Manor opens its gardens to help homeless youngsters

Saturday 31 July 2021

The doors to one of Jersey's most iconic manors will be open to islanders this Sunday to raise funds for a charity that supports homeless young people.

St. John's Manor will be open from 14:00 to 17:00 tomorrow, with all the proceeds from the £5 entry fee (free for under-12s) going to the ​Jersey Association for Youth and Friendship (JAYF).

Created in 1961, charity aims to provide "help and security" to vulnerable young people who would otherwise be homeless. JAYF currently runs four hostels, which can accommodate up to 29 residents in mainly self-contained units with access to cooking, laundry and communal facilities.

Residents receive support from designated 'houseparents' and an experienced Manager who provide guidance and encouragement as they embark upon their chosen paths, whether in education, training or employment.

Pictured: The manor stands beside a lake in 10 acres of grounds, with a further 40 acres of farmland and surrounding woodland. (Google Maps)

With origins dating back to the 14th century, St. John's Manor stands beside a lake in 10 acres of grounds, with a further 40 acres of farmland and surrounding woodland, part of which will be open to the public on Sunday.

Children will delight in Squeaky Hollow, a perfect area for hide and seek, as well as the Yew Maze, a smaller replica of Hampton Court’s, and the aviaries, one containing many birds of prey including hawks, eagles, owls and a buzzard. The site also boasts a Japanese garden.

From 14:30, Richard Hall will fly a falcon every half an hour from the kitchen garden while Neil and Alli of Birding Tours (Jersey) will guide a Nature Walk at 15:00.

JAYF will also be serving Cream Teas, with goods donated by Fungi Delecti and Jersey Dairy, and there will be home-made cakes up for grabs from cake stall. JAYF has also organised a tombola for the event.

St. John's Manor was bought last year by John Curran Mills Richmond, who also took the ancient title of 'Seigneur of St. John', and his wife, Louisa, whose three daughters grew up on the island. Following the purchase, the couple said their "first priority was to conserve the history of the Manor for future generations".

Later that year, they announced plans to rebuild a greenhouse to the north of the site that was partially demolished in the 1980s to “bring the area back into use for the cultivation of fruit and vegetables.”