GROW LOCAL

Grower, gardener and Sussex resident Claire Ratinon explores some of the imaginative garden projects bringing new life to the local landscape.

Aweside Farm

When Sinead and Adam moved down to East Sussex in early 2020, their intention was to set up an edible flower farm–but they were determined to create a space that would do more than merely serve their business plan. Alongside their organic flower growing business, they’ve planted over 5000 trees, established hedgerows, created ponds and diligently improved the soil’s health so that the surrounding ecosystem has become more enriched and enlivened with every year. Now in their fourth growing season, it is clear that Sinead and Adam’s deepening relationship with this patch of land is what has transformed it from an empty field into a thriving, beautiful and productive space filled with a rainbow of blooms and a biodiverse chaos of creatures.

Yet it’s not been all sweet nectar and fuzzy bumblebees. Their site is exposed to howling winds and is prone to flooding due to the field’s previous use (although this is improving as they nurture the soil). It’s taken steely determination to establish a smallholding on this patch and it’s their commitment that’s seen them win this year’s Soil Association Rising Star Award. Despite the challenges, the rare migrating butterflies that gather nectar as they harvest, the hare they suspect of beheading their carnations and the mole who tunnels through their soil in search of earthworms, are all testament to how their regenerative growing efforts are the reason that this once-quiet place is now humming with life.

At the peak of the growing season, there’s a flower in every colour poised for harvest: from sunshine yellow calendula to warm blue cornflowers and nasturtiums with petals in the softest peach. Grown from seed or cuttings, all the blooms produced by Aweside are seasonal and organic. Whether you’re after a bunch of cut flowers or edible ones for decorating cakes, they’ve got every bloom you can think of and more — plus they’re now expanding into dried flowers to extend their offering beyond the sunny months. awesidefarm.co.uk

Great Dixter

Previously the family home of famed gardener and writer, Christopher Lloyd, Great Dixter features a number of distinct sections of planting that are worth exploring throughout the seasons. These gardens are an exemplary demonstration of how nature-centric approaches — such as delaying meadow cutting for the benefit of wildlife — can be part of how we can grow for both beauty and biodiversity and that it’s possible to cultivate a vibrant and floriferous garden using minimal water.

One Garden Brighton

Nestled in the midst of Stanmer Estate, One Garden is a restored walled garden, cared for by the horticultural experts and students of Plumpton College. Each show garden has something to offer from showcasing the types of plant that would thrive in a shaded city garden to demonstrating what grows well in hot and dry conditions. Also worth a peek are the seeds on sale in their farm shop as they’ve been saved on site.

Sarah Raven’s Perch Hill

Beloved gardener and writer, Sarah Raven, opens her garden at Perch Hill to visitors a number of times throughout the growing season — and for anyone who is interested in growing their ornamental plants alongside similarly beautiful edible plants, it is an inspirational place. The many varieties of flower and crops in her plant catalogue are grown here so they have the stamp of approval of Sarah and her expert team.

Follow Claire at @claireratinon