Background
The concept for a Nairn community market garden began in early 2022 following a Highland Council consultation regarding the Sandown common good land in Nairn. Feedback brought forward the idea of a community led food growing initiative on one of the Sandown fields.
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The Highland Council's Nairnshire Area Committee commissioned a feasibility study, funded through the Nairn Common Good Fund, to look into the potential for establishing a community food growing project at Sandown. That study took place during 2024 and determined there was a high level of community support for the idea as well as yeilding detailed viable options and some financial breakdowns that could be taken forward by the community to establish a project.​
The Start of Grow Nairn
Community members who engaged with the feasibility study, alongside others, formed Grow Nairn in February 2025 to take forward the idea and to establish a community led market garden for Nairn.
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We believe in a healthy food system for a connected community, building resilience to climate change and care for our planet.
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During 2026 we will develop a full business plan for the market garden and hold discussions with The Highland Council about leasing land at Sandown.
The concept design below is an illustration of what could exist at the garden and how the land could be used, not to scale and not a final design. Your thoughts will help to shape it, and your support will help us in our discussions with the Council on using the land.​​
Each member of the Grow Nairn team brings unique skills and experiences, all united in a mission to cultivate sustainability and community resilience through improving our local food system.
Meet The Team
Our Committee Members
Kirsty Ellen
Chair
​Kirsty grew up in Nairn and has a long family connection to the town. She currently works in community development and support at the Highland Council and previously led on the Highland community food growing strategy and allotments policy for the Council.
Kirsty began her career as a youth worker at Inverness High School’s REAL project market garden and has primarily worked on voluntary sector environmental and social justice initiatives both within the UK and internationally.
Corinne Ferguson
Vice-Chair
Corinne is from London originally but has lived in Nairn for over 30 years. She trained as a social worker 25 years ago and works as a team manager in a fostering service. She has been involved as a trustee in many community organisations, both as her children were growing up and in recent years.
Corinne gained a BSc in Sustainable Development through UHI in 2023 and was the joint founder of Nairn Food Nest, a community food project located in Nairn Old Parish Church. She remains a co-ordinator of this programme.
Alastair has been involved in the development, design and maintenance of a wide variety green of spaces and community gardens for over 30 years. Including working at Inverness High School and Raigmore Hospital. Creating the Viewfield Community Orchard in Nairn as a former director of Green Hive. He was involved the garden design at Moniack Mhor Garden Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre included an appearance on BBC Beechgrove Garden.
Now an active member of Trellis, and a trustee of Knocknagael green growing hub in Inverness, a former UK director of the Community Composting Network and he holds an MA Landscape Architecture.
Treasurer
Alastair Simmons
Caroline Woods
Secretary
​Caroline brings in experience from a background in community engagement, sustainable project delivery, and team development.
With a focus on fostering inclusive, low-carbon communities, they are dedicated to enabling active participation in climate-related projects through creative collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and a people-first approach to organisational development. Originally from Nairn, they have strong communal ties to the people and places in Nairnshire.
Kate Thomson
Committee Member
Kate lives in Nairn and works in Health Improvement for NHS Highland, with a focus on reducing health inequalities through increased access to nature connection and greenspace for health and wellbeing. As an outdoor counsellor she also works with individuals in local greenspaces.
She’s been involved in community food growing projects as a volunteer and in a previous life she worked for Edinburgh Garden Partners, helping connect garden owners with people who wanted to grow food but couldn’t access allotments.
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