Thrive now has enough funds to complete a garden for people with mental ill health at our Beech Hill headquarters. 'The Journey' is an uplifting garden for people recovering from a mental illness, particularly depression.
Loddon Valley Lions presented us with a cheque for £4,200 enabling us to finish 'The Journey' garden, which forms part of our *Garden Gallery.
'The Journey' will promote well-being, stimulation of the senses, creativity, and inspire physical activity to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety and give a feeling of accomplishment and direction.
Research shows that gardening can help people through a specific period of difficulty in their lives.
Gardening can help you get back on top of things and restore balance when it feels like your life is veering out of control.
Gardening can help you feel happier, more confident, help overcome feelings of isolation and offers a sense of purpose as well as improve concentration.
Pictured from left are Treasurer Geoff Foan with Loddon Valley Lions President Barry Germain and Past President John Goodchild with Sue Tabor, Garden Manager at Thrive.
*An old walled fruit garden at Thrive HQ is being transformed into Thrive's Garden Gallery holding five small gardens designed to suit the needs of specific disabilities.
Two are already open - our Gold medal winning Chelsea garden from 2010 which is designed for someone who is stylish and mature but is finding it slightly more challenging physically than in the past. Designed by Jo Thompson, using Thrive principles, it shows how age or disability need not mean an end to gardening or a compromise to good design.
The 'Hearts and Minds' garden is also open and has been designed and planted for people who are recovering from a stroke or heart attack.
Alongside 'The Journey' garden will be the 'Out of Sight' garden, for people with sight loss and the 'Just for fun' garden for 14-19-year-old children with special educational needs. We still need funding to complete the gallery.