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.
We received 2 years of funding from the Scottish Government Climate Challenge Fund to transform the Garden space. Which we did! We now have a flourishing, welcoming Thurso Grows Community Garden which thanks to the work of staff and volunteers produces the most wonderful organic fruit and vegetables for our community. In July 2021 we received further funding from the TNL Community Fund to support Thurso Grows for an additional two years. This funding ran out in the summer of 2023 but the Trust continues to fund the gardens and a support person for the project as we feel it is a core element of our activities and has such great impact! 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.
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 throughout the year and 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 seating areas perfect for outdoor meeting space and we even have a kettle!
Throughout the year we host open days, harvest days and community meals at the gardens. In 2022 we hosted over 180 children at the gardens, teaching cooking in the cob oven and making their own pizzas. We also attend local markets – giving excess produce away for donations as well as excess plants and seedlings.
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 a Saturday, 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.
Thurso Grows sits alongside our Thurso Eats project where if growing and gardening is not your thing, you can join us for Community Meals using the delicious veggies from the Garden and even come and cook in it!
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.
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 Ormlue 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.
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) 867310.
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