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 and worked with several local groups from the community including KLICS, UHI, ERI, RSPB and the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub. We have hosted many kids who have learned about seeding and planting, and have made homemade pizzas in both our old clay cob oven and the new portable woodfired pizza oven. Excess of 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 run regularly on Tuesdays and Saturdays - we have a group of core volunteers who work on site throughout the week and they are currently developing ideas for more sessions and workshops.
We are always looking for partnership working and ways in which the gardens can support the Thurso community. Please get in touch if you would like to know more.
If you are interested in helping out and becoming a volunteer with us at our community gardens, or any of our other projects, 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. 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 with 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 these times listed.
These sessions are also weather dependent as the wonderful Caithness weather isn’t always our friend! We do tend to run in light rain/wind but will call off in stormy conditions.
You can always contact us or follow our notices to see what sessions are running.
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 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 a one way/no entry street. 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 you will see the gardens 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 turning into Ormlie Industrial Estate. Keep going just past the Ormlie Garage (which will be on your right) and 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 lie, our Thurso Grows Community Garden can be difficult to find. But once you do, 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
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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