Thrive has worked with visually impaired gardeners for over 30 years and we are able to draw on a wealth of experience and tried-and-trusted techniques for gardening with low vision.
We offer a range of services for blind and partially sighted people who wish to garden either as a new activity or to continue to enjoy gardening after sight loss. We have information to support you to garden at home, and can help to get you together with other blind and partially sighted people who are interested in gardening.
Thrive also offers support to professionals working with blind and partially sighted people who wish to garden.
In addition to our advisory services, we run the Blind Gardener of the Year competition which celebrates the skills and achievements of blind and partially sighted gardeners.
Follow the links to find how Thrive can help you at home:
- Gardening advice that is just a phone call, letter or email away
- Carry on Gardening, Thrive's second website, has top tips and tried-and-tested gardening equipment and tools to help you start or continue gardening with sight loss
- Request a free starter pack, which includes the Getting Started leaflet, a sample copy of our Come Gardening magazine, seasonal tips, and a pack of seed tapes.
- Getting on with gardening full colour books available in a variety of formats
- A free Gardening Yearbook. A 55 page full colour publication giving month-by-month gardening advice and tips for the fruit, veg and flower garden
- Come Gardening the magazine of the National Blind Gardeners’ Club which is also available in a variety of formats.
Thrive can also help you to get together with other blind and partially sighted people who wish to garden through:
Our work with professionals who support blind and partially sighted people to garden includes:
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Information to organisations for their members
- Get Gardening - an audio CD for professionals to give to people newly diagnosed with sight loss
- Practical workshops for organisations whose members are interested in gardening
- Training for rehabilitation officers to help them use gardening as part of their client’s rehabilitation process
For more information on our services for professionals who are working with blind and partially sighted people, contact our Information Service or call 0118 988 5688.
Thrive’s services for blind and partially sighted gardeners is run in partnership with RNIB. It is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and guided by the Advisory Committee for Blind Gardeners, a group that has many blind and partially sighted members who are keen gardeners.
