Gardening group's joy as polytunnel opens
BBCA Jersey environmental group has opened a new polytunnel to extend its growing season.
Grow Jersey said the £12,000 project, which was partly funded by St Helier Youth and Community Trust, would allow them to offer indoor community gardening sessions all year round.
The not-for-profit organisation, which aims to encourage social engagement through gardening, added it had hopes to expand its infrastructure further in the near future with features such as a shaded space for the summer.
Sheena Brockie, who co-founded Grow, said it was a "phenomenal feeling" to see the polytunnel come to life.
Ms Brockie added the tunnel - which is 55ft (16.7m) in length and 24ft (7.3m) wide - meant Grow would no longer have to cancel sessions during the winter due to poor weather.
"It means that we really mean business, but also it gives us an incredible space that we can use all seasons," Ms Brockie said.
The introduction of the polytunnel has been welcomed by people who use Grow's services and their families.
Will Rodgers said his son Bertie, who has autism, really enjoys the sessions hosted by Grow and had benefitted from them.
"Get him in a garden and he loves it," Mr Rodgers said.
"He uses more words now and he thinks things through.
"It's just so good that he joins in."
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