Cockington Court starts work on Organic Art Gardens

Torbay Council’s economic development company, Torbay Development Agency (TDA) and partners of Cockington Court have begun preparations to reopen Cockington’s Organic Garden as an Art's Garden, in-keeping with plans to revitalise the visitor offer and position Cockington as a leading creative and cultural hub for Torbay.

Volunteers for the garden are now needed - there will be a recruitment event in partnership with the Friends of Cockington Country Park at Cockington Court, Cary Room on April 23rd at 6pm, with a free talk by John Risdon, all are welcome to attend.

Cockington’s Organic Garden was originally constructed by Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust in 1992. In 2011, Cockington Court benefited from a £2.8m regeneration project including the creation of craft workshops, part funded from the European Regional Development Fund. The TDA, which now manages Cockington Court, has taken on the garden’s lease as part of its ongoing aim to support regeneration in Torbay.

Alongside acting as an addition to Cockington’s attractions, the garden will provide informal and formal education facilities for local school children and adults alike.

Cockington Court Centre Director - Marissa Wakefield, carried out a consultation exercise and found that the gardens combined use, as both a garden and arts space, was a popular choice with visitors and would offer a unique attraction for Torbay.

Mayor of Torbay, Gordon Oliver said: “Using the garden for creative, educational and recreational purposes, offers visitors a fresh experience and ensures the local community can continue to enjoy this vibrant space.

“Working closely with local communities to ensure local people are involved in the decision making of Torbay Council’s regeneration plans, is an essential part of my aims for Torbay and it’s encouraging to see these anticipated projects are progressing well in Cockington.”

Marissa said: “Torbay Council’s Head Gardner at Torre Abbey, Ali Marshall, and her brilliant team of volunteers have kindly offered to work in partnership on the garden project and help us get it in shape for Easter.

“After speaking with visitors and past garden volunteers I soon discovered the garden is much loved by the local community, and I am passionate to ensure the space continues to be open and enjoyed by everyone.

“We also hope to showcase local sculpture and art work in the near future.”

Marissa has expertise on running several large community garden projects and aims to seek additional funding to run arts and wellbeing schemes in the future; ranging from art classes; garden furniture making; outdoor Raku firing; photography classes; horticulture; bee keeping and even cookery lessons.

Marissa added: ‘We now need volunteers for the garden so I urge anyone with an interest in Cockington to come along to our recruitment event on 23 April.”

For information, contact Marissa Wakefield on 01803 607230 or email [email protected]




Notes to editors:

The European Regional Development Fund South West Competitiveness and Employment Programme 2007-2013 is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The programme of investment from the European Union is helping to increase the prosperity of the region through supporting enterprise and individuals to develop ideas and plans that contribute to increased productivity and competitiveness. The total amount of investment across the seven-year programme is £108,751,309. The funding for the Cockington renovation from the European Regional Development Fund South West Competitiveness and Employment Programme as part of the Torbay Strategic Investment Framework is £1,134,113.