Thrive gardeners have been working at National Trust property The Vyne since 2007 and like the vegetables in the restored walled garden, the relationship between both charities continues to flourish.
The National Trust wanted to restore the walled garden back to its original use as a place to grow fruit and vegetables for the main house.
After planting fruit trees and restoring the stunning glasshouse they approached Thrive to help create and maintain the vegetable beds within the 18th century walled garden.
At first six gardeners from Thrive, along with a Horticultural Therapist and volunteer, created eight vegetable beds by digging out the turf and preparing the soil. The cut turf was used to build walls and line the bases of the three raised beds that we also built in the garden.
Thrive’s first successful harvest included lettuce, carrots, potatoes, courgettes, runner beans, onions, parsnip, pumpkins, tomatoes and red cabbage.
The produce was of such good quality that the chef at The Vyne’s restaurant started to use it.
Now The Vyne really is a hive of activity. Thrive looks after 28 vegetable beds, gardeners spend four days a week there and have also branched out into conservation work in Morgaston woods at the property.
Thrive gardeners who visit The Vyne have different disabilities including mental ill health and learning disabilities.
Thrive Garden Manager Sue Tabor said: "Our relationship with The Vyne has gone from strength to strength.
"It is an arrangement that suits everyone and has had such a positive impact on the Thrive gardeners.
"The Vyne is a peaceful place to garden, and for some of our clients this is very important. The small group allows more individual attention.
"For others, it offers a sense of self worth as it can be similar to having a job.
"The process of horticultural therapy is the same, but being able to grow vegetables for the restaurant gives gardeners a real sense of achievement.
"They feel so proud taking the produce that they have grown down to the restaurant."
Thrive gardeners grow a selection of vegetables from seed either in the ground at The Vyne or propagated in the glasshouse at Thrive’s Trunkwell Gardens.
The Vyne project has given Thrive gardeners the chance to see the change from a previously unused area to a productive and profitable area.
"We have learnt that by having ownership of an area, the Thrive gardeners are more focused and generally very keen to work on their own crop," added Sue.
"We can see this because some will need fewer prompts to identify work in their own crop compared to prompts required to identify work in the shared beds."
Research from the project has also shown that Thrive gardeners continued to benefit from regular praise for their work which comes from therapists, volunteers, National Trust staff and volunteers, and in particular, members of the public who are able to visit the grounds.
This increases their sense of achievement, self-esteem and social skills.
Thrive now grows many different seasonal crops which will help to improve everyone’s knowledge of, and confidence in, growing different vegetables, a skill which they may be able to use in their own home.
The ultimate progression for some of the Thrive gardeners has been to start volunteering with the National Trust.
Tony, is visually impaired with mild learning disabilities.
"I’ve definitely learnt more about vegetables and when I take them home I help to cook them with my family.
"I like being outdoors and here we can talk to members of the public about what we are doing – I really like that."
Peter has mental ill health.
"I have a lot more energy and my spirits have been lifted since coming to Thrive. I feel more sociable, especially at The Vyne. It’s a great feeling to be able to take the produce you’ve grown down to the kitchen."
Matt has schizophrenia.
"Thrive has given me structure in my life and I love coming here (to The Vyne).
"I am outdoors three days a week now, two at Thrive and one at a conservation project.
"Being outdoors for most the day makes me feel good, I enjoy everything we do and go home feeling happy."