Victoria Park - Greenhouse Refurbishments - Grow@Jigsaw

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“In the community, for the community” - Grow@Jigsaw

This social enterprise project is part of Westcountry Housing and is a sister project of the Jigsaw furniture project in Barnstaple.

More than 20 people per week are helped by the project which is Big Lottery funded to include two full-time members of staff, Ann Davies and Jenni Payne.

Training is offered at level one AQA in horticulture and based on the needs and skills of funded clients.  Grow@is all about seeing people not problems!

Grow@ work with a variety of local schemes included the Healthy Start project which provides vouchers to children from the Bideford Bay Children’s Centre whose families can then use them to get fruit and veg boxes from Grow@.  The group also have allotments in Bideford where produce is grown as well as at its three greenhouses and polytunnels in Victoria Park, Bideford.  Customers include Café du Parc in Victoria Park.

The project provides around 20 fruit and veg boxes per week at £3.10 per box and also sell plants and produce at local markets and in local shops.

The recent Grow@ open day went extremely well and more than 80 people visited despite some rain showers!

Town Council Support

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Jigsaw approached the Town Council a couple of years ago with an idea to repair the greenhouses and start their project.  The Town Councill were supportive of the project and gave them a grant of £2,000 to help with their start-up costs.  Recently the Town Council granted a further £1,800 for new purchases including a large, display wooden wheel barrow for displaying their produce.

Kym Cassinelli who manages the Grow@ project wanted to send a massive thank you to them for the barrow which they will be using when selling down at the French markets on Bideford Quay!

 

What will you find at the greenhouses?

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Situated just behind the Victoria Park Bowling Club, the greenhouses are nestled together in a shaded part of Victoria Park. The greenhouses are staffed by helpful and knowledgeable staff who can provide advice about purchasing the right plants for your garden or allotment and they have a wide range to chose from including herbs and vegetables, flowers and perrenials.

On a sunny day they are a great place to wander about in and you can buy a bag of what they are currently growing and take it with you when you leave!

They are open weekdays from 10am till 5pm or you can phone ahead at this number 01237 479 762.