Garden Explorers

Thrive’s Garden Explorers is a holiday club for children and young people, offering gardening activities using social and therapeutic horticulture. Children with SEND aged 11-17 years old will be able to engage in nature, undertake fun garden activities, socialise with each other, and gain new skills.

Social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) is the process of using plants and gardens to improve physical and mental health, as well as communication and thinking skills. Thrive has been using STH to help people with a range of physical and mental health issues for over 40 years.

The benefits from the gardening holiday club are numerous, encouraging children and young people to get out into the garden, using adaptive tools if necessary and learning new skills. Whether their participation is passive or active, all are able to benefit in some way from gardens, gardening, and the natural environment.

They also learn how to grow and cook fruit and vegetables in small spaces, further, promoting healthy eating and healthy living whilst undertaking gentle exercise and improving their fine motor skills and wellbeing.

The programme provides suitable holiday provision for SEND children and also gives much needed respite for parents and carers.

Days:

• Monday 28th July
• Tuesday 29th July
• Monday 11th August
• Tuesday 12th August
• Monday 18th August
• Tuesday 19th August
• Tuesday 26th August

Attend all or some sessions. Sessions are free but need to be pre-booked.

Time: 10.30am - 2.30pm

Location: Thrive, Beech Hill near reading (RG7 2AT)

Come and join in with:

• Fun gardening activities
• Growing flowers, fruit and vegetables
• Nature walks and bug hunts
• Garden games and crafts

Plus:

• Learn new skills
• Have fun and socialise with others
• Spend time in beautiful gardens

This programme is open to young people aged 11–17 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan, or are currently being assessed for one. Please note that those who require personal care will need to attend with a support worker, and for individuals with complex needs, a pre-assessment will be carried out to determine whether they can access the club independently or whether a carer or support worker will be required.

After the summer sessions, Garden Explorers will run on the following dates. This website page will be updated with more information on these holiday clubs closer to the time.

• 27th & 28th October 2025
• 16th & 17th February 2026