An expert in social and therapeutic horticulture is to visit the island next week as part of GROW Jersey’s new community horticulture project.
Damien Newman of Thrive UK will also be giving a presentation on the health and wellbeing benefits of community gardening at the Town Hall at 7pm on Thursday 17th June, which is open to the public and free of charge.
GROW Jersey has recently taken tenancy of a 13-vergee field at Sion, which is being transformed into the island’s largest community smallholding. 150 fruit trees have already been planted and will be underplanted by a wide variety of fruit bushes, vegetables, nuts, berries and herbs.
The site will be accessible to all islanders, irrespective of age, ability, disability or other social disadvantage and will promote issues including mental and physical wellbeing, sustainable transport, climate change, nutritional deficit and sustainable farming.
Thrive UK, founded over forty years ago, operate three community horticulture sites in England and have been engaged by GROW Jersey to consult on site design, operational planning and volunteer training.