Lack of 'desire' to revitalise growing industry

Raymond Evison said the Guernsey Botanical Trust was formed in 2006 to help revitalise the gardens

There is not enough interest to keep the horticultural industry going in Guernsey, a local expert says.

Raymond Evison, president of the Guernsey Botanical Trust and founder of Guernsey Clematis, said: "I very much hope that the horticultural industry could start up again but I don't think there is the desire for that to happen.

"It is very sad when you fly into the island and see so many redundant glasshouses."

Mr Evison said it was often simply too expensive and difficult to maintain or rebuild the structures for most.

Fletcher's Freesias greenhouses is one of the sites that has fallen into disrepair

Guernsey used to be famous for tomato exports, but, since the collapse of the industry, many greenhouses have fallen into disrepair.

Work to rebuild the glasshouses at the Sausmarez Park Walled Kitchen Garden began in 2007 and the overall £200,000 cost had matched funding from the States of Guernsey.

The next round of maintenance is due at a cost of £30,000 to £35,000 to the Guernsey Botanical Trust.

Mr Evison said Guernsey was "ideal for growing young plants" and that he had tried to encourage his friends from Europe to come to the island to start a horticultural business, but it had not worked out.

He added the time for a booming growing industry "has gone".

Sarah Alfadl said her charity was on the hunt for a second greenhouse to offer to the public

Sarah Alfadl, chair of Edible Guernsey, which runs a community greenhouse in St Pierre du Bois, said: "We need to think about the preservation and the revitalisation of some, though not all, greenhouses."

She added that the growing industry could help solve a lot of issues, including improving the shelf life of products and reducing waste.

The charity said it was currently looking for a second greenhouse in a more populated area to help revitalise another site.