16 Rainwater harvest helping volunteers grow fresh produce

»»A VOLUNTEER-run garden is providing more fresh produce to its tight-knit community in Cornwall after doubling its rainwater harvesting capacity with help from South West Water (SWW).

Chacewater Community Garden, which serves a population area of around 2,500 people near Redruth, began in 2020 and is passionate about becoming more independent by increasing the amount of rainwater it can harvest.

The garden volunteers grow a wide range of seasonal fruit, herbs and vegetables as well as cut flowers and plants for the benefit of their community.

It is also a place where children from the nearby village school can go to learn about growing plants and their own food before putting their learning into action and seeing their efforts grow before their eyes.

Thanks to support from SWW’s water saving community fund, the garden has more than doubled its rainwater harvesting by installing four 1,000-litre storage tanks, linking them into their existing system and purchasing a new pump to move the supplies around.

The volunteers are now able to continue providing delicious produce, beautiful flowers, and an enrichment space for local children to learn about gardening year-round.

Paul Shevlin, secretary of Chacewater Projects, said: “Thanks to South West Water we are now able to catch and store enough rainwater to help us get through those hot and dry summer months. No longer needing to use mains water, the garden can instead invest more in educational activities and planting more fruit and veg for the community.”

» Visit southwestwater.co.uk/ household/your-services/savewater/water-saving-communityfund for more information.