The island of Jersey is the most southerly, sunniest and warmest of the Channel Islands, boasting the best sunshine record in the British Isles. Once part of the Duchy of Normandy, the islands lie far closer to France than to England, close to the Cherbourg Peninsula in the Gulf of St Malo. English is the main language although an earlier Norman-French patois may still be heard in Sark and some country parishes.

Jersey has much to offer the visitor - long, sandy beaches, rocky coves, country walks and megalithic and medieval ruins. The island is also famous for Gerald Durrell's Zoo, renowned worldwide for its conservation work, and the Battle of Flowers festival, an annual carnival held each August featuring a spectacular parade of floats decorated with flowers. Shopping here is excellent too with lower rates of duty on alcohol and perfume and no VAT to pay. The shops offer a wide choice of goods including jewellery, clothes, photographic and leather, while local products include Jersey knitwear, pottery and woodcraft, and of course, the delicious Jersey cream. Eating out on the island is a delight, with fresh local seafood a speciality together with island-grown vegetables.

Winner of a Green Globe award for environmental initiatives, Jersey offers high quality sea bathing waters, special sites of interest around the island and 45 miles of Green Lanes that give walkers and cyclists precedence over motorists. Forty-five miles of stunning coastline from sweeping bays in the south to dramatic cliffs in the north provide some wonderful walking, while inland dense wooded valleys and lush leafy lanes lead down to deserted coves. Cultivated flowers and gardens can be found all over the island in addition to the natural flora and fauna. Visitors will enjoy the nine-acre Lavender Farm and the award-winning Eric Young Orchid Foundation, while the island's capital St Helier won two Britain in Bloom awards in 2001. Free guided walks and cycle tours with local experts, together with a year-round programme of festivals ranging from 'wild weeks' to flower carnivals offer the visitor the opportunity to discover Jersey's unique natural beauty and wildlife at any time.