Letter - Minister for Economic Development - Government Plan 22 - Response to Written Questions - 29

Connétable Mike Jackson

Chair, Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel By email

19th October 2021 Dear Chair

Jersey National Park

1.  Funding for this project was £150,000 for 2021. The Mid-Year Review notes the project is on track and that stakeholder consultation is ongoing, however, little other detail has been provided in the progress update. Could you please provide a summary of the current progress status for this project?

Q2 2021 Report of Activities (as provided by JNP) Executive Summary

Since the last report, good progress has been made towards the achievement of the 2021 Business Plan objectives. The first of the three main marketing campaigns, Walk in the Park, ran for the month of May, including a focussed walking week'. The Frances Le Sueur Centre refurbishment continued and a new storage shed has been built, enabling new furniture and equipment  to  be  purchased  and  installed.  The  hiring  and  use  of  the  Centre  increased substantially over the quarter, particularly by schools and educationalists.

There has also been important work undertaken on the governance and strategy of the Jersey National Park. Board meetings have been held with representatives of the key stakeholder organisations  that  will  become  members  of  Jersey  National  Park  Limited,  together  with Government officials. Constructive discussions have led to consultation with lawyers and the request for the constitutional documents to be updated. This work will continue into the Autumn.

A busy period, enabled in some respects by the easing of covid restrictions. The ongoing building and developing of partner relationships is key to the Park's success and it is with the help of those partners the small JNP team of three are achieving so much. Achievement at this half-year stage, against year-end targeted Key Performance Indicators is as follows:-

Work completed

1.  Frances Le Sueur Centre

Further refurbishment work has been undertaken on the Frances Le Sueur Centre. With the grateful assistance of volunteers, the painting of the exterior of the building has been completed, aided by the use of a cherry picker and scaffolding to access the highest points. The new pond area fencing has also had two coats of paint, leaving just the wooden decking requiring a second coating. The new external storage shed has been constructed, enabling the delivery of new tables and chairs which are now stored within it. The new furniture has already been put to good use at the various events held at the Centre. A filing cabinet and white board have also been delivered.

The outside space on the north side has been cut back by the Rotary Club and is now the subject of discussion with regards to its best use for educational and conservational benefit.

The emergence of the Spring/Summer season and further easing of Covid restrictions has led to increased use of the Centre for educational and environmental activities. This has been organic growth, particularly from schools, as we continue to raise awareness of the Park, and of the Centre through word-of-mouth. Jersey College for Girls Prep, Year 5, and Springfield school each spent a day there in June and St Michael's school used the Centre on another occasion. St Lawrence school had planned to use it but had to cancel at the last minute. Once a  week  across June,  a  different  school  was  at the  Centre  as  part  of  Jersey  Heritage's educational programme. As part of that, our own Mike Stentiford provided the children with some biodiversity learning. It was great to see some of the St Helier town schools being included, as many of the children do not have the opportunity ordinarily to visit any part of the National Park and indeed, so many are unaware of it or the Frances Le Sueur Centre. The pond area outside the Centre has been the location for teaching children about aquatic life, care of Erin Cowham, education officer at the National Trust for Jersey. And Nurture Ecology's Earth Kids programme was based at the Centre over the Easter holidays, and will return for a further four weeks during the summer holidays.

The Centre continues to be the base for yoga sessions each week, but in addition, it has been used by Drift Retreats, Jersey Youth Parliament (to consider the Climate Assembly recommendations), Arthouse Jersey, and as the starting point for guided walks by the blue badge guides of Jersey Uncovered during the Walk in the Park campaign.

1. Marketing

The first of our three main marketing campaigns, Walk in the Park, ran for the month of May. Freedom Media created a specific page for the website and generated regular social media posts throughout the month. Visit Jersey are strong supporters of the Jersey National Park and they too promoted the Walk in the Park for us to visitors and locals alike. As part of the campaign, a series of guided walks were provided free to the public by the blue badge guides team at Jersey Uncovered, running from 10th to 16th May inclusive. In addition, three self-guided walk audio podcasts were produced by Freedom Media for people to download from the website and to use at a time to suit them. These were created from extensive video and audio footage, including the use of a drone camera, taken at 3 different locations within the Park and featuring two local experts' for each one. Tony Pike (Channel Islands Occupation Society) and Vince Thorne (professional landscape photographer) walked at Les Landes; James Gordon (Sumas restaurant) and Kazz Padidar (Wild Adventures) walked from St Catherine to Archirondel; and John Garton (Genuine Jersey) and Piers Sangan (Sangan Conservation) at L'Etacq. The BBC and ITV were invited to attend the filming of the foraging' podcast, featuring James Gordon and Kazz Padidar. Both media entities' television coverage included a brief interview with Jerry Neil, the Jersey National Park Officer. Simultaneously, Mike Stentiford was the guest In the hot seat' on Jenny Mullen's show on BBC Radio Jersey.

Public awareness of the Jersey National Park is created and maintained largely through online media promotional activity. The Walk in the Park campaign and regular postings to recognise or celebrate international days of an environmental nature, have been the primary events. There has also been coverage in the JEP of the refurbishment work undertaken at the Frances Le Sueur Centre. Key website and social media statistics for the 6 months to end of June 2021 are as follows:-

Website

11,829 Page views 7,124 Visits

6,570 Visitors (+0.8%) Facebook

3,681 Followers (+7.2%) 3,607 likes

Twitter

624 Followers (+16%) Instagram

1,586 Followers (+24.7%)

Quarterly meetings are held with Visit Jersey to ensure mutual awareness of each other's activities and plans, and to see how Visit Jersey can assist with the promotion of the Jersey National Park. Visit Jersey remain enthusiastic and committed to advertising the virtues and opportunities to visitors and locals alike of the asset that Jersey has in the Jersey National Park.

2. Aspiring Geopark

Partner relationship development remains key to the success of the Jersey National Park. Alongside  the  collaborative  working  with  all  the  organisations  already  mentioned,  Jersey Heritage has engaged with us at the JNP regarding their aspiring Geopark plans for Jersey. Jerry Neil is one of five Geopark gardiens representing stakeholder partner organisations for the project. He and the Jersey National Park are featured In Jersey Heritage's new Geopark visitor centre exhibition at the Jersey Museum which launched on 28 May 2021.

Work in Progress

1. Governance Board

The Board of Jersey National Park Limited held a meeting in April 2021 with the proposed wider Board members and directors, representing key Park stakeholders, with the intention of establishing strategy, mission and vision, and the governance structure. The engaging debate questioned and challenged the key purposes of the Park and consequently, the terms of reference for the governance Board. As a Jersey Government arms-length organisation, the consensus was the need for clear guidance from Government on the Park's role and expectations of the governance Board. A follow up meeting was held on 18th June to take the matters forward. The next version of the Rural Economy Strategy for 2022 was considered a good opportunity to obtain the clarity sought. It was agreed that the constitutional documents require substantial revisions now the company is a registered charity, and a local law firm has been engaged in this regard. The proposed new wider Board will operate as a management committee in the interim.

The strategy document is being revised following the Board meetings and separate meetings with representatives of the farming, marine and heritage sectors.

2. Rewilding the Park

The JNP team has aspirations for the wider surrounding area of La Mielle de Morville. The aim is to create a conservation programme, with a working title of Rewilding the Park', encompassing the development and management of various habitats across the site. Positive dialogue with the Environment Department is encouraging, as they struggle to undertake land management activities of any significance due to lack of resources. The aim would be to engender community voluntary support to undertake the initial work and provide help with the ongoing upkeep. This will also offer opportunities to corporates wishing to fulfil their sustainability agenda, contributing either financially or with man power. The Rotary Club is very keen to be involved, having already committed volunteer help for the woodland area to the rear of the Centre. They have also offered a coordination role and to find corporates to take part. If it progresses, it will be a long-term conservation project, linking together a number of the Park's key purposes and objectives.

It is intended that this will be the focus for the third marketing campaign this year, to run in September and October.

3. Fiscal Stimulus Fund

The application to the Fiscal Stimulus Fund was submitted at the end of January 2021 and no response had been received by the time announcements were made on the successful bids in June. It was then determined that Government had tried to email contact Jim Hopley twice but unfortunately had used an incorrect email address. Once this was highlighted, the JNP was assured that the committee would review its application however, no further communication has been received.

4. Park Boundaries

The proposed revisions to the Jersey National Park boundaries were put out to public consultation in April. There was particular concern raised by representatives of the farming community and a substantial landowner regarding assumed increased control over land use and land management, which clearly indicated that the communication by Government could have been better. Jim Hopley has met and has offered to meet with any interested parties, alongside Government officials, to help explain the rationale and intentions for the changes. From the Jersey National Park's perspective, the presumption is not one of no development, but rather reasonable and appropriate development, and the enhancement of biodiversity. The public consultation on the boundary proposals closed on 12 July 2021, following which a UK planning inspector will collate the information for presentation to Government and thereafter, for States Assembly debate in early 2022.

5. Frances Le Sueur Centre

Plans are developing with the Channel Islands Occupation Society regarding a two week exhibition planned for September 2021. This will feature photographs of the St Ouen's Bay area during World War 2 and the aftermath.

Nature in Mind' is a mindfulness and nature course that Lee Bennett of Mindfully Wild and Neil Harvey of National Trust are looking to present at the FLSC and surrounding area. This is a collaboration with Jersey National Park. The initial presentation was scheduled for June but did not garner sufficient ticket sales and has been rescheduled to August.

6. Picnic in the Park campaign

Work is well underway on preparations for Jersey National Park's second marketing campaign of the year, Picnic in the Park. This will build on last year's event, kindly sponsored again by Island's Insurance. There will be a wider range of picnics available from local establishments, all offering Genuine Jersey produce. The campaign very much supports the hospitality industry and Visit Jersey's Island break' initiative.

7. Le Braye café interpretation boards and JNP flag

Discussions continue with the proprietors of Le Braye café, strong supporters of the Jersey National Park, regarding interpretation signage. The intention is to put up some boards inside and outside of the café to provide information on the biodiversity of the area. A JNP flag has been made that can be hoisted on the café's flagpole for JNP-related events. Menus already have the addition of the JNP logo.

8. JNP App potential development

The possibility of creating an app for the Jersey National Park is being considered and the idea has been discussed with Visit Jersey. Consultation with National Trust and Jersey Heritage will also be sought as the four organisations could benefit from a joint approach, given the common aim of marketing and public awareness of Jersey's natural environment and cultural history and sites.

2. Could you outline the total spend to date, including a breakdown of the specific spend in relation to the £150,000 funding allocated for 2021? Where no spend has been incurred to date, please can you specify NIL.

Total Spend by Jersey National Park Ltd to 30th June 2021:

 £

2018  45,093

2019  37,461

2020  84,596

2021  75,064 - as detailed below

JERSEY NATIONAL PARK LTD.

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE 6 MONTHS ENDING 30TH JUNE 2021

SIX MONTHS THIS Y.T.D. £

£

BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD 1st JAN 2021  58,156 INCOME

FIRST TRANCHE GOVERNMENT PLAN MONIES 2021 75,000

HIRE FEES FLS CENTRE 1,290

TOTAL INCOME  76,290 EXPENDITURE

PERSONNEL COSTS 17,970 EQUIPMENT PURCHASES FLS CENTRE 3,939 SHED / FENCE INSTALLATION FLS CENTRE 14,230 GENERAL EXPENSES (POSTAGE / ELECTRICITY / CLEANING) 1,065 MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT REFURBISHMENT OF FLS CENTRE* 973 BANK CHARGES 22 J.E.C COMPUTER SUPPORT 60 SUBSCRIPTIONS (AJC MEMBERSHIP) 15 PURCHASE OF JNP FLAG 234 SPONSORED WALKS W.I.P. 1,120

MARKETING EXPENDITURE (FREEDOM MEDIA)

WEBSITE HOSTING AND DEVELOPMENT 2,656

SIGNAGE 1,764

ADVERTISING PORTS OF JERSEY/WHATS ON 3,464

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT 6,737

DESIGN 1,339

SOCIAL MEDIA 3,560

WALK IN PARK CAMPAIGN 15,915

TOTAL MARKETING  35,435  TOTAL EXPENDITURE

75,064

BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD  59,382

BALANCE c/fwd CASH AT BANK AFTER ACCRUALS (INC/CHARGES) 54,607

PRE PAYMENT PERSONNEL LAW AT WORK (ASL) 4,775

NOTE * LABOUR COSTS OF REFURBISHMENT OF FLS CENTRE NIL AS WORK CARRIED OUT BY VOLUNTEERS

AS WAS MUCH REWILDING ACTIVITY IN AREA OF LA MIELLE SURROUNDING FLS CENTRE.

JERSEY NATIONAL PARK LTD.

BUDGET SECOND HALF YEAR 2021 ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2021

 £

BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD   59,382 INCOME

GOVERNMENT PLAN MONIES 2ND TRANCHE 2021 75,000

PLEDGED DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIP 27,100

HIRE FEES FLS CENTRE 1,800

TOTAL INCOME   103,900

EXPENDITURE

PERSONNEL COSTS   18,000

GENERAL EXPENSES 5,000

MARKETING FREEDOM MEDIA 10,000

SOCIAL MEDIA 4,000

CAMPAIGNS PICNIC IN PARK 15,000

REWILDING   15,000

LEAFLETS 3,000

WEBSITE MODIFICATIONS 3,000

MARKET RESEARCH 4,500

INTERNALS FLS CENTRE 4,300 EXHIBITIONS 5,000

EDUCATION MATERIALS / INTERPRETATION ASSETS / APPS 10,000

SIGNAGE 5,000

MAJOR WORKS ON FLS CENTRE (TOILETS / KITCHEN) 20,000

FENCING 3,000

EXTERNAL AREAS FLS CENTRE 5,000

LEGAL FEES GOVERNANCE 8,000

TOTAL EXPENDITURE  137,800 CONTINGENCY   10,000

RESERVE CARRIED FORWARD (CVC SPONSORSHIP MONIES)   15,500

3. In respect of the spend to date, what has been achieved and has the level of funding for 2021 been sufficient to meet the project's aims to date?

In respect of spend to date, reporting on 2020 KPIs shown below, in addition to 2021 activity – which is sufficiently funded.

4. In the Panel's review of the Government Plan 2021, the Panel recommended that the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism Sport and Culture should, by the end of Q1 2021, put in place suitable protocols to ensure a more collaborative approach to their involvement in the Jersey National Park project and in the support extended to the Jersey National Park. Has this recommendation been actioned by your department and, if so, please can you explain how and the outcomes thereof?

Officers from both Departments attend JNP Board meetings in an observer capacity, attend quarterly stakeholder management meetings and hold informal inter-departmental meetings to ensure a joined-up approach to the ALO is maintained. Quarterly meetings held between the JNP and Departments (Economy and Environment) have a clear record of reporting and minute of actions where required.

5. The Government Plan 2022 notes a funding request of £200,000 for 2022, please could you provide a breakdown of what this is intended to cover, including the breakdown of any specific allocations?

The business delivery plan for JNP for 2022 is currently being prepared and will be agreed with the Departments during Q4 2021 – a breakdown is not yet available but can be provided when complete (estimated date 15th November 2021).

6. Do you consider that the amount for 2022 of £200,000 is sufficient to meet the project's aims?

Yes – subject to the acceptability of the JNP business delivery plan proposal. Yours sincerely

Senator Lyndon Farnham

Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture L. Farnham @gov.je | 19-21 Broad Street | St Helier | Jersey | JE2 3RR