The War Trail
A War Trail is currently being developed as part of the creation of a much
wider experience of the Occupation when visiting Jersey War Tunnels.
This is the final project within the current refurbishment to be completed
later on in 2003.
Located in a wood on high ground adjacent to the tunnel complex of Ho8 it
was originally the site of a German anti-aircraft gun battery during the
island’s Occupation by German forces from 1941-1945. Ever since the
Liberation this area has remained an untouched habitat for trees, plants
and wildlife.
Although heavily overgrown, it is still possible to identify the fortified anti-aircraft gun positions, crawl trenches, barbed wire entanglements and personnel shelters all of which combined to produce a position that safeguarded the Eastern approach to the airport.
Paths have already been created in the area to link the Green Lanes of St Lawrence and St Peter and Jersey War Tunnels will use these paths to create a War Trail by interpreting the structures and fortifications that still exist. Conservation will play a large part in this project as will the desire to introduce as many educational opportunities as practicable.
Sticking to the paths is essential because the undergrowth still conceals
barbed wire entanglements, shelter trenches and other obstacles but clearly
defined paths will lead the visitor to all the interesting aspects of the
site.
Entrances to the site exist at the junction of Meadowbank and Mont du Rocher
and in St Peter’s Valley near the Jersey New Waterworks Pumping Station
at Tesson Mill. The paths are quite steep and the nearby Visitor Centre
and Café at Jersey War Tunnels provides an ideal refreshment point.