meet the grower
The Growspace Network was born from a pivotal lightbulb moment. With a PhD in Land Use Visions and years in the corporate and academic worlds, Chrissie Valluri-Nitsch realised she needed to step out and do the thing she loved. She founded a living laboratory near Bridge of Earn – a place to experiment with how we grow food and flowers in our shifting climate, while simultaneously cultivating a community of interest.
Operating as a Social Enterprise (currently transitioning from a CIC to Charity status with OSCR), Growspace is as much about social health as it is about soil health.
At The Growspace Network, there is a belief in the power of nature to nurture through hands-on sessions that blend food growing, practical land skills, and vital social connection.
At the pilot site, the gardening methods are a direct, sophisticated response to the Scottish elements. The team employs no-dig methods, dense companion planting, and heavy mulching to build resilient soil.
One of the most strategic features of the garden is how it manages the famous Perthshire rain. The outdoor beds are aligned across the slope of the land, allowing runoff to pool and flow naturally. This creates a tiered moisture system: plants that prefer dry feet are positioned at the top of the slope, while thirstier varieties thrive in the damp soil further down. It is research in action – finding elegant, low-tech solutions to modern climate challenges.
For Chrissie, the Bridge of Earn site is an essential space to play. In 2025, a dedicated group of volunteers joined the journey, focusing on personal development alongside the harvest. This collaborative spirit has already fostered some great connections, such as:
growing and harvesting local seeds for regional resilience with, and for, the local Perthshire Seed library
cultivating heritage potato varieties with the expert guidance of John Marshall, lovingly known as the ‘Potato Professor’ amongst children and potato enthusiasts alike
“We experienced the power of intergenerational connection as a practical element last year,” Chrissie says. “By sharing a love of place alongside skills, everyone who joins us learns something for their own gardening journey.”
Moving into 2026, the horizon for Growspace is expanding. While Bridge of Earn remains the heart of the network, the team is set to take on larger scale projects with multi-year applications, some stretching beyond the Scottish borders.
The focus remains on supporting education across generations and understanding the interactions between our environment and society. It isn’t just about the current harvest; it’s about anticipating future changes and supporting the strategies – from the kitchen garden to national policy – needed to meet them.
The Growspace Network continues to grow its community of volunteers and partners. If you are interested in joining the project or following developments in 2026, please reach out via their website or follow on social media.
What Makes Growspace DifferentThe charity’s beneficiaries include individuals, families, schools, and community groups in Perthshire and beyond, with emphasis on vulnerable, isolated, or justice-experienced individuals. Children and young people access outdoor learning to cultivate ecological knowledge. Adults and older learners gain horticultural skills, confidence, and community connection. Volunteers benefit from mentoring and social participation. Indirect beneficiaries include local communities experiencing improved biodiversity, green space, nutrition, and climate resilience, supporting a fairer, healthier society for current and future generations.
If you’d like to see your horticultural society or community group featured here, drop us an email to mail@scotlandgrowsmagazine.com.