Welcome to Patrick's Patch
Nestled within the heart of Fairweather’s, Patrick's Patch is more than a garden – it’s a place to discover, learn, and enjoy the beauty and bounty of nature. This thriving space is designed to engage, educate, and inspire visitors of all ages, whether you’re a seasoned gardener, a family exploring together, or simply curious about sustainable growing practices.
Under the guidance of our new Head Gardener, Ginny, and with the vital help of our dedicated volunteers, Patrick’s Patch continues to flourish. Ginny brings over 25 years of horticultural experience, including her work in social and therapeutic gardening, and her expertise in nurturing nature-friendly gardens makes Patrick’s Patch a haven for people, plants, and wildlife alike.
What You'll Find in Patrick’s Patch
- Seasonal Growing Areas: Each season reveals a new palette of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers, all grown with wildlife-friendly practices. From traditional favourites to exotic crops, there’s always something interesting to discover.
- A Learning Hub for All: Inspired by Ginny’s background in social and therapeutic horticulture, our garden provides educational opportunities through workshops and courses. These sessions cover everything from vegetable gardening to rewilding principles, fostering hands-on learning in a beautiful outdoor setting.
- School Visits and Community Engagement: Patrick’s Patch is proud to welcome local schools, offering hands-on experiences that teach children about the wonders of growing food, caring for nature, and understanding the importance of sustainability. We also invite community groups and families to join us, making the garden a truly shared resource.
- Volunteers at the Heart: Our garden thrives with the help of wonderful volunteers who share our passion for plants and people. Their contributions are invaluable, from tending the beds to assisting with events and workshops, creating a welcoming space for everyone.
Get Involved and Be Inspired
Patrick's Patch is open to everyone. Whether you’re here to find inspiration, pick up tips for your own garden, or simply enjoy a stroll among the beds, Patrick’s Patch offers a warm, welcoming environment. Our trails, workshops, and seasonal events make it a fantastic destination for families, schools, and community groups to connect with nature in meaningful ways.
So, come visit us and see what’s growing! With Ginny, our team, and our amazing volunteers, Patrick’s Patch is always evolving, offering something new and inviting for every visitor. Explore, learn, and find your own green thumb here at Fairweather’s.
Fresh from Patrick’s Patch to Your Plate at Steff’s Kitchen
At Patrick’s Patch, we’re proud to grow a variety of fruit and vegetables that make their way across the road to Steff’s Kitchen, offering you a true "zero food miles" experience. From garden to plate, our produce is as fresh as it gets, providing unique flavours that only homegrown can deliver.
Our Head Gardener, Ginny, and Steff’s Kitchen’s Head Chef meet regularly to explore what’s thriving in the garden, from vibrant seasonal vegetables to flavour-packed herbs and fruits. Together, they plan each week’s specials menu, bringing you dishes that celebrate the best of what’s in season.
This close collaboration means each dish at Steff’s Kitchen is a reflection of the garden, highlighting local flavours with minimal impact on the environment. Our produce moves directly from Patrick’s Patch into the hands of our chefs, ensuring peak freshness and quality. It’s our way of sharing the taste of the garden with you, one delicious meal at a time.
Seasonal Crops
Chard
Chard is a vibrant, versatile crop that adds a splash of colour and nutrition to Patrick’s Patch. With its bold, rainbow-stemmed varieties, chard is as beautiful in the garden as it is delicious on the plate. Planted in spring, chard thrives through summer and into autumn, often continuing to produce fresh leaves well into winter. Its tender young leaves are perfect for salads, while mature leaves and stems add a rich, slightly earthy flavour to cooked dishes. At Steff’s Kitchen, chard is featured in everything from savoury pies to seasonal sautés, making the most of this resilient, flavourful green.
Kale
Kale is a resilient and nutritious crop that thrives at Patrick’s Patch, even through the chill of winter. Known for its rich, leafy greens, kale grows vigorously in our beds and is packed with vitamins, making it a favourite among health-conscious chefs and gardeners alike. We plant kale in early spring, and it flourishes throughout the year, ready to harvest when other crops fade. Its slightly bitter, earthy taste brings a robust flavour to Steff’s Kitchen specials, from hearty salads to sautéed sides and green smoothies. Kale is a true garden powerhouse, providing a burst of nutrition with every leaf.
Leeks
Leeks are one of the staple crops we love growing at Patrick’s Patch. Hardy and versatile, these winter vegetables thrive in our garden beds, providing a rich, earthy flavour that adds depth to a variety of dishes. Leeks are a rewarding crop that benefit from a little patience—they start as delicate seedlings in the spring and grow steadily through the warmer months, maturing into sturdy, thick stalks by late autumn. Their resilience makes them perfect for the UK climate, and they’re a key ingredient in many seasonal specials at Steff’s Kitchen, adding a taste of the garden to warming soups, stews, and savoury bakes.
Cape Gooseberries
Cape gooseberries, with their unique, papery husks and bright golden fruit, are a delightful addition to Patrick’s Patch. These tropical-looking berries thrive in the warmth of summer, maturing into small, sweet-tart treasures by late summer or early autumn. Hardy yet exotic, cape gooseberries bring a burst of citrusy flavour that’s perfect for both sweet and savoury dishes. At Steff’s Kitchen, they feature in seasonal desserts, sauces, and even salads, adding a refreshing tang that balances rich flavours. Cape gooseberries are a favourite here, embodying the excitement of the unexpected in the garden and on the plate.
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