On this page:
— About the centre
— The National Lottery Heritage Fund project
— Current programmes
— How to attend
— Ways to get involved
— Find us
Thrive Birmingham offers therapeutic gardening programmes to people with a defined health, social or educational need.
Enjoy our Birmingham gardens
You can find us in the old TV gardens in King’s Heath Park. We also run various outreach projects in the wider community. For those that remember, the TV gardens provided the outside broadcasting location for Pebble Mill and previously Gardeners’ World and Gardening Times. Discover more about the history of the gardens here.
Our Birmingham office is in the pavilion next to the Horticultural Training Centre in the King's Heath Park. The majority of our work takes place in the TV gardens.
We use an approach called social and therapeutic horticulture (STH). Through this, our team of trained therapists work with plants and people to improve an individual’s physical and psychological health, communication and thinking skills.
The therapists, together with our dedicated volunteers, take a person-centred approach. They can work in a variety of ways:
- Small groups, so that the therapeutic intervention is maximised
- On a one-to-one basis for people who may require additional support at times
- In larger groups, where there may be more of a focus on social interaction, facilitated discussion and group learning
Whilst King’s Heath is a public park, the TV gardens provide a safe, secure and private space for the client gardeners, therapists and volunteers to work within.
Thrive Birmingham gardens
Thrive Birmingham has been awarded funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to improve the gardens at Kings Heath Park, Birmingham.
Read more about this inspirational two-year project and view upcoming events and programmes made possible through by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund project
Read about how this funding is securing and sustaining the gardens for future generations.
Find out more
We have a number of programmes currently running. These are designed to suit different groups of people:
- Carers Connect to gardening - for carers
- Grow and Learn - for young adults age 14+
- Life Changers - for those living with life-changing health conditions
- Growing Out - for women experiencing anxiety, depression or other forms of mental ill health. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.
Click on the relevant programme below for more information.
General sessions
Social and therapeutic horticulture uses the garden as a safe and secure place to develop someone's ability to mix socially, make friends and learn practical skills that will help them to be more independent.
Using gardening tasks and the garden itself, Thrive's horticultural Practitioners build a set of activities for each gardener to improve their particular health needs and to work on certain goals they want to achieve.
General Sessions run on an ongoing basis the same day each week and client gardeners attend half or for the full day. We currently have sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays.
“I am so impressed with all that you are achieving at Thrive and I can see why our pupils like it so much."
Deputy Head at Chadsgrove School, Birmingham
Two programme attendees enjoying Thrive Birmingham gardens
People come to us by many different paths. Some are referred by social services or support workers, or via another health care professional such as their GP. We also welcome people who come independently or are referred by a family member, school or another charity. Whatever the referral route, we can discuss individual needs to ensure the programme options are appropriate.
To discuss any of our programmes, or if you would like to arrange a visit to one of our gardens or if you are interested other ways to get involved, please contact the Thrive office on 0121 293 4531 or use our contact form.
Our Main Garden office is in front of the bowling green in King's Heath Park. The nearest entrance is Vicarage Road entrance.
Download a map of our location in the park.
Postal address:
Thrive Birmingham
Horticultural Training Centre
King's Heath Park
King's Heath
Birmingham
B14 7TQ
Get in touch with the Birmingham office on 0121 293 4531 or use our form
Contact us