Birmingham

Thrive Birmingham offer therapeutic gardening programmes to people with a defined health, social or educational need in the old TV gardens in King’s Heath Park as well as various outreach projects in the wider community. For those that remember, the TV gardens provided the outside broadcasting location for Pebble Mill and previously Gardeners’ World and Gardening Times. Discover more about the history of the gardens here.

We use an approach called social and therapeutic horticulture (STH), where our team of trained therapists work with plants and people to improve an individual’s physical and psychological health, communication and thinking skills. The therapists, together with our dedicated volunteers, take a person-centred approach; they work in a variety of ways - in small groups, which maintain good ratios so that the therapeutic intervention is maximised, on a 1-1 basis for people who may require additional support at times, and also in larger groups, where there may be more of a focus on social interaction, facilitated discussion and group learning.

Whilst King’s Heath is a public park, the TV gardens provide a safe, secure and private space for the client gardeners, therapists and volunteers to work within.

We are proud to be an approved City & Guilds Centre which enables us to deliver practical horticulture skills and training to both young people (14+) and adults wanting to get started in the world of horticulture. Our large glasshouse lends itself perfectly to facilitate these sessions in a less structured or formal way like classroom-based learning.

We also run Sow & Grow - a 12 week course of seasonal gardening sessions for those over 50.

Throughout the year, Thrive Birmingham host guided tours and volunteer taster days where we open the TV gardens out to the public. Our therapists, volunteers, staff are proud to show people around all the areas in which they work.

People come to us by many different paths. Some are referred by social services or support workers, or via another health care professional such as their GP. We also welcome people who come independently or are referred by a family member, school or another charity. Whatever the referral route, we can discuss individual needs to ensure the programme options are appropriate.

To discuss any of our programmes, or if you would like to arrange a visit to one of our gardens or if you are interested other ways to get involved, please contact the Thrive office on 0121 293 4531 or use our contact form.

Our Main Garden office is in front of the bowling green in King's Heath Park. The nearest entrance is Vicarage Road entrance.

Download a map of our location in the park.

Postal address:

Thrive Birmingham
Horticultural Training Centre
King's Heath Park
King's Heath
Birmingham
B14 7TQ