Thrive’s Festival of Harvest

The sun shone on Thrive's Festival of Harvest which marked the closing of the 2010 Plant A Difference campaign.

As well as the final plant swap of the year, visitors were able to buy vegetables grown by disabled gardeners at Thrive, and a wide range of plants.

There was a raffle and tombola and stalls selling everything from bees wax lipbalm, to chilli plants, home-made chocolate, willow weaved baskets and pictures, ceramics and jewellery inspired by nature. Thrive's famous home-made cakes were again a best seller.

Our unique Plant A Difference campaign will begin again in earnest in 2011. During its first year delivered boxes of fresh herbs, perennials and vegetables straight to the door of a disabled gardener.

The boxes were paid for from the proceeds of plant swaps held throughout the year. People would swap plants and make a donation to the campaign.
And the 100 plus disabled gardeners who have received boxes have been full of praise for the campaign.

Marika Sullivan said: "When the box of herbs arrived I was absolutely delighted. The herbs were such excellent quality, and there were ones that I’d never even think about buying like dill and camomile.

"They’ve all been planted out and our food is tasting even better using the fresh herbs – it’s wonderful."

The Plant A Difference campaign will run again next year and Thrive will continue to fundraise to ensure even more disabled gardeners around the UK can benefit from a direct delivery of plants or vegetables.

A big thank you to everyone who has supported the Plant A Difference campaign and everyone who has supported Thrive.