Val de la Mar Arboretum - Jersey, Channel Islands

Located next to a scenic reservoir walk in the Channel Island of Jersey, Val de la Mare Arboretum is a popular conservation area with ten distinct tree collections based on geography and genus, encompassing regions as diverse as North America, the Far East and Australasia.

Among the multitude of exotic and, in many cases, endangered species can be found fine specimens such as coastal redwood, Japanese cedar, Korean birch and Miena cider gum.

Perhaps most notably, the arboretum is home to four genetically diverse Chinese swamp cypresses (Glyptostrobus pensilis), the only such group in the northern hemisphere (the species is classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ by IUCN).

Val de la Mare Arboretum was established in partnership with the island’s government by the Moores family in 1975. After initial funding ended, however, the area became neglected.

In 2012 local charity Jersey Trees for Life entered into an agreement with landowners Jersey Water to assume ongoing responsibility for care of the arboretum including planting and maintenance.

Today, Val de la Mare Arboretum is more popular than ever. As well as attracting walkers, runners, conservationists and tree enthusiasts, it’s now a volunteering hub for Jersey Trees for Life, which hosts monthly events there to help the community directly engage with nature.

In 2024 Jersey Trees for Life launched an online tree map of the arboretum that includes details and a photo of all its trees. You can find out more about Val de la Mare and access the tree map from here.