The forgotten chapel of Godefrairie comes back to life in Calvados

Landscape coach in Ile-de-France, Audrey Jazzar discovered the Godefrairie in Sept-Frères (Noues de Sienne), its 8,000 m² of land and its chapel 1.5 years ago. Vegetation has invaded every corner of the place but love at first sight is immediate for this in love with old stones torn by the desire to leave Paris.

1,000 species planted

Owner of the premises since June 2023, Audrey immediately got to work and created five poolsan edible garden, plants more than 1,000 species of trees, shrubs, flowers and aquatic plants, rehabilitates the old stable to install a collection area and a professional area.

The park was a pasture for cattle. It was essentially necessary to clear the land and get rid of the waste. At the chapel alone, I took out 10 m³ of rubble, alone and with a wheelbarrow. But I was lucky to have the help of Sophie and Thierry Jautée whom I thank for lending me a hand in all the difficulties of the project

A titanic work of which the public was able to discover the result during the two general public days of May 1 and 8, 2024. “Some of the visitors came to see or see the chapel again and see what had become of the place . Others came to discover the plants, the taste of flowers and the phyto-purification “, specifies Audrey.

Pick-up planned on site

At the beginning of May 2024, exploitation started around 4 poles : rustic ornamental plants for individuals and professionals; edible flowers (in pots or buckets for individuals, by weight for food professionals); cut flowers for florists; ornamental aquatic plants and phyto-purification. » On the flower side, there will be fields of 350 species mixed, in flower from February to November to always have cultivated areas,” comments Audrey. Once a year, before closing in mid-July, individuals can come by pick-your-own basis.

More than a horticultural operation, Les Fleurs de la Chapelle Godefrairie is a horticultural. » The entire operation was created as a place for walks and in the long term, I plan to organize one cultural event per month at the foot of the chapel or inside when, on the horizon 2025, it will have become a greenhouse with its transparent roof. Opening this place, which has been closed to the public since 1944, is one of my objectives. I can’t keep it to myself.”

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