Plans for forest school given go-ahead

Jersey community group, Grow, has asked for permission to expand its site near the Surville cemetery

Plans to build a forest school on the outskirts of St Helier in Jersey have been given the go-ahead.

The Jersey community group, Grow, had submitted plans to expand its site near the Surville cemetery to include solar panels, a wildlife pond and two polytunnels.

The school is to be an educational area for pupils who do not currently have access to wildlife areas, project leaders said.

For the past two years the group has helped people from different backgrounds learn more about nature by planting and growing at its field.

It said expanding into a next door field would enhance what it offered.

However, some of those who go to the cemetery to visit loved ones are concerned about the access to the new development.

Alan Holyoake regularly visits his wife’s grave

Alan Holyoake visits his wife’s grave and feels from a religious point of view "to run roughshod over the sanctity of a cemetery is wrong".

He said that while the law does not seem to respect the sanctity of his wife’s grave site – it was blessed and it was a sacred area.

Conditions were included in the planning permission including pedestrians being directed down the path used to get to the allotments next door.

However, minibuses will still need to go through the cemetery.

"It’s really important to the parish that we preserve that sense of peace and tranquillity"

The Constable of St Helier - Simon Crowcroft - said the parish supported the Grow project and provided a field for them to use until they needed to expand the cemetery.

He added that he "understands the concern" about increased activity in the next door cemetery.

"It’s really important to the parish that we preserve that sense of peace and tranquillity - but we don’t envisage a lot of traffic coming up to the Grow project," Mr Crowcroft said.

Co-founder of Grow Sheena Brockie said: "We are delighted that our planning application for Grow has been approved.

"The planning process in Jersey ensures that any interested party can raise concerns and we understand that a number of individual concerns were raised and assessed as part of this process."

She added: "At Grow we aim to be as fully inclusive and accessible as possible, which is aligned to our ethos.

"We encourage anyone who might be experiencing grief, loneliness, isolation or need time to focus on their physical and mental wellbeing to come to visit Grow and to get involved."