Tuesday May 25
WE’VE WON GOLD! Thrive has been awarded a Gold Meal in the Urban Garden Category for The Unexpected Gardener, designed by Jo Thompson.
Nicci Carruthers, the Chief Executive of Thrive, said: "I’m so proud that Thrive has received recognition from such a prestigious show, it’s been such a fantastic team effort.
"We want this garden to inspire more people to harness the benefits of gardening irrespective of age or ability and to contact Thrive to learn how that can do more."
On winning the gold, Jo Thompson burst into tears (of joy!). The judges at Chelsea expect only perfection and Jo’s Unexpected Gardener for Thrive met all of their requirements.
Monday 24 May
The Countdown is over and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is now open!
The
Unexpected Gardener garden is complete, the fire place and water feature have been constructed and the plants are settled into their new homes.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on Twitter and Facebook.
Friday 21 May
The building work is still going on and Jo Thompson is keeping everyone on a tight schedule to make sure that everything is at its show-stopping best for the 'unofficial press day' on Sunday. After spending the last week working 7am until 10pm, the crew are starting to feel the pressure of building a garden for RHS Chelsea, but through the rain and the heat, they have all been working incredibly hard and the garden is now looking something rather special.
Over the weekend the Thrive marketing crew will be very busy. There will be interviews with BBC Radio Kent and BBC Radio Berkshire, about the lead up to RHS Chelsea and what it means to Thrive to have a garden at RHS Chelsea 2010, so keep your ears peeled for any news. There will also be programmes on BBC TV over the weekend, so eyes open to see if you can spot Thrive's
Unexpected Gardener.
Wednesday 19 May
Jo Thompson and the builders have now been let loose on site. Three days in to the build and it still looks a little like a building site! Jo has been in touch with the Thrive headquarters to let us know that all the big bits have been built and she is now just waiting for the plants to be delivered. Fingers crossed that all the plants arrive in one piece and are in bloom.
We will keep you updated on the build and the first pictures of the final garden will be posted on here soon.
The picture shows one of the builders taking a break in the Thrive
Unexpected Gardener garden.
Friday 14 May
A group of amature Thrive gardeners in Battersea Park found out yesterday that the
results of their green-fingered efforts
are good enough to be featured at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. Garden designer Jo Thompson visited Thrive in Battersea Park to select the best quality show-standard plants for her urabn garden at the world-famous horticultural show.
Commented Jo Thompson: "
I was inspired to create The Unexpected Gardener after seeing so many people with a wide range of disabilities working at Thrive. I wanted to show how age or disability need not mean the end to gardening, and so have incorporated many practical features in my urban garden, such as raised planting beds, cleverly designed support structures and non-slip flooring"
Clients at the charity's garden project in Battersea Park have been cultivating a stunning range of irises, alchemilla and salvia as well as a variety of herbs over the past few months with the hope that they will be chosen by Jo to feature in
The Unexpected Gardener. Jo chose a range of herbs and an iris to feature in her garden. They will sit alongside plants grown by professional growers including Roger Platts and Iris of Sissinghurst.
The surplus plants that haven’t been selected will be sold at Thrive’s Battersea project for three weeks from 24th May to help raise funds for the redevelopment at Battersea. More than £250,000 is still needed to help for the redevelopment which will enable Thrive to more than double, the numbers of disabled people benefitting from the project and to launch more ground-breaking garden programmes, reinforcing the benefits and positive results that the charity can bring to London’s decision makers, health and education professionals and the general public.
Tuesday 11 May
Eight Stroke survivors from Wandsworth are currently attending Thrive's 12 week Life After Stroke programme at the Battersea Garden Project. The programme is designed so that people can enjoy gardening but at the same time use the power of gardening to support their recovery. Activities are carefullly chosen to suit individual's skills, abilities and support needs and people benefit from improved confidence and self esteem, communication skills, concentration and memory as well as improved physical and psychological health and well being.
After only a few weeks, the Battersea Stroke Group is immersed in preparations for the Chelsea Flower show and they're loving it! They've been sowing seeds, potting up plug plants and creating beautiful wooden 'cut and come again' salad boxes for display at the show. They were totally bowled over by being asked to contribute to Chelsea and this has given all of them a huge boost in confidence and their sense of self worth. Not only that, working together as a team has had a profound impact on their communication skills. One gardener commented 'this is better than speech therapy because it's real talking. My speech is getting so much better now and it makes me feel better about myself'.
Friday 7 May
This May, don’t be late for Chelsea’s alternative floral art show – Sloane in Bloom –
organised in support of the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society 'Chelsea Flower Show’.
Now in its fifth year, Sloane in Bloom sees the streets of the Sloane Shopping Area (Sloane Street, Sloane Square, Duke of York Square and its environs) blossom with spectacular floral displays as its stores battle to win the coveted floral crown.
With a number of the area’s most acclaimed retailers including Jo Malone, Taschen and Annoushka Jewellery already set to take part in this unique week-long competition, this year’s Alice in Wonderland theme promises to be the most curious and competitive yet.
RHS judges will be looking for a combination of floral flair and creativity to rival last year’s winner, Liz Earle, whilst independent retailers will be competing to steal the Creative Recognition Award from Gwendolyn Carrie.
Tuesday 4 May
When Brian Hersey, a retired maintenance engineer, from Maidstone, Kent first started trying to create a new and beautiful deep blue bearded iris three years ago, he didn’t suspect it would help him make his Chelsea Flower Show debut.
But the iris, 'Jamie Roo’, named after Brian’s six-year-old grandson, and now officially registered with the British and American Iris societies, has done just that. In May, Jamie Roo will be taking its place of pride in Thrive’s Chelsea garden.
"I’m so chuffed that Thrive has chosen Jamie Roo," says Brian. "And it’s exclusive to them. No one else will have it at Chelsea. I’m hoping that through its height, quality of its flowers and vigorousness, it will add a lot to the garden."
But Brian’s excitement at going to Chelsea isn’t shared by everyone. He laughs that his grandson isn’t particularly impressed by the prestige of having a flower named after him and being chosen for the show. "Like most six-year-olds – it’s in one ear and out the other!"
Prior to Jamie Roo – Brian, a Royal Horticultural Society award winner, also developed a white iris that he named Lottie Loo after Jamie’s three-year-old sister. Not all the irises he creates, however, are named. "I don’t think it’s worth going through the registration process if you are creating something that just looks similar to other irises. It has to be different. "
Thursday 29 April
Gareth Neal has designed the garden furniture for the garden at the Chelsea Flower Show. He appeals to those looking for individuality within their businesses and home’s. Gareth has exhibited around the world from the Saatchi gallery to the Victoria and Albert museum and Sotheby’s both in New York and London.
"Chelsea flower show is the most important and one of the finest events on the London calendar and I have always enjoyed visiting it and always thought that it would be lovely to be involved in some way. When approached by Jo in regards to the Thrive garden and using one of my furniture pieces i was thrilled to be involved. The LG hi Mac’s version of Anne seem a perfect match for Jo’s vision. We pulled together recourses, skills and contacts and as a team have developed a water fountain in a similar classical theme that will be one of the centre piece’s to the garden, and i can’t wait to see it flowing."
Tuesday 27 April
I've been trying not to think about the plants' growth: the weather has been extraordinary and I operate very much on the 'che sera' principle as far as blooms and Chelsea is concerned. There was enough of a delay through nobody's fault with materials for the fountain being held up, and the sheets have only just gone to the laser cutter, without even being anywhere near being put together. So my heart sank when I saw the headline below in last weeks
HortWeek.
However, the good news is that I visited Roger Platts who is growing a lot of our herbaceous, and it's looking ok. It was reassuring to discover that he too is philosophical about what we use on the day: if they're not up to scratch, we won't use them, and find something else instead.
The Chelsea Flower Show is likely to be less colourful this year after the coldest winter for 31 years.
Cold nights this spring in contrast to warmer weather of recent years means some planned plant launches at Chelsea may not take place and the show is likely to be more green.
RHS shows director Stephen Bennett said: "It has been a very severe late spring for growers. But I like late spring because it means very fresh-looking spring shows. I predict Chelsea will be a fresh green-looking show, less blousy and colourful than usual."
Hillier Nurseries plant show manager Ricky Dorlay, who is seeking a record 65th gold medal for the company, said: "This spring, most of our outdoor-grown plant material is two to three weeks behind.
"It's not just the temperatures that have been low this spring. Light density levels have been very poor too, which is the bigger worry, and next week's weather forecast is not looking very encouraging." He added that later flowering Rhododendron are "really struggling" and Cornus are "way behind".
Hillier managing director Andy McIndoe said the planned launch of Philadelphus maculatus 'Sweet Clare' at Chelsea may not happen. "It's normally quite difficult to get into flower anyway, so my guess is it won't make it in time for the show," he predicted.
Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants owner Rosy Hardy said: "The main problem is that we are not getting root growth, so although show plants are looking good and putting on top growth, as soon as it gets hot they will dry out and wilt."
Blackmore and Langdon is the only company that has been at every show since its inception in 1912. Owner Rosemary Langdon said: "The very cold winter and lack of light mean we have had to use lots more oil. It's probably cost us quite a few thousands because we have to keep the glasshouse hot from September to May, particularly for the Begonias."
Tony Smith is designing the Easigrass Urban Plantaholics Kitchen. "The issue we have is a Verbena called 'Silver Anne', which we brought into our glasshouse in January and it did nothing because there wasn't enough light," he said. "We didn't want to force it because they get soft and floppy, but hopefully it is starting to take off now."
Companies exhibiting at the Harrogate Flower Show, which began yesterday, have had to deal with even tougher choices. Cath's Garden Plants director Bob Sanderson said: "We have had to change what we are going to use. We would normally show things like Dicentra spectabilis, Tiarellas and Heucheras but they are not ready. Instead, we will put them in another show."
Garden writer Peter Seabrook added: "It promises to be a very difficult show at Chelsea for growers. If the wind changes, temperatures will suddenly rocket and plants will be soft."
RHS advisory services head Guy Barter said: "Things are a lot later - there has been a significant delay in flowering. At the moment, people exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower Show are in a bit of a dilemma. If they force plants too fast they may be over the top for Chelsea and if they don't they could be significantly late. It is a lot more challenging this year."
Friday 23 April
Mark's story.
In 2005 Mark was a passenger in his friend's car and his life suddenly changed. The car flipped over, it travelled 180 yards on its roof, went down an embankment and hit a tree head on with Mark inside. His injuries were so bad that on arrival at hospital they had to put him into a coma for five months to allow his body to recover.
After six months in hospital, he went to Thomas Edward Mitten house, a residential home for people with severe brain injuries, where he tried to some to terms with his new life. His injuries had affected his balance, stamina (physical and psychological) and speech. Much of his two year stay was spent dealing with his anger about what had happened to him and how is had affected his life. His girlfriend had left him and taken their son and denied him access.
In July 2008 Mark's Social Services case manager biught him to Thrive. He was still angry when he came to Thrive and did not have the stamina or motivation to stay all day. He started coming once a week for part of a day and how now built up to three full days a week as his balance and stamina improved.
Mark says "coming to Thrive helped me come to terms with my new life and look to the future rather than the past. When I started at Thrive I felt like a baby and now I feel like an adult."
Mark found something he really enjoys doing, gardening, which has given him confidence, a sense of purpose and optimism about the future. His balance and stamina has improved to such a degree that he is now taking his NPTC in horticulture.
Tuesday 20 April
For those of you who don't yet know, Thrive’s entry into this years RHS Chelsea Flower Show will be designed for the mature yet stylish gentleman. The 'Unexpected Gardener’ garden will provide practical support and structure whilst being stylish.
The Unexpected Gardener, a small urban garden created with award-winning designer Jo Thompson, is proof that age or disability need not mean an end to the joys of gardening.
The garden has been designed for a more mature person who may find gardening physically challenging but is reluctant to compromise on style. Combining practicality with visual appeal, this colourful garden incorporates raised planter beds, an outdoor fireplace, a fountain and a seating area. Featured plants include Iris 'Jamie Roo’ and a delightful and rare Geranium 'Southease Celestial’ alongside rich caramel coloured roses and sumptuous blue and purple irises, and other plants grown by Thrive’s disabled gardeners.
Inspiration for the garden came after Jo Thompson’s visit to Thrive.
"After seeing so many people working at Thrive with a wide range of disabilities, I began to wonder what compromises I would need to make as a more mature gardener. I realised that for many it is important to create a manageable, yet still stylish and contemporary space"
Some of the plants will be grown and nurtured by the Thrive disabled gardeners and those which achieve show standard will be selected by Jo to proudly appear in her garden alongside plants grown by professional breeders and growers including Roger Platt and Iris of Sissinghurst.
The plants not selected for the 'Unexpected Gardener' garden will be sold at Thrive’s Battersea Garden Project (opposite the RHS Chelsea) during and after the show.
Monday 19 April
Ade's story
"I particularly enjoy coming to Thrive as it gives me a sense of some independence and I am treated like an adult." Ade
If you visit Thrive’s Carry on Gardening website, you’ll recognise Ade Baker. The photos of Ade used on the website and in many of Thrive’s publications, show his considerable skill in gardening from a wheelchair and his unfailing 'try anything’ attitude.
Ade attends the Thrive Trunkwell Garden Project, near Reading in Berkshire, and as you can tell from his enthusiastic and infectious smile, he loves gardening. The companionship of others and the friendships he has made at Thrive are particularly important to him, as is gaining new skills. Ade is very proud to be working towards a National Proficiency Test Council qualification in horticulture at level 3, which he started last year.
Ade says: "I particularly enjoy coming to Thrive as it gives me a sense of some independence and I am treated like an adult. The gardening tasks help me build my strength and stamina, which then help me do a few things for myself at home."
Ade’s hydrocephalus and epilepsy don’t stop him having a variety of interests. He enjoyed the scouts and loves going ten pin bowling, his week is spent at Thrive and at a day centre where he works on the computer, cooks up new and healthy food, and paints with oils. A favourite gardening job is growing from seed and Ade is an expert on sowing, pricking out and potting on.
Tuesday 13 April
Work is now well under way at the Trunkwell Garden Project for the Chelsea garden. We have been busy potting up the Iris 'Dusky Challenge’, 'Local Colour Purple’, 'Titans Glory’ and 'Hello Darkness’.
With the warmer weather the plants have started to grow vigorously and need care and attention from the gardening team to make sure that they come to their best for the show.
Some individual gardeners are enjoying the media attention from both national and local press. They have posed for photo opportunities in addition to being interviewed about their involvement in the Chelsea project. Family and friends have also been keen to hear about the latest developments and are following our progress.
Everyone is excited at the prospect of being involved in one way or another, from caring for the plants to being interviewed and photographed.
Friday 9 April
Thrive supporter and photographer Helen Jermyn has recently visited the Thrive garden project's at Battersea and Trunkwell to document the preparations for the 'Unexpected Gardener' garden.
I started taking photographs as a child but it was only around three years ago I made the decision to take up photography professionally. And when I made the career switch, it was inevitable that I would focus on photographing gardens - both my father and grandfather were professional gardeners so gardening is in the Jermyn family bloodline!
I grew up in a house that had a large, unruly garden with lots of nooks and crannies to hide in and trees to climb. At an early age I was learning the names of plants dotted around the garden, sowing Sweet William seeds in my garden 'patch' and helping with gardening tasks.
Now, years later, I live in a flat in East Dulwich, London, with a small back yard crammed with pots of plants and I have an allotment just five minutes from home, which I love. For me, gardening has always been a pleasure and an escape, and I've never doubted the benefits.
My connection with Thrive started in 2009 when I got in touch to offer my help with
photography. Somehow, I ended up not only coming on board as a photographer, but also getting my hands dirty volunteering in their beautiful gardens in Battersea.
It's great news that Thrive will be at the Chelsea Flower Show and I am delighted to be documenting the preparations. Over the next two months I will be visiting the gardens at Battersea and Trunkwell to capture the fun, excitement and hard work Thrive's gardeners are putting in to help make the Chelsea garden a reality.
I enjoy photographing all things connected to horticulture - from garden views to plant portraits, from people working in the gardens to those just taking time to relax. The Thrive gardens offer so many photographic opportunities - it's always a pleasure to visit. Ad it's interesting that when I have shown clients, such as the RHS, my portfolio they are often drawn to the Thrive images - the special atmosphere that exists in the gardens just seems to shine through.
During my time with Thrive I've met some incredible people and heard many inspiring stories about how gardening has changed lives. If my pictures can play a part in spreading the word about Thrive and their work, then I'm happy!
Some photos taken at Thrive can be found on my website
www.jermynphotography.com
Tuesday 6 April
I was tremendously excited when Thrive approached me to create a canopy for their garden at the Chelsea Flower Show. I’m passionate about the therapeutic effects of time spent with nature, so Thrive’s philosophy of transforming lives through gardening is both moving and motivating.
My original canopy design was catalyzed by a visit to see my mother in hospital. I noticed a small, communal garden area; outdoor space; a space to think, the patterns of nature’s growth both reassuring and life-affirming. David Attenborough’s 'The Life of Plants’ had recently shown me how plants are the ultimate survivors and adapters, so their presence in a place of healing felt symbolic and appropriate.
Much of my design work takes direct inspiration from plants – I hadn’t realised just how much. Having worked at home for a number of years, I recently moved into a local workshop. It was a practical workspace, but it was not long before I realised what I missed – the opportunity to wander into my garden and recharge my creative juices and observe the subtle seasonal changes taking shape. The result is that I am now lucky enough to be resident in a studio at the bottom of my garden!
When I first saw the plans for the Thrive garden, the seating area provided a perfect space that would be enhanced with a shaded sanctuary. My canopies aim to give you partial protection from harmful sun rays whilst also offering a place of emotional sanctuary and hopefully something beautiful to look up at.
Jo Thompson and I agreed that it should float poetically, providing a contrast to the straight structural lines. I use new technologies like laser cutting to produce the rather sculptural 'petal’ forms for the canopies. Ultimately I would like people to have a subliminal link to nature when finding themselves under the structure.
When I first conceived of the idea of the canopy I could only dream of designing one for a show as prestigious as The Chelsea Flower Show and feel privileged to have been invited to design one for Jo Thompson. I am particularly pleased it will be part of the garden for such a unique and appropriate charity.
Friday 2 April
Thrive's Growing Options project was first launched at the Trunkwell Garden Project in 2006. Aiming to use gardening to help 14-16 year olds with special educational needs in their transition to adulthood and, it proved an outstanding success.
Students gained hugely not just by getting a vocational qualification but even more important building their confidence and developing skills for a full adult life. On that back of that success, Thrive's Battersea Garden Project recently offered places to three south London special schools. Thirteen students from Lansdowne, Paddock and Highshore Schools are enrolled.
More than half of them are living with autism and even after just a few weeks the impact is astonishing. Autistic students who would normally react badly to a change in their daily routine are just loving the experience of being outdoors and the focus which gardening can provide. They are also learning. Bite sized activities keep their attention and things like counting seeds or writing a diary can develop basic skills like numeracy and literacy. On top of that, the buzz of success, something as simple as seeing a plant grow can make a real difference. Improved confidence can divert the student and help them explore different things.
Adolescence is difficult for all of us but for the young people who join Growing Options it's a far tougher journey.
Monday 29 March
It seems only appropriate that when singer-songwriter Kristina Bill declares Thrive's garden at the Chelsea Flower show officially open on press day, she should be wearing flowers - which is why Thrive has commissioned nature-inspired milliner Bridget Bailey to design her a stunning piece of headwear.
Founder of the Bailey Tomlin label, Bridget Bailey has produced millinery for designer Jean Muir among other prestigious names. Her collections for a range of of high-profile clients include the V&A, Saks 5th Ave and Liberty and she has represented British millinery at various exhibitions around the world.
Bailey Tomlin bespoke headwear and accessories have been described as "modern, feminine and subversively floral" and are works of art in their own right. Bailey combines an extraordinary eye and lightness of touch with marvellous technical expertise to create unique and delicate pieces featuring her own variations of exquisite flowers, exotically coloured vegetables and luscious fruits.
Her creations include botany-inspried adornments such as aubergine-coloured pea-pod brooches and feather shoe sculptures. Surprising and original headpieces and fascinators feature tulips, leaves, fishing flies and even a version of a mouth-watering fruit flan.
Bridget Bailey makes use of her background in textiles to give an added dimension to the sculptural qualities of millinery, using techniques such as hand rolling, stiffening and wiring to shape the pieces made of coloured straw and silk.
"My work is inspired by the beauty of nature and this is a wonderful chance to combine my passion for flowers and plants with the work of this incredible charity", said bridget. "When I was offered the opportunity to collaborate with Thrive, I had no hesitation in saying 'yes'."
Monday 22 March
Garden designer, Jo Thompson, gives us her news on how the preparations for Thrive's 'Unexpected Gardener' garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show are going.
I don't even dare count how many weeks to go before the build commences on May 14th. I’ve had a really busy week, starting with a visit to the gardens at RHS Wisley with the head of site James Rudoni. The daffodils were noticeable by their continuing reluctance to bloom – unsurprising considering that three weeks ago we were still dealing with snow. I think we counted a grand total of four in one spot. Meantime standing in a tapestry of crocuses and snowdrops in temperatures of 15/16 degrees was a slightly surreal experience in March.
This all could have pushed me to start panicking about the effect of the weather on our plants for Chelsea, but I have the utmost respect for the expertise of Roger Platts, who is growing many of our perennials. He'd already agreed to 'grow' for the Thrive garden before the news came out that he'd been selected to design the main show garden for the show's sponsors. So it's a real honour to be working with him, knowing that some of our plants are in the safest possible hands.
I made some calls and visits to the two Thrive garden projects to make sure that the plants that the Thrive gardeners are growing for Chelsea have been delivered, are being potted and that everything was underway. We are hoping that some of these plants will achieve show standard to allow me to use in the garden. I’ll be keeping a watchful eye on this over the next few weeks.
Last year, after various construction issues with the water harp that I designed for the Demelza Courtyard garden, I vowed that if there was a next time, I'd keep it simple. So, when I discovered at a design show a unique material, a mix of stone and acrylic that hadn't been used before at Chelsea, and discussed and agreed upon a new design with Gareth Neal, the water feature - complicated, heavy and generally an unknown quantity – evolved!
Dave and Neil at Privett International, who bravely agreed to work with me again on the construction of the fountain, didn't mention my public vow of a year ago, but I could see it in their eyes. There was no going back with the design, and I love it. It's a secret, to be unveiled at the show, but safe to say it has Gareth Neal's visual elements of surprise.
I had a phone call from Jim at Hillier Nurseries last week just checking whether I still wanted the two beautiful Prunus serrula multistems that I selected in September 2009 as someone else wanted them. I've never rung somebody back so quickly in my life as the design of the garden was shaped around these trees! It was bad enough when the RHS told me three weeks ago that for siting reasons, the whole design is to be 'flipped' over, so it will look like a mirror image of what can be seen on the Thrive site. So my trees are going to be viewed from behind, not from my original viewpoint. And relax......
The 'living picture' - essentially planted-up plastic modules hung vertically by the seating area of the garden - arrived from the 'specialist' nursery earlier this week. The nursery shall remain nameless - let's just say I use the word 'specialist' with irony. The plants were ropey to say the least, so I promptly ripped them out and replanted them with some lovely saxifrage and polemonium from Iden Croft Herb Nursery, and I’ve also ordered some Carex and primula Francisca from Pantyfod Nursery in Wales. I need to make sure that everything in this picture is tolerant of shade and likes moisture: no flower-arranging allowed at Chelsea - plants have to be planted by the book as far as conditions are concerned. The polemonium is a bit of a gamble: what will the flower stems do when grown? But I prefer a challenge.
I’ll keep you posted on developments in April!