself is very limited, but the valley is only a few minutes walk or cycle ride from the North of St Helier. The narrow, winding road through the valley has a 15 mph speed limit, hence it is popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders.