Trees provide our oldest, tallest, and biggest living things on Earth (5,000 year old Bristlecone pine, 112 metre high Coastal redwood and the 2,000 tonne Giant Sequoia respectively). They don’t measure years – they span generations and because of this they give us a sense of place.

Our Victorian ancestors perhaps appreciated this more than we do today. Many of St Peter Port’s trees of stature were planted in the 19th century and provide green (and sometimes purple!) jewels in the crown of its beautiful landscape.

We’ve all grown up with trees and developed attachments to them. Trees such as the 140 year old Turkey oak in the grounds of the Priaulx Library (sadly starting to die back) or the Turkey oaks at South Esplanade and The Bus Terminus which have endured decades of wind and salt since they were planted back in the 1860s. Other trees of note include the large Purple beech in the Grange and the huge Lime at the top of the same road.

Sadly trees do not live forever and their lives are made even shorter by the conditions and treatments they must endure if they are to survive in difficult situations eg urban areas. Soil for one thing is usually meagre in supply and then of poor quality and compacted. Building works in and around the roots of trees can cause considerable damage making them more susceptible to disease. As a result trees which could live 300 years may last 100 (or less) at best.

Professional Advice

The Environment Department employs a Tree Officer, Andy McCutcheon.  Andy is happy to provide advice to members of the public as well as professionals in the construction industry and utilities sector on all matters tree-related. For details of how to contact him follow the "Contact details" link.

Free Booklet

A booklet entitled Trees & Hedges in Guernsey is available from the Environment Department on request.