The Tucker Patch is leasing land from Hilllview Herb Farm and travellers heading south may have noticed the development of garden beds, wind breaks and much more.

The Tucker Patch is a practical demonstration, educational and working site and is attracting a lot of interest.

The garden is designed to encourage and support local growers and is highlighting techniques for growing fruit and vegetables under local climate conditions.

Information gathered at the site will be available to all members of the community and visitors. It is developing and demonstrating techniques for growing nutritious food and helping to enhance people’s skills towards self sufficiency and producing surplus produce for local sale.

Ken Johnson President of TGP said that “we are demonstrating the economic benefits of increasing local food production and supporting anyone interested in developing a food growing business”.

The site will be open to bus groups, schools, tourists, research and work experience groups and anyone interested in learning how to improve their knowledge about growing. No one technique will be emphasised. The site will be used to demonstrate as many types of gardening as room allows.

The garden is run by TGP management committee and supported by Friends of The Tucker Garden Patch. TGP is a not-for-profit organisation developed by volunteers. “ We welcome anyone who would like to help and learn or like to try out an idea. Already we have learnt many new ways of growing. It is so much easier when you can see new ideas actually being done rather than just reading about them in a book” said enthusiastic volunteer Kate Fry.

Produce grown on the site will be sold to local community members through the Gloucester Farmers Market and food outlets with excess being onsold to markets and business further afield.

The project will also be holding a garage sale on November to raise funds for the further development of the site and to equip the community stall at the Gloucester Farmers Market.