by herm, Monday 20 February 2012 07:20
Two teams from Herm took part in the Guernsey Mud ‘n’ Fun run. After a very wet morning the sun came out just in time for the start so the run was slightly more pleasant than it might have been if it had been pouring with rain. Getting wet was the least of the teams worries though as the run involved wading through muddy ditches, some of them more than waist height in mud the consistency of thick soup, marching through marshy fields and negotiating muddy obstacles.
The run takes place every two years and is around four miles long. The first Hermite home was 17 year-old Richard who got round in a speedy time of 51 minutes. The ‘Herm Chicks’ couldn’t linger too long on the course as there was only two hours from the start of the race until the boat left for Herm! They got round in 1 1/2 hours which left just enough time for a very quick shower before getting the boat home. Fun was had by all!
by herm, Wednesday 15 February 2012 15:32
Each year the start of winter is heralded by the arrival of a flock of Brent Geese that over-winter in Herm. This winter over forty of them have been enjoying the water around Herm and can be seen at low tide wading in the sandy water of Fishermans Beach. At high tide a flock of them often gather in Fishermans Field seeing what they can dig up with their beaks. If an east wind is blowing they bob about in the water off the east coast between Belvoir and Shell Beaches.
They come from the Arctic tundra and will return there in the spring where they will nest and breed. They will lay three to five eggs which hatch in three and a half weeks and within three months the young birds must be ready to fly south!
If you are visiting Herm in the next few weeks see if you can spot them.
by herm, Thursday 9 February 2012 19:25
This pictures were taken from a Herm holiday brochure from 1947, and offer a fascinating insight into how the island has developed over the past 65 years.
The 34-page brochure has photos of well known fixtures such as the White House Hotel and the harbour, and the short-lived golf course. The photo of the Mermaid Tavern actually shows the hotel rooms in the Mermaid Cottages and states that there are tea gardens in the back and a paddock next door. The paddock contains a ‘mini Grand National Course’ to exercise the island’s 12 donkeys!
At the time, there was both ‘White House and Mermaid hotels’. Bookings for holidays were taken in the Herm office in Guernsey, and there was a cafe at the pier in St Peter Port that only catered to Herm visitors.
Passports weren’t needed, but all guests had to bring their ration books. There is also an ad for 'Bobby Ale', which is apparently what all good Hermites were drinking in 'the old inn'!
by herm, Sunday 5 February 2012 12:44
With some parts of the UK reaching temperatures as low as -12°, it seems like winter is suddenly arriving with full force. But it's comforting to see that on Herm, signs of Spring are already starting to show.
Every year it seems the first solitary daffodil appears overnight on the Drive, giving us hope that the winter won't be too long. The first week of February has seen flowers beginning to spring up all over the island.
Many more flowers are colouring the holiday cottage gardens already. It won't be long until the sun is out, the sands are warm and the smells of cut grass and sea salt fill the Springtime air.
by herm, Sunday 29 January 2012 20:53
A warm January Sunday was the perfect time to get together in the Mermaid Campsite for a bit of willow planting. Several residents gathered to plant the many pieces of willow.
The wood had been cut down from up at the farm to make way for a new sensory garden outside the village hall for the playgroup children to enjoy.
It doesn't hurt that this field has beautiful views over Fishermans beach to Guernsey, and that it was a lovely, mild, sunny morning.
The willow was planted in this spot as it takes moisture out of the ground and will stop the campsite from getting too muddy.
Group photo by Yolandi Moore.
by Herm, Monday 23 January 2012 12:20
_thumb.jpg "Convoluta roscoffensis (2)")
I’m not talking a foreign language! Convoluta Roscoffensis can be found on the beaches of Herm. At low tide look out for ‘green sand’. At first glance the green colouration of the sea water puddles may seem to be caused by accumulations of algae. If you put a small amount of the ‘green sand’ into your hand or an empty shell you will see that the colour is due to millions of tiny green flatworms (up to 15 mm in length) continuously moving around. The Convoluta Roscoffensis gather at the surface of the pools of water to provide optimal photosynthetic conditions for the symbiont Tetraselmis convolutae, a green algae living inside the flatworm’s body.
_thumb.jpg "Convoluta roscoffensis (1)")
Next time you walk around the beaches of Herm on the low tide don’t forget to look out for the ‘green sand’ and remember the science lesson you have just had!
by herm, Friday 20 January 2012 14:37
Herm is a stunning place to be, whatever the time of year. In summer, sunlight sparkles off the tranquil sea and the scent of bluebells and cut grass fill the air. In winter, wild foamy waters crash against the rocks under a slate-coloured sky, and golden leaves crunch underfoot.
Many visitors make the trip to Herm just for the beautiful scenery, and residents learn to always have a camera to hand for when those breathtaking views demand to be captured on film.
Here is an example of a few lovely views and how they change from summer to winter.
by herm, Sunday 15 January 2012 15:15
The annual Herm New Year Challenge took place on Sunday, on a bright breezy morning in Common Field. This year the challenge was organised by the fire team and came in the form of an archery competition.
Islanders were placed into four categories – men, women, boys and girls. All were accompanied by designated safety instructors Simon George and Brett Moore.
Outdoor Guernsey hold several archery days on the island over the summer months in this very field, which is accessed just off the Spine Road down near the Common.
Volunteers kindly provided tea and coffee, and the usual welcome abundance of Herm-made cakes and cookies kept everyone busy until their turn was up.
Winners in their respective categories were Andy Pender, Katell Murphy Nicholls, Charlie Knight, 13, and India Waterhouse, 8.
by Herm, Wednesday 11 January 2012 11:02
For several years there has been a Hermites winter darts league. This year is no exception and several Herm residents have signed up in the hope that maybe this will be the year that Mike’s name doesn’t appear on the darts trophy! Names are picked out of the hat so that the pairs are random.
All the practice isn’t wasted as the Herm darts team have played a couple of tournaments against some Guernsey teams. In October they played against ‘Play Darts for Charity’ and raised almost £600 for the Piam Brown Ward, Southampton Hospital. Man of the match was Martin Young who dressed up as a Jamaican Rasta complete with mascara beard and dreadlock wig!
The most recent match was against the Ex-servicemen’s club when £670 was raised for Hope for Guernsey. Graham from the ex-servicemen’s club was man of the match with his friendly grudge match win over Mermaid Tavern barman, Ashley.
by herm, Thursday 5 January 2012 13:59
Herm school was back in action this week, despite force 11 winds! To celebrate the new term, the school now has its own blog page, run by Herm head teacher Mary Carey. On the blog, the school will be posting photos and information about all their work and projects. If you have ever wondered how a one-room school works, now is your chance to find out!
A perfect example is last term’s Titanic exhibit. This a project the children have worked hard on all term. Islanders were all invited to look at the work and hear interesting stories about real-life passengers.
The children made replicas of recovered artifacts, and were able to research stories of passengers with names similar to their own.
The project tied in with several subjects, including creative writing, art, history and science, making it accessible to every age group within the school.
See the blog for yourself at http://herm.primaryblogger.co.uk/
Photos by Mary Carey