An environmental charity has launched a fundraiser after its £12,000 polytunnel was wrecked by Storm Goretti, which hit Jersey earlier this month with 95mph winds.
Grow Jersey co-founder Louise Carson said she was “absolutely devastated” to find that the community-funded polytunnel had been destroyed by the storm.
The newly registered charity aims to tackle nutritional poverty, low mood and isolation, and more through community planting groups.
The charity’s previous polytunnel was community funded and built in July 2025. However, when Storm Goretti hit the island it sustained severe damage that left it unusable.
Ms Carson said: “The impact of losing the polytunnel is that in bad weather we now need to cancel sessions with our eight school groups per week.
“Gather and Grow is a group aimed for those with physical or mental limitations and those isolated in our community, and our open sessions when anyone can come.”
Ms Carson added that any extra funds donated would be put towards plans to install a wildlife pool, sensory gardens, an outdoor learning space and forest school, pollinator patches, herb and flower plants, planting fruit, a calm zone and bike racks.
Grow Jersey has also secured planning permission for raised beds for mobility access, a community building, a yurt for indoor classes, a small production kitchen, minibus parking, and two polytunnels.
Ms Carson said she was “delighted” to find out that Grow Jersey was now a registered charity.
Jersey Mutual and Ogier have already committed funds to support the project.
DONATE…
Grow Jersey’s fundraiser can be found here.