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What is Thrive?
Thrive is a Berkshire based charity that uses gardening to bring positive changes in the lives of those living with disabilities or ill health, or who are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable. Thrive offers a safe and secure garden where individuals can develop their ability to socialise, learn new practical skills and make friends. Thrive was originally established as the Society for Horticultural Therapy and Rural Training in Frome, 1978. Inspired by working with people with learning disabilities and voluntary service in Africa, horticulturist Chris Underhill alongside pediatrician Dr Geoffrey Udall set up the charity we know as Thrive.
Dr Chris Underhill
How does gardening help?
Social and therapeutic horticulture is a successful method that uses plants and gardens to promote health and well-being, enables social inclusion and sets individual’s tasks that will help them gain self-confidence. The use of gardening for therapy is a rather modern way of supporting those with disabilities or disadvantages but has been thoroughly researched by Loughborough University and results show as sustained and active interest in gardening does create beneficial results. Many studies have looked at the outcomes of gardening and horticulture for stroke patients, those with aphasia and the victims of car accidents. A study looking at aphasia concluded: ‘Most endeavours require some degree of verbal skill, and it is always a challenge to find recreational activities which are suitable for individual with aphasia. Clearly, the nature of horticultural activities lend themselves easily to communicative disabled individuals’ (Sarno and Chambers, 1997, p. 89).