The Story
The Seymour Group, owners of the Merton Suites, has had a long and close relationship with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust since it was founded in Jersey by the world famous author and naturalist Gerald Durrell in 1959. The Merton Suites - Dodo, Durrell, Jambo & Trinity - are named in celebration of the fantastic work of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Gerald Durrell had a vision to create a stationary ark where animals in need of protection could be kept and bred. He chose the extinct Dodo as the emblem. Today, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, based in the rural parish of Trinity, has gained a worldwide reputation for its pioneering conservation techniques and has made a significant difference to many endangered species worldwide. A sculpture of the Park's most celebrated resident, Jambo the gorilla, was acquired by the Seymour Group at auction in October 2010 to commemorate the opening of the Merton Suites, and is proudly on display in the hotel gardens.