All 12 Jersey parishes ready for Battle of Flowers

It is the first time in more than twenty years all twelve parishes have been involved in the event

All 12 Jersey parishes will have a float in the annual Battle of Flowers festival for the first time in more than two decades.

The event starts on Friday with a parade during the day, followed by a moonlight parade and concerts over the weekend.

Organisers, designers and volunteers have spent months getting the floats ready to exhibit on Victoria Avenue in St Helier.

St Ouen hasn't had a float in the battle since 2006 but it's returning to the festival in the hands of seasoned veteran, Marcus Davies, who designed his first battle float in 1978.

Volunteers have been working on the St Ouen and St Mary float for months

Mr Davies, who has complemented his career in fashion design with a passion for creating floral exhibits, believes 2024 is the first time all parishes have taken part in a battle parade since the centenary event in 2002.

"I think it’s important - if there’s any chance of this parade continuing, it needs involvement from the whole island," he said.

Marcus Davies designed his first battle float in 1978

Despite spending 30 years designing award-winning floats with the parish of St Clement, Mr Davies said he felt like the underdog this year.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself to turn out something which I'm known for but I knew the challenge would be a new team," he said.

He added: "Support was slow at the beginning, but it's grown. People have discovered this talent they never knew they had."

Julie has developed a specialist battle skill known as 'leafing'

One person who has discovered a new skill is Julie Journeaux.

She went along to help St Ouen and St Mary and has now become an expert in "leafing", a technique where she glues leaves to papier mâché shapes - earning her the nickname "Juleaf".

Some volunteers have never worked on a battle float before

Russell Labey , chairman of the Battle of Flowers Association, said the government called for 12 parishes to be in the parade when it audited the festival in 2015.

He said: "They're very good to us in terms of funding... so we're happy to meet the targets they set. It's been a lot of work for us but absolutely worth it in the end."

Nick Parlett has designed the Grouville 60s theme float

Jay Aston from Bucks Fizz visited the St Peter float

While for some parishes it's their first parade for years, others haven't missed it in decades.

Grouville is celebrating its 60th anniversary and Nick Parlett has designed a "Pop goes the 60s!" float to mark the occasion.

"It's not about the day, it's about the seven months prior to that," he said. "It's all a bit hit and miss sometimes but that's the fun part, and that's the bit spectators don't see."

Volunteers will watch their floats on Victoria Avenue on Friday

Volunteers in St Peter were working on their Eurovision float when a contest winner stopped by.

Jay Aston from 80s pop group Bucks Fizz was taken to the shed on Tuesday and watched dancers perform their Eurovision hit Making Your Mind Up.

She also helped out by attaching a flower on the float.

The Grouville Battle of Flowers Association has been going for 60 years

Gates open at 14:00 BST and the day parade kicks off at 16:00.