Flower Power of LBA Flights To Guernsey

Flights to Guernsey resume from Leeds Bradford Airport on May 24th coinciding with the island hosting its annual Floral Festival from 2nd to 30th June.

Guernsey will be in full bloom as www.aurigny.com gives Yorkshire folk another opportunity to sample the beauty of this former Nazi occupied island and its rich turbulent history.

There are a range of events taking place over the coming weeks and months from themed gin cocktail events and beekeeping talks to open gardens and guided walks around the island.

Guernsey’s geographical location means that the island experiences warmer temperatures, enabling tropical flowers and plants to thrive. It also has longer flowering seasons than the rest of the UK, making this a prime time for gardening enthusiasts to visit. The Guernsey Lily will be in abundance, alongside woods of bluebells and wildflower strewn meadows.

Festival highlights include:

Floral gin at the Bella Luce – throughout the festival

The Bella Luce Hotel will be adding a unique gin with a floral twist to its June drinks menu. Produced on site in the hotel’s atmospheric cellar lounge, the festival gin blends Guernsey-grown kumquat and foraged elderflower with 13 other botanicals including hibiscus flower and lavender. The hotel is home to Wheadon’s Gin small batch distillery and is open to non-guests for food and drink. bellalucehotel.com

Taste Seafront Sunday – Sunday 2nd June, 10am - 4pm

As part of Guernsey’s Seafront Sunday series, when St Peter Port’s seafront is pedestrianised on certain Sundays across the summer, Floral Guernsey will be hosting a programme of speakers outside the Guernsey Information Centre. This will include Malcolm Cleal, former manager of Guernsey’s Parks and Gardens, who will talk about Japanese influence in Guernsey, and an intriguing talk on the history of Sake www.visitguernsey.com/see-and-do/events-festivals/guernsey-floral-festival/taste-guernsey-seafront-sunday-floral-festival-events

Hidden Gardens of St Pierre du Bois - Saturday 8th – Sunday 9th June, 12 - 5pm

With over 20 enchanting gardens on offer, visitors can spend a day exploring the scenic country parish of St Pierre du Bois on the west of the island. The tour starts at Les Buttes by the parish church, where there will be a scrumptious BBQ from 12 noon to 2pm and a selection of teas from 2pm to 5pm on the green. Adults £7. Children under 16 free. www.floralguernsey.co.uk/event/hidden-gardens-st-pierre-du-bois

Floral Guernsey Foundation Open Garden – Sunday 16th June, 10am - 4pm

The private gardens of Grange Court in St. Peter Port will be open to the public for one day only on behalf of CLIP (Creative Learning in Prison). There will be a display and sale of some of the goods made at the prison, alongside live music, refreshments, garden tours, a plant sale and tombola. Entrance is a charitable donation of £5 per person. www.floralguernsey.co.uk/event/open-garden-grange-court-1

How To Help Guernsey Bees Thrive at In Bloom - Saturday 22nd June, 4pm

Guernsey florist and plant shop In Bloom hosts an informative gathering led by the Channel Islands Pollinator Project, offering facts, tips and tricks that can be used every day to help one of the most vital garden insects to benefit the island and planet. Guests will have the chance to buy bee-friendly seed packets and enjoy a 10% discount offer on all In Bloom products after the workshop. Entrance is free but donations towards The Pollinator Project will be accepted. To book, email hello@inbloomguernsey.com www.visitguernsey.com/see-and-do/events-festivals/guernsey-floral-festival/how-to-help-our-guernsey-bees-thrive

Candie Gardens Exhibition and Concert – Sunday 30th June, 3pm - 4pm

On the last day of the festival, visitors can view the Guernsey Goes East exhibition at Guernsey Museum followed by a walk around the Victorian Candie Gardens, concluded with an outdoor concert sponsored by the Guernsey Arts Commission.

For Festival details: www.visitguernsey.com/see-and-do/events-festivals/guernsey-floral-festival

Getting there:

Direct flights to Guernsey start at Leeds Bradford Int. Airport on May 24th and operate year-round from London Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted, as well as other regional airports. See www.aurigny.com or www.flybe.com.