Ambassador Tori Orchard
Outdoor Enthusiast
What does being a Geopark Ambassador mean to you personally?
Being a Geopark ambassador is such an exciting opportunity for me – it just further cements my love for the outdoors and enables me to help tell our Island’s geological and natural history. I believe that through storytelling we can change perceptions and enhance understanding, which in turn encourages people to get outdoors, love what is on our doorstep, and hopefully want to protect it too. I’m so grateful that I can help Geopark in its mission through creative and visual storytelling and my personal love of the outdoors.
How did your connection with Jersey’s landscape first begin?
I have always loved the outdoors since I was young, but it was only really since being an adult and living out east that I expanded my explorations to the North and Eastern coasts of Jersey and fell in love with the diversity of textures, colours and definition between the different landscapes. As well as walking and exploring, I love to paint and draw, and have even done some performance art outdoors, and all of this is largely inspired by the coastal landscape.
Do you have a favourite place in the Geopark - and why does it stand out?
My favourite places are the La Rocque area and its huge expanse of rocky, almost Martian, landscape, and Beauport Bay. The south eastern coast around La Rocque / Seymour Tower has a huge amount of natural and historical significance and experts and amateurs alike are always discovering something new down there that helps us understand our Island’s history. I also love how dangerous it is – it’s a reminder that nature is in charge and we must always keep this in mind and respect it. Beauport Bay is just beautiful, I love the walk down there, how relaxing the beach is, and it’s massive boulders. I also lived around there when I was a teenager so it was really where I first started going on independent coastal walks and explorations with our dog.
What’s a moment in nature here that has really stayed with you?
I can’t define one in particular, but I love to paddleboard and I feel most at peace when I’m out on my board slowly meandering around the coast and into little coves. Seeing Oystercatchers is always a treat, but they do get very territorial so I respect them when they start to get a bit noisy and move on. I’ll quite often just stay still on my board and look down into the sea, watching all the sea life beneath, and feel so untouchable from all the chaos of land.
What makes this Geopark special compared to anywhere else in the world?
Our Geopark is so special because it’s unique. No Geopark is the same, and ours is a time capsule of our natural, historical and anthropological history which we need to protect and appreciate.
Can you share a fascinating geological fact that most people wouldn’t know?
My fellow geo-geeks at Jersey Island Geopark recently told me that none of the pebbles down at Anne Port are actually native Jersey rock, and they actually come from Ireland.
Why is it important that we protect and celebrate this landscape?
Unlike land and nature, once geology is ruined, it’s gone forever – we can’t undo those decisions – you can’t replant geology. Not only that, but our landscape tells Jersey’s story, from how the Island was formed, climate events, and how it was used by communities throughout history. By understanding our Island story, we learn to love it even more and people will feel more drawn to protect it for future generations. Aside from all that, it’s just beautiful – it’s awe on our doorstep.
What’s the one experience every visitor should have in the Geopark?
It’s very hard to choose just one, but the most magical has to be experiencing the bioluminescence down at La Rocque. You can book in with one of the local walking companies, such as Jersey Walk Adventures, and they will take you down to see it at night. It really is so magical, it’s hard to believe it’s real.
When is the best time of year to explore - and why?
Anytime of year. The landscape has its own beauty in every season – the way the sun hits the sea and the cliffs in the summer takes your breath away (in addition to the cliff path steps); Autumn leaves lining cliff paths are always a cosy and wholesome time to enjoy the outdoors; Spring brings hope, accompanied by the magnificence of our landscape and its blossoming colours of gorse and heather; and Winter brings drama, which personally I love to see out at sea, crashing against our rocky surroundings. The key to enjoying the outdoors is to embrace it all year round and go with the flow, just like nature.
Are there any hidden gems or lesser-known spots you’d recommend?
La Coupe, on the other side of St Catherine, is magical. The geology there is fascinating to see, it has a peaceful energy to it, and it’s lovely for swimming. I feel very far away when I’m down there, and my little one loves to clamber over the rocks and explore the ‘secret cave’.
How can people explore responsibly while they’re here?
This is so important – don’t leave a trace. Don’t litter, don’t overfish or fish irresponsibly, and don’t leave any nasty unnatural substances on the rocks in nature like paint or chemicals. If you go rockpooling, which is a wonderful pastime and a brilliant way to inspire a love for the outdoors in young minds, make sure you leave all your finds where they are and very carefully place rocks back down how you found them.
Why is it important for younger generations to connect with this landscape?
Our future lies in the hands of our children. If our young people can connect and fall in love with Jersey’s landscape, they are more likely to protect it and nurture it as they grow up – and that’s the most important legacy we can leave. As well as wanting to protect our landscape, I believe that it’s so important for people to connect to the landscape through feelings such as awe, peace, tranquility, excitement, curiosity – it’s essential for the human mind to feel supported by nature because it’s great for your soul, but also it’s always there for you – it’s a constant – Mother Nature.
What excites you most about the future of the Geopark?
I think having ‘Geopark’ status is so important for protecting and appreciating our landscape and I’m excited to see more and more people fall in love with our landscape, and hopefully learn more about it through the Geopark.
Your go-to spot to switch off?
Floating around on my paddleboard in a little cove where nobody can contact me - usually around St Catherine's area.