Campaigners in Jersey are calling for the government to purchase the Les Mielles Golf & Country Club site to return it to nature.
The proposal highlights a growing tension between luxury land use and environmental restoration. If the site is acquired by the state, it could serve as a significant victory for local biodiversity efforts in St Peter.
The golf course was placed on the market last month [1]. It currently carries a guide price of £9.95 million [1]. The site is located in the parish of St Peter, where activists believe the land would be better utilized as a public natural space rather than a private club.
Campaigners are urging the Chief Minister of Jersey to intervene in the sale process [1]. Their goal is to ensure the land does not fall into the hands of another private developer who might maintain the site as a golf course or build further infrastructure.
By transitioning the property to public ownership, the group argues the area can be rewilded. This process would involve removing manicured fairways and greens to allow native flora, and fauna to reclaim the landscape [1]. Such a move aligns with broader regional efforts to increase green corridors and protect local ecosystems.
The government has not yet confirmed if it will pursue the purchase of the property [1]. The decision rests on whether the state views the £9.95 million [1] investment as a priority compared to other public spending needs.
“Campaigners want the site returned to nature”
This movement reflects a shift in land-use priorities where former luxury recreational spaces are viewed as prime candidates for rewilding. The outcome will likely depend on the Jersey government's willingness to allocate significant capital toward environmental conservation over commercial development.
