> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thequarry.media/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # National Trust secures Crève Coeur land after three decades of negotiations - URL: https://www.thequarry.media/national-trust-secures-creve-coeur-land-after-three-decades-of-negotiations/ - Published: 2026-10-30T09:43:44.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-30T09:43:44.000Z - Author: The Quarry - Tags: News - National Trust of Guernsey secures conveyance of land at Crève Coeur after more than 30 years of negotiations - Trust initially leased land to States in 1995 for landfill extension at £1 per year following urgent capacity concerns - Former landfill site has developed into wildlife haven with ground-nesting birds, hawks and owls establishing themselves - Land conveyed extends beyond original field, encompassing wider Crève Coeur area plus additional adjoining land - Trust to develop sustainable management plan responding to modern environmental challenges and protecting established wildlife Listen to this article 0:00 /0 1× The National Trust of Guernsey has finally secured the conveyance of land at Crève Coeur, Mont Chouet, bringing to a close more than 30 years of complex negotiations. The agreement marks the end of a protracted chapter that began in 1972, when P. J. Falla and his sister, K. M. Musters, offered approximately seven vergées of land at Chouet to the Trust. In May 1994, the States Board of Administration approached the Trust with an urgent request. The existing Crève Coeur landfill was expected to reach capacity by September 1995, and the use of an adjoining Trust-owned field could extend its operational life by approximately 18 months. The States proposed leasing the field for two to three years, with plans to reinstate it afterwards and potentially transfer the wider Crève Coeur landfill area to the Trust. The Trust Council initially declined the request, citing concerns about its obligations to benefactors, preservation of the land's natural character and the wider implications of allowing land held for conservation to be used for landfill. However, following further discussions, the Trust permitted the States to use an area of its land. A five-year lease commenced on 1 November 1995 at a nominal annual rent of £1 and was formally documented in 1998. The lease expired in November 2000 without formal extension. The States undertook to contour, restore and reseed the land, while arrangements were discussed for the transfer of additional States-owned land to the Trust for a nominal £1. What appeared to be a straightforward arrangement developed into an exceptionally complicated process. Proposals for green-waste facilities, composting operations, landfill gas extraction and electricity generation, together with questions surrounding boundaries, environmental monitoring, maintenance obligations and access, all required careful consideration. Successive Trust Councils and representatives continued to pursue a satisfactory resolution, recognising both the States' operational and environmental responsibilities and the Trust's long-term commitment to the landscape. The land conveyed extends well beyond the original field made available to the States for landfill, encompassing the wider Crève Coeur area. The Trust has also acquired additional adjoining land, further strengthening the opportunity to manage the coastal landscape as a whole. During the intervening decades, the former landfill site, which has remained fenced off from public access, has gradually developed into a haven for wildlife. Ground-nesting birds have established themselves, while various species of hawks and owls are also found in the area. A biodiversity survey has been completed and, although no other particularly unusual species of flora or fauna were identified, the site's value as an undisturbed habitat is already evident. Mike Brown, NTG president, said: "Over the past thirty years, we have repeatedly anticipated the return of Crève Coeur to the Trust, and during that time many ideas and aspirations for its future have been considered. "However, both the world and our Island are very different places today. Climate change, increasing urbanisation, the loss of natural habitats and declining biodiversity have brought new challenges and priorities. "What may have seemed appropriate thirty years ago may no longer be the best approach today. With the long-awaited conveyance finally achieved, the Trust can now take a moment to reflect, revisit earlier proposals and consider the opportunities afresh. "Our priority will be to develop a thoughtful, sustainable plan that respects the wildlife already flourishing on the site, responds to today's environmental challenges and secures the best possible outcome for the Island and generations to come." The Trust now has an opportunity to consider how best to protect and enhance the developing natural environment, while exploring what appropriate access and enjoyment might eventually be offered to the wider community. ## Q&A **Q: How long have negotiations been ongoing for the Crève Coeur land?** A: Negotiations have been ongoing for more than 30 years, beginning with the original land gift in 1972 and the States' lease request in 1994. **Q: What wildlife has established itself at the former landfill site?** A: Ground-nesting birds have established themselves at the site, along with various species of hawks and owls. A biodiversity survey found the site has value as an undisturbed habitat. **Q: What were the terms of the original lease to the States?** A: The five-year lease commenced on 1 November 1995 at a nominal annual rent of £1\. It expired in November 2000 without formal extension, with the States undertaking to contour, restore and reseed the land.