A CHARITY using gardening for a positive change has earned recognition for its work at the Place to be Proud of Awards on Thursday last week.

Horticultural charity Thrive, which works across the Basingstoke area to provide positive changes for people with people living with disabilities or ill health, won the Health and Care Award.

The charity uses what is known as social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) which helps to improve the physical and psychological health and communication and thinking skills of people living with disabilities or ill health, or who are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable through the process of working with plants.

Horticultural therapists use gardening tasks and the garden itself to set up an individual set of activities.

A representative from Thrive was unavailable on the night, but Kathryn Rossiter, Thrive’s chief executive officer afterwards said: “We’re absolutely delighted to achieve this Place to be Proud of Award. Winning the health and care category is tremendous recognition for the benefits of our therapeutic gardening work and the positive differences it is making to our client gardeners working at The Vyne.”

Bruce Robinson, from award sponsors BMI The Hampshire Clinic, said: “Thrive is a fantastic charity using an exciting and innovative approach to enhancing the lives of people living with disabilities, with ill health, who are isolated or disadvantaged.”

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