Creation of a new coastal footpath section -
La Route Du Nord
Project Area
Habitats
Specialism
Coastal Path creation
Year
2023/2024
We were honoured to install a new coastal footpath on behalf of the States of Jersey Land Resource Management Team (LRM) over the winter of 2023/2024.
There has alway been a section of the north coast footpath ‘missing’ where people have to walk along the main road between Les Platons and Ronez Quarry. This project required us to create a new path along the coastal slope, offering fantastic views and tranquility for walkers on the north coast footpath.
This was a huge project for us, with the new path measuring over 1,150 metres, with 132 sleeper steps and a new bridge to cross a valley stream. An approximate route was provided by Land Resource Management, but we determined the final route; taking in as many features and views as possible, whilst avoiding as many ecological features and trees as we could. The works were requested to be undertaken over winter 23/24, which was one of the wettest winters we have ever had and this posed significant problems due to the extent of rain and mud!
The project involved finalising a suitable route, clearing all vegetation from the route, digging and levelling the path (with Mark Blandin - the very talented and brave digger driver), installing infrastructure such as drainage, steps and bridges, then raking and levelling the path, and finally seeding it.
The results are spectacular, with a wide path that takes in many ‘new’ views of the north coast and bays below.
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Julia Clively, Natural Environment Officer at the States of Jersey, said ‘Most of Jersey’s coastal footpath was constructed early in the 1980’s by the then Committee of Public Works, however, there is section in St John across public land that was never completed. This has required walkers to use the pavement along La Route Du Nord between La Saline and Sorel Point, a gap of over 1km.
Traffic along La Route Du Nord can be heavy at times particularly with quarry vehicles, and the new extension to the north coast route will give the public the option to walk through mixed woodland and bracken covered slopes, where no coastal path previously existed.
Financial support to enable the work was provided by the COVID Health and Social Recovery Fund and the new path will also allow access to the headland so that the coastal slopes can be managed to improve biodiversity and encourage wildlife to flourish on this part of the north coast.
The public response has been very positive, and it has already become a well-used and valuable part of Jersey’s access network.’
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Living Wall - Corbiere
In order to demonstrate environmental gain in the Coastal National Park, our client included a living wall as part of their Planning Application for an extension.
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Nude Dunes - St Ouen's Bay
Protected wildlife translocation and sand dune habitat creation. This site located within the Coastal National Park was to be converted into a new beachside café.
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Re-Development - Les Ruisseaux Estate
A private development with close proximity to a Nature Reserve, whereby full re-development of the house, gardens and pond were approved.
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Conway Tower - Wayside, St Brelade's Bay
Protected wildlife translocation and sand dune habitat creation for a 500m2 coastal strip around the former Wayside Café.
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Historic Farm Complex - St Ouen
Ecological surveys of this farm complex in St Ouen found Protected Species and wildlife use that required mitigation to achieve Planning Permission.
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Samarés Nurseries Re-Development
Large redundant glasshouse site with high populations of Protected Species groups present. Habitat re-creation and wildlife re-homed to specially created receptor sites.
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Bat Mitigation for Site Development
Protected species mitigation and translocation in development project that involved a full re-roof and extensive re-landscaping work.
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Wildlife Zone - Les Quennevais School
Agricultural fields re-zoned to accommodate the new school. Demonstration of environmental gain as a result of the development required.
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Heathland Restoration - Wolf's Caves
The Planning Application to build a new home at Wolf’s Caves included an element to restore the coastal slopes in front of the property to species rich heathland.
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Wildlife Pond & Waterfall - Daisy Hill
Large wildlife pond creation in a domestic garden to attract a variety of wildlife. Our client also wanted to create a natural looking stream and waterfall leading into the pond.
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Planning in the Coastal National Park
Proposed demolition of a private house within the Coastal National Park where an Ecological Assessment and Species Protection Plan were reuiqred for Planning.
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Green Retaining Wall - St Brelade's Bay
An engineered vegetated retaining wall system, created to replace a bank and wall that were subsiding due to high-tide wave erosion.
