Building Ownership Through Co-Creation: Jersey Tree Strategy 

The Challenge 

Trees play an important role in Jersey’s landscape, biodiversity, climate resilience and sense of place. 

The Government of Jersey wanted to develop a Tree Strategy that balanced a wide range of interests and could be successfully implemented over the long term. 

Landowners, farmers, environmental organisations, businesses, government departments and local communities all had valuable perspectives to contribute. 

The challenge was to create a strategy that people felt ownership of, rather than one they were simply asked to comment on. 

Our Approach 

Dialogue Matters designed and facilitated a co-creation process that involved stakeholders from the earliest stages of strategy development. 

Participants were invited to: 

• Explore opportunities and challenges facing Jersey’s trees 

• Share specialist, professional and local knowledge 

• Develop a shared vision 

• Identify priorities for action 

• Test and refine emerging proposals 

Rather than consulting on finished proposals, stakeholders worked together to understand different perspectives, identify areas of agreement and shape recommendations collectively. 

The Outcome 

The final strategy reflected the combined knowledge, experience and aspirations of stakeholders from across the island. 

Participants could see how their contributions shaped the strategy, building confidence in both the process and its recommendations. 

The process also strengthened relationships between organisations and communities with a role in delivering the strategy. 

Impact 

The strategy emerged with broad stakeholder ownership rather than needing support to be built afterwards. 

Participants developed a clearer understanding of one another’s priorities and constraints, creating stronger foundations for implementation. 

Crucially, commitment translated into action: some actions were already being progressed before the strategy was officially published! 

Why It Worked 

Stakeholders were involved before key decisions had been made. Instead of reacting to proposals, they helped develop them. 

This enabled government to draw on a wider range of knowledge and experience, while stakeholders gained a clearer understanding of policy challenges and practical constraints.