Sector Spotlight: MaryGold Grows CIC
Tucked away behind the police station in Shoreham, next to the Circular Space, there is a little garden oasis called MaryGold Grows CIC.
Originally the garden was located in Middle Road Shoreham before moving to the current location where they now grow organic salads, fruit and vegetables which are donated to Shoreham and Adur Community Foodbank.
The garden is divided into 3 areas:
The wild garden which has an elder tree attracting robins and sparrows, a container pond to attract frogs, toads, newts, damselflies and dragonflies (the pond frame is made from recycled wood), a hibernaculum for small animals to shelter and a wild nettle patch giving a home to small insects
The vegetable garden has a polytunnel (all seeds and seedlings start their life in there) and a greenhouse (used mainly for growing tomatoes in the summer and chard over winter). There are large wooden planters and many different size pots used to grow a wide variety of vegetables, and herbs. There are also pots of wild rose and honeysuckle, pelargoniums, hydrangeas, and winter jasmine
The fruit garden has several large wooden planters growing loganberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and jostaberries. The fruit cage roof is covered with netting made from plants and the walls are lined with a unique handcrafted net made from cotton yarn, crocheted by local women. The shape and colours of the net are designed to attract bees and wasps to pollinate the fruit and to protect the fruit garden from birds and butterflies.
Each spring the garden provides a beautiful display of flowering spring bulbs and the team maintain a large planter and several large seasonal flowering pots throughout the year to make a welcoming entrance at the front door of the Circular Space
Close to the heart of the garden is their passion for recycling, reusing and sustainability as well as a commitment to be organic and as plastic free as possible.
The garden is maintained by Mary and her team of dedicated volunteers who do amazing work to keep the space looking lovely whilst also providing valuable fresh food for the local food bank.
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