Post 12
The Bathing Pools & café
Bugs and Beasties
Flower bed
This flower bed was planted with insect-friendly plants — that is, those which are strongly scented and produce lots of pollen and nectar to feed the insects.
What can you smell? What colours can you see? What plant here seems to have the most insects visiting it today?
Watch for 1 minute (set a timer). How many insects have come to your plant during that time? This kind of observation helps us to understand what plants are particularly good for pollinating insects. Try it at home.
You will find that the plant that the insects seem to like varies throughout the year. Organisations like the Pollinator Project and the RSPB encourage people to plant a variety of flowering plants and shrubs in their garden such that there is food for the insects all year round.
History of La Vallette
The bathing pools at La Vallette were originally built to compensate for the loss of swimming facilities caused by the expansion of St Peter Port harbour. These Victorian-era structures consist of three intertidal seawater pools and an open swimming area. The open Horseshoe Pool was the first structure to be built in 1844; it comprises a circular stepped wall that is open to the sea to allow swimmers access to the water. The intertidal pools, still named Ladies and Gents pools, were built in the 1870s, with the Children's Pool added 20 years later.
At one point a very large development was proposed, which would have been very grand, with amphitheatre-style seating and a 100m pool where the current Children's Pool sits.
Due to increasing costs, removal of the bathing pools was proposed in the 1970s and narrowly defeated in the States, spearheaded by a campaign by States member Bill Green. He is remembered by a memorial stone on the wall by the entrance to the pools.
The bathing pools are proud to celebrate their history as the home of Guernsey's sea swimming.
Literary Route
Lester Queripel
From Guernsey Arts, Pocket Island Poetry
A Morning
An employee stumbles out of bed,
Swallowing a coffee black and exiting into the early dawn.
Herring gulls herald the shuttering stars,
Unveiling across the sky a reflection of deep blue.
Here a street tumbles down a town hanging off a cliff,
Smacking shoe soles off its cobbled path.
Rows of houses sink out of sight as a
Shimmer gallantly begins to round the bend.A well-dressed accountant strides alongside the sea,
Stepping over seaweed and stones tossed around the night before.
The first engines are woken up rudely,
Sputtering into action and spinning up dust.
Far-off islands suddenly appear as clear as day,
Pushing swathes of clouds up into the atmosphere.
Finally hunkering down at a warm desk,
Daytime reveals itself from just beyond the window frame.A grateful friend greets the crystal water,
Taking a break by diving off a high wall, hands above head.
Eyes open, despite the sea salt which burns,
Taking in the floating sand and restless fish.
Ears plugged with water, the tides whisper their movement,
Shushing the lungs which have run out of air.
Bubbles first, then emerging in a splash as the lunch-hour comes to a close,
Looking back across a foaming tide, the island floats above it all.
Plant Spotter
La Vallette Garden
The award-winning redesign of the area in 2019 included a small but perfectly formed garden, maintained by volunteers, and planted with pollinator-friendly, salt-resistant vegetation.
Planted with Verbena bonariensis, alliums, cranesbill, salvias, nepeta, ox-eye daisy, poppy, hebes, eryngium, scabious, echiums, sheep's bit and sedum — a beautiful variety of pollinator-friendly plants that provide abundant nectar and pollen sources throughout the year.
Walking for Health
Well done — now do it again!
For good health, most people need to walk briskly for a minimum of 30 minutes five times a week, or 150 minutes a week. Try and make walking one of your regular habits.
Consider downloading a walking tracker app to keep you on track — such as the NHS Active 10 app.