The main island of several, collectively known as the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Her dependant islands, largest first, are Alderney, Sark, Herm and a number of tiny outcrops, which are mostly uninhabited.
Including Jersey and her dependencies, all these together make up the Channel Islands.
Island Life
I have only come to realise later in life that living on an island is quite different from being in a larger country. It’s difficult to explain, but as an “islander” you get a nose for it. All islands, wherever you are have a particular kind of atmosphere. Maybe it’s the smallness of things around you, or the sense of community and isolation. Perversely, I remember my “islandometer” twitching on my first and second visit to New Zealand. So size doesn’t necessarily dictate what makes an island, in my opinion. NZ is quite a large country, but it retains the island feel because of its tiny and friendly population.
Above all, people always assume everybody knows everybody on Guernsey. Sadly this is far from the case. There are quite a few people crammed onto that rock – at last count just under 60,000!
Guernsey natives are known as Donkey’s. I wasn’t sure where to fit that useful fact in to this text, but I feel it important all female readers know this. Unfortunately, I believe the nickname refers more to islander’s stubbornness, rather than the size of their appendages. None-the-less, you’ll agree it’s quite a good title to hold.
There is a strong historical connection with France, and this is evident everywhere from street names to surnames. The local language, Guernsey Patoir, is loosely based on Norman French and is still often spoken in rural parts.
Island life certainly revolves around the sea, as there is quite a bit of it! People spend summer on the beaches, and winter on walks taking in the harsh conditions. When there is a good storm happening, locals turn out in their droves to various look out points to watch the waves hammering the shore. Last April fool’s day, the local radio station casually reported a giant squid had been washed up in the main harbour, St.Peter Port. The area ground to a halt as masses of folk arrived to inspect the creature. You get my point!
Crime levels are generally very low, and there is still an overwhelming sense of well being and trust throughout the community.
Traditionally, the main industries were always horticulture first (flowers & tomatoes) and tourism second. This has changed almost incomparably during the last decade. Offshore banking, to give it it’s politically correct name, has now become the main employer in the island. The islands’ tax haven status has ensured huge growth in this sector in recent years. Many Islanders worry that too much has been put into this industry, at the expense of everything else. The current UK government has an inherent dislike of the islands’ tax haven status and persistently threatens to make changes. Many of these changes have been pushed through post 9/11, when the industry has been forced to clean up its act and provide more traceability on foreign interests.
The finance industry has brought wealth to many, and this is reflected in both property prices and the cost of living. First time house buyers would expect to pay GBP180,000 for a pretty basic place to live!
There are many unique things about the islands. One of my favourites would be the agriculture, which mostly revolves around dairying and the famous Guernsey Cow. Farming is mostly on a small scale, with herd sizes ranging from literally two or three up to two hundred. Fields are small, and everything is generally done in an environmentally friendly way. The Guernsey Dairy is state run and has a monopoly on island milk sales – no milk is allowed to be imported into the Islands from elsewhere. I sincerely hope this continues, as the farming industry could not compete with cheap products from afar. For me a Guernsey without its agriculture would be an island which has lost touch with it’s roots and lost its way.
Of course, when I was young I couldn’t wait to get off the rock and go explore! But now, I realise what a truly unique and wonderful upbringing I have been fortunate to have in such a place. Though, life here can be very insular and I believe it important that the young should go away and experience life elsewhere.
The more I write on the islands, the more I realise there is so much to them! And, shamefully, there is much I don’t know myself! Check out the links at right for some great resources. |
