The Old Government House

The Old Government House Hotel is investing significantly in its outdoor spaces. Working alongside Chris Jesson, I was asked to develop planting concepts for the Governor’s Suite terrace, the Douglas and Dalrymple terraces, and several awkward outlooks seen from guest rooms and corridors, in time for the high season.

The planting needed to be high impact yet low maintenance, portable and secure in the wind, and as refined as a five-star heritage hotel: softening rendered walls, exposed pipework and changing floor levels, and making the most of views towards Herm, Jethou and Sark.

We presented three concepts. The first introduces layered, multi-height displays in ribbed zinc planters, with tall, airy stems for movement and sculptural leaf-ball spheres to anchor each group. White agapanthus, purple alliums and Dierama bring poise to the sunny Governor’s Suite terrace, while the north-facing terraces and courtyard shift to foliage-led planting of ferns, hostas, heucheras and evergreens.

The second weaves galvanised steel lattice spheres into the planting itself. Inspired by Guernsey’s maritime heritage of mooring buoys, lobster pots and fishing nets, they frame views and let plants rise through and around them, set within generous panelled planters.

The third, a more cost-effective option, leans into the red of the Red Carnation brand: tiered plant theatre stands, planters on castors that can be moved for events, oak barrels as standing tables, and a confident palette of pelargoniums, Rudbeckia ‘Cherry Brandy’, Agastache and Imperata ‘Red Baron’, softened by grasses.

Each concept was presented with visualisations, a plant directory for every terrace and a fully costed plan, including ongoing maintenance, so the hotel could weigh impact against budget.

The hotel is now looking to implement one of the concepts in 2027.