When the gardening for health charity Thrive looked to the local community to help revive and upgrade one of its gardens in Kings Heath Park, Hospitality Lodge, No. 8325 answered that call. This led a combined Worcestershire Province team organised by Worshipful Master Mark Barber on a ‘Ground Force’ weekend of work.
Thrive uses gardening to change lives. Thrive Birmingham operates in what was the old BBC Gardeners’ World garden in Kings Heath Park. It uses social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) to bring about positive changes in the lives of people living with disabilities or ill health or who are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable. Many famous gardeners such as Monty Don, Mark Lane, David Domoney and Alan Titchmarsh have praised the work of the charity and the benefits it offers to so many people.
For the Masonic volunteers, it was a serious commitment that involved a clear schedule of gardening and landscaping. The team achieved the activities that needed to be completed, making the existing overgrown garden fully wheelchair accessible and operational.
The garden now blooms along with the people who benefit from it. It has also enabled Thrive to expand its fantastic work as it now supports even more people for whom STH is an intrinsic and positive part of their lifestyle.
