ABOUT THURSO GROWS
Our Thurso Grows project commenced in April 2019 when we took over a redundant Community Garden site in Falconer Waters Court, Thurso.
The Thurso Grows Community Garden has over 50 raised beds, a polycrub, a large shed to store all of our tools, Composting Toilet and an Outdoor Kitchen area. We host regular volunteer sessions, open days and community workshops. We are happy to work with groups throughout the county either to learn growing skills, experience gardening to improve health & wellbeing or for use as a venue. The Garden has a seating area with benches that have kindly been repaired for us by the community payback team. We have a kettle, butane camping stove and tea, coffee and mugs so there is plenty of opportunity to make a well earned cuppa!
In the last few years we have hosted several open days, worked with several local groups from the community, which include KLICS, UHI, ERI, RSPB, and the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub, we have had many kids through who have learned about seeding, planting and have made homemade pizzas in both our old clay cob oven and new portable woodfired pizza oven. So much excess our own grown produce of fruit and vegetables have been given away for donation to members of the public as well as our dedicated volunteers.
All of our growing is organic and to permaculture principles. You will find absolutely no chemicals or pesticides anywhere near our garden space. Volunteer sessions are regularly run on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and we have a group of our core volunteers who are working on the development of more sessions and workshops and work on the site throughout the week.
We are always looking for partnership working and ways in which the gardens can support Thurso community. Please get in touch if you would like to know more.
If you would be interested in helping out and becoming a volunteer with us at our community gardens, or any of our other projects, then please get in touch via the contact details at the bottom of the page.
Thurso Grows sits alongside our Greenhouses project, these are our community greenhouses which opened in 2021 and were taken over from the Highland Council on an asset transfer. We have put a lot of work into making this a suitable site for growing and hosting visitors and volunteers. We grow plants, fruit and vegetables, all for sale by donation. Please pop along, we would love to see you.
We have a strong theme of protecting the environment and helping Thurso to reach Net Zero carbon emissions woven throughout all of our projects at the Trust. We are very big here on saving the planet, being proactive to do so and helping our community with those changes we are all going to have to make. Growing our own local food, growing your own and learning how to compost and reduce waste are all a part of that.
Some Feedback From a Recent Survey
“I own a property near by and have watched this garden grow from nothing will all the hard work the volunteers do, it is a credit to their hard work”
“It's a brilliant green space where community members can come together to learn skills and meet others. The atmosphere has always been very welcoming and friendly, it really feels like a safe and inclusive space.”
“I would absolutely visit again, without a doubt. The events that have been put on were very good - especially the open days.”
When To Find Us
We are about at Thurso Grows (Ormlie Gardens) on:
Tuesday 10am - 12pm
Saturday 10:30am - 12:30pm
These sessions can run on slightly longer and are not limited to the times listed but those are general definites.
These sessions are also weather dependant as the wonderful Caithness weather isn’t always our friend, we do tend to run in light rain/wind but call off in stormy conditions.
You can always contact us or follow our notices to see what sessions are running or not.
Directions for the gardens are below as it can be hard to find us:
The gardens are right at the bottom of Falconer Waters Court, (tucked behind Ormlie Garage) in the Ormlie Estate.
If you are driving - coming up from the town centre, on the B874 Ormlie Road, past North Highland College (which will be on your left), take the first right just before the Jet Fuel station into Henderson Street. Carry on and up past Reid's Bakery and take the very next right. Drive slowly - You then have to turn left into Falconer Waters Court itself (because, if you try to keep going it becomes one way/no entry). Turn immediately to your right following the road, which continues down-hill, going straight to the bottom of the cul-de-sac, to where the car-parking is located and the gardens are on the left.
If you are coming from the Halkirk direction - at the Jet Fuel Station, (which will be on your left), take the very first left immediately after the garage into Henderson Street again. Follow the same directions as above.
If you are walking - at the Merlin Cinema on the B874, walk up the road where the cinema meets the main road, into Ormlie Industrial Estate, keep going just past the Ormlie Garage (which will be on your right) where you will see a path to your right, located between the end-terraced house and the garage itself. Walk up that path which will bring you to the car-parking area in Falconer Waters Court. The gardens will be facing you.
Visit the Garden
Bottom of Falconer Waters Court,
Thurso, KW14 7GY
We’re not going to fib, our Thurso Grows Community Garden can be difficult to find. But once you do find it you will find a peaceful oasis where you can sit and spend some time. We’re on the edge of the Ormlie Housing Estate tucked in at the bottom of Falconer Waters Court. If you are driving then turn up at the Cinema and carry on following the road up passed Helcat Training. Follow the curve and then take your first right and then right again. The garden is down at the bottom of the Court.
Of course, to reduce your carbon emissions you can always walk or cycle and that might make for an easier route to find us. If you choose that option go to McColl’s Shop in Ormlie and follow the path round at the rear of Thor House. You come out into Falconer Waters Court and again the Thurso Grows Community Garden is at the bottom.
Contact Details
If you would like to be a part of Thurso Grows then drop us an email at info@thursocdt.co.uk or call us on (01847) 86731007940441134
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