FAQs

1. I have a question about training and consultancy

Please see our specific Training, Education and Consultancy FAQs.

2. What advice can I get to start or carry on gardening?

Our Get Gardening section is for anyone who needs some extra help to start or continue gardening. You may have lived with a disability all your life or may be coping with new challenges such as physical or mental conditions caused by a stroke or an accident. Perhaps you are living with heart disease or perhaps you have back problems (so you can’t bend easily). You may have weak hands or only use one hand, perhaps you find walking difficult, or are losing your sight.

Whatever your disability or health condition, Thrive can help you find ways to start or continue gardening.

3. Can you help me manage my garden?

Thrive doesn't provide garden maintenance or horticultural therapy in your own space. We run 3 centres where horticultural therapy is delivered and train people to practice social and therapeutic horticulture.

We have a leaflet for suggestions on getting help with your garden.

4. Can I buy equipment and tools from Thrive?

We don’t sell the equipment and tools. Any products mentioned on this website provide a link to the manufacturer’s website so you can get more information and contact them if you can’t find a stockist in your local area. Thrive doesn't endorse any particular product and will usually be recommending a type of tool which you can investigate and purchase according to your own budget.

5. What information is available to help with setting up a therapeutic garden or gardening group?

Our training courses are designed for this purpose - see them all at 'Courses and workshops'.

We have a range of publications and short briefing sheets available for professionals to download or order. There's also some additional resources for different user groups:

• 'Gardening together’ is a comprehensive and colourful resource pack offering horticultural therapy and gardening activities for older people in sheltered accommodation.
• 'Gardening 4U’ is a practical guide to setting up a gardening club for young people who have mental health issues. It is available for free download as a PDF.

6. How can I find out more about raised beds?

We have a wealth of information on raised beds. Additionally Thrive's leaflet, 'Raised Beds', has information on how to decide whether a raised bed is what you need, where to put a raised bed in your garden, different ways to construct the beds and what to grow.

7. What gardening resources are available to people with sight loss?

We've produced publications with easier ways to do everyday gardening jobs for people who have sight loss. These are available in large print, braille and audio, and full of useful tried and tested gardening techniques devised by people who have sight loss.

8. How can I train or retrain to be a horticultural therapist?

Thrive offers a number of ways for you to train in horticultural therapy. As an organisation we have over 30 years of experience and expertise in this area.

Careers in social and therapeutic horticulture from getting in to getting on.

Is a career in social and therapeutic horticulture for me?

9. How do I refer someone to one of your projects, or any of your programmes?

Visit our Regional centres and programmes page to find out about attending one of our centres.