Thurso Grows project takes over town centre square
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Vegetable-growing and colourful community artwork are giving a different focus to Sir John's Square in the centre of Thurso this summer.
Due to lockdown, Highland Council staff have been unable to plant the beautiful floral displays that grace the square in normal times.
With permission from the locally authority, Thurso Grows – a project run by Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT) – has taken over the square to plant a vegetable garden and create a collective community artwork installation.
For one year only, rather than having this prominent site become overgrown and weedy, Thurso Grows and a team of volunteers are planting vegetables and creating a “painted stone rainbow”.
Members of the Thurso Grows team are asking local people to get involved with painted stones to supply a burst of colour in the square. All food grown will be given to community.
The project has been well supported, including a donation of vegetable plants from Westlea Plants in Lybster.
Those behind the initiative acknowledge that “vegetables may not be everyone’s idea of beauty” but say it is a way of highlighting the importance of locally grown, seasonal food that has a small carbon footprint. They also see the project as contributing to the fight against food poverty.
Project co-ordinator Sharon Dismore said: “We are very passionate about growing and promoting local food. This is more important this year than ever.
"If it wasn’t for the amazing volunteers who have helped weed and prepare the square, none of this would be possible. Now we are calling out for our community, young and old, to help us decorate the square with painted stones.”
The team of volunteers have weeded and prepared the square. They have also taken over the town planters which have been filled with bedding plants, donated by the community and including a large contribution from local firm W&D Ross.
The volunteers have also weeded several areas of the town which the council has not been able to maintain this year.
The produce grown at Sir John's Square and Thurso Community Garden will be available at the first of a series of pop-up stalls in the square on Saturday, July 4, and again on July 11, when, along with vegetable plants for your own garden, people will be able to get free, local, fresh food.
Thurso Grows will also be available to chat to anyone who is interested in the project.
Funding for the project comes from the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund. Donations for the harvested vegetables are welcome but not expected and will be invested back in community aid.
Go to the Thurso Grows Facebook page for updates on other upcoming food events and plant giveaways.
TCDT is also offering stone painting packs and asking the community to paint a stone in a colour of the rainbow for Sir John's Square. These are available at www.thursocdt.co.uk/wellbeing
