One in five people in the UK are living with a disability that they were born with, gained as they age, or as a result of an illness or accident.
Gardening can bring profound change, from improvements in physical or psychological health to adjustments in beliefs, attitudes or behaviours to the transformation of skills, knowledge and abilities.
Through a scheme called 'Plant a Difference', we want to send boxes brimming full of ready-to-plant baby vegetables, herbs or perennial plants directly to the door of a disabled gardener. They can plant them on the kitchen window sill, in patio containers or in their garden and discover the benefits of gardening for themselves. No hassle, simple.
There are 3 ways to get involved with our new scheme:
Come to a Thrive Plant Swap
We have a series of special swap events in 2010 with much more than swaps on offer and we’d love to see you there.
10 June - Celebrating England with Plant Swap
At Chawton House Library, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1SJ from 11.00am to 4.00pm
Chawton House Library, set in an English rural landscape, has a unique collection of books themed on early women's writers. It is the home of Jane Austen's brother and set in a magnificent Elizabethan manor house.
Tours of the house and library, strawberries for sale, English teas, Plant Swap.
18 & 25 July - NGS Open Gardens and Plant Swap
At Thrive Trunkwell Garden Project, Beech Hill, near Reading, Berkshire, RG7 2AT from 2.00pm to 4.00pm
Discover Berkshire's hidden gem, Thrives magnificent three acre Victorian walled garden that is planted and maintained by disabled gardeners. With formal and informal interest, potager, glasshouse, sensory and cottage gardens, Plant Swap, homemade teas.
£3.50 adults, £1 children.
4 September - Thrive's Festival of Harvest and closing of Plant Swap
At Thrive Trunkwell Garden Project, Beech Hill, near Reading, Berkshire, RG7 2AT from 11.00am to 4.00pm
Closing of the Plant a Difference Campaign, Plant Swap, homemade cakes & refreshments, local nurseries and growers, garden accessories, local food, live music, bouncy castle, face painting, children's corner.
Make a Plant a Difference donation
Could you donate the £35 we need to send a Plant a Difference Box to a disabled person?
£35 will allow us to send a box direct to a disabled person's home so they can try gardening and grow vegetables, herbs or perennial plants on their window sill, in patio containers or in the garden.
You can donate through our
online shop or by calling us on 0118 988 5688.
Run a Plant Swap for Thrive
To raise the £35 per box we need, we are asking people to make a swap. You can swap a plant or even swap produce, from jams and cakes to vegetables. For every swap, just make a donation.
Download the following information to find out more about how to hold your own Plant Swap event, print off event invitations and a poster.
Pack 1 - introduction, planning and promoting your event, an example press release
Pack 2 - what to do on the day, Gift Aid, after the event, free items to promote and use at your even
Poster for your Plant Swap event
Invite for your Plant Swap event
If you'd like to know more about holding a plant swap or if you'd like to make a donation, please call us on 0118 988 5688.
Get a free box of plants
If you are disabled and would like to register for a Plant a Difference Box, or if you know a disabled person who would like a box, you can:
Terms and conditions apply and the closing date for applications is 1 October 2010.