Thrive Cornwall

29/08/2026

🌱📚 🫟 THRIVE IS…

Not a classroom.
Not a club where everyone has to do the same thing.
Not a place where being “good at something” matters.

It’s a place where you might arrive not knowing what you fancy doing that day…

…and leave having built something ridiculous, learnt something completely unexpected, had a proper argument about something fascinating, cooked your snack, climbed a tree, made a mess, changed your mind, helped someone else — or all of the above. 😂

Because at Thrive, we’re less interested in producing perfect little people…

…and much more interested in helping young people become curious, capable, confident humans who know that their voice matters.

We’re back Monday 7th September.

And honestly?

We can’t wait. 💚

Thrive — come as you are. 🌿

25/08/2026

💛 Please help support Mike and his family 💛

Many of you will know Mike through THRIVE, the wider home education community, or through the many children he tutors and supports.

Our hearts are broken following the loss of Amelia, and a GoFundMe has been set up by a family member to help support Mike and his family through this unimaginable time.
If you’re able to donate, no matter how small, it would mean so much. And if you can’t, sharing this post could make an enormous difference.

Mike gives so much to the children and families around him. Now we have an opportunity to give a little back. 💛

Thank you for reading, sharing and supporting them.

In Loving Memory of Amélia There are no words that can truly express the heartbreak of… Sean Jones needs your support for In Loving Memory of Amélia

17/08/2026

🌿🫐 THRIVE NATURE NOTES 🫐🌿

🖤 The Blackberry — Summer’s Little Treasure

Right now, Cornwall’s hedgerows are beginning to offer up one of their greatest little treasures…

Blackberries! 🫐

Those clusters of shiny berries tucked among the brambles are a delicious sign that summer is beginning to turn towards autumn.

But blackberries aren’t just a tasty snack.

They’re an important food source for birds, insects and other wildlife, while the thorny, tangled stems provide shelter and nesting places too.

Humans have been enjoying them for thousands of years — blackberry seeds have even been found at prehistoric archaeological sites!

And there’s plenty of folklore around them. One old British tradition says that after Michaelmas Day, the devil had “spat on” the blackberries, explaining why the fruit becomes increasingly soft and spoiled as autumn progresses. A rather dramatic bit of hedgerow folklore! 😂

At THRIVE, we’ll be exploring blackberries more closely when we return in September — looking at their place in our hedgerows, their relationship with wildlife, seasonal changes and, of course, finding some creative ways to enjoy them. 🌿🫐

🍃 Nature challenge:
Next time you’re outside, see if you can spot all the different stages of a blackberry — from tiny green berries, to red, to those deep purple-black treasures.

And if you find some ripe ones, leave plenty for the birds and other hedgerow residents too. 🐦

Sometimes the best discoveries are growing right beside the path.

💛🌿 Keep noticing, Thrivers.

08/08/2026

🌿✨ THRIVE NATURE NOTES ✨🌿

Yarrow — The Little Wild Healer 🤍🌿

THRIVE may still be enjoying its summer pause, but we’re continuing to notice the wonderful things growing around us.

Have you spotted these delicate clusters of tiny white flowers growing along roadsides, meadows and Cornish hedgerows?

This is yarrow — Achillea millefolium — and it has quite a story to tell.

Its scientific name comes from Achilles, the legendary Greek warrior who, according to ancient stories, used yarrow to treat wounds. For centuries, yarrow has been valued in traditional herbal practices and folklore.

But you don’t need to travel back to Ancient Greece to appreciate it. Yarrow is a brilliant little wildlife plant, providing nectar for bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other pollinators. 🐝🦋

Its feathery leaves are another clue to its identity — millefolium means “thousand-leaved”, referring to their wonderfully delicate, divided appearance.

And yarrow is tough. It thrives in poor soils, tolerates dry conditions and can be found happily growing where many fussier plants wouldn’t stand a chance.

A tiny wildflower with a surprisingly big history. 🌿

Next time you’re outside…
Look closely at the flowers and leaves. How many tiny flower heads can you count? Who is visiting them? And what other wild plants are growing alongside them?

Sometimes the most interesting stories are growing quietly beneath our feet.

Keep noticing, Thrivers. 💛🌿

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02/08/2026

🌿✨ THRIVE NATURE NOTES ✨🌿

Brilliant Borage 💙

THRIVE may be enjoying its summer break, but our curiosity certainly isn’t! We’ll be sharing the occasional Nature Note over the holidays to keep us connected to the wonderful world around us. 🌿

This week we’re celebrating borage—one of the hardest-working plants in the garden.

Its striking star-shaped blue flowers aren’t just beautiful, they’re a favourite of bees and other pollinators, providing a rich source of nectar throughout the summer. If you’ve ever wondered why your borage seems to be buzzing, now you know! 🐝

Gardeners have long treasured borage too. It’s often planted alongside fruit and vegetables because it helps attract pollinators, improves biodiversity and as its leaves break down, they return valuable nutrients to the soil. Some even call it a “green fertiliser.”

And there’s more! The delicate flowers are completely edible and have a refreshing, cucumber-like flavour. They make a beautiful addition to summer salads, cakes and drinks, turning even a simple glass of lemonade into something rather magical. 💙🍋

At THRIVE, we love plants like borage because they remind us that beauty and usefulness can grow side by side.

🌿 Next time you’re outside…
See if you can spot those little blue stars. Watch for the bees, admire their busy work and remember that even the smallest flowers can make a big difference.

Have a wonderful summer. We’ll see you in September—but until then, keep exploring. 💛🌿

🌿🐝💙

24/07/2026

🌿 A Wonderful End to the THRIVE Term ✨🌿

We finished the term with a day of creativity, discussion and outdoor learning.

The Thrivers explored sustainability, fast and slow fashion, biodegradable materials and ethical production before designing and block printing their own tote bags. As always, there was plenty of teamwork, laughter, imaginative play and community spirit to round off the day.

Thank you to all of our children, families, facilitators and volunteers for making this such a special term. We can’t wait to see everyone again in September for more adventures, curiosity and learning together. 💛🌿

20/07/2026

🌿✨ THRIVE Mondays ✨🌿

Today’s session combined drama, photography, engineering and wellbeing through creative, child-led learning.

The Thrivelings continued developing their characters in a drama workshop inspired by the Cornish legend of the Mermaid of Zennor, explored the work of photographers Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher and learned about the role of a robotics engineer.

We also experimented with solar cooking by making sunshine s’mores, enjoyed plenty of teamwork through games and finished the day by exploring simple strategies for calming busy minds and building emotional resilience.

Another wonderful day of curiosity, creativity and community. 💛🌿

17/07/2026

🌿✨ THRIVE Fridays ✨🌿

Today’s session explored inspiring people, careers, storytelling and the performing arts through discussion and child-led learning.

The children learned about the work of an aerial artist, explored the story of youth activist Emma González and enjoyed a fascinating TED Talk on the evolution of horses.

The afternoon was filled with creativity as the Thrivers took part in a drama workshop inspired by the Cornish legend of the Mermaid of Zennor, alongside games, teamwork and plenty of laughter.

Another wonderful day of curiosity, confidence and community learning. 💛🌿

16/07/2026

🌿✨ THRIVE NATURE NOTES ✨🌿

🌿 The Mighty Mint 🌿

Mint is one of those plants that seems almost impossible not to love.
Crush a leaf between your fingers and it instantly releases that cool, fresh scent that reminds many people of summer drinks, garden paths, herbal teas and homemade treats. At THRIVE, we use mint often in our snacks, lemonades, infusions and even chocolatey creations. 🍋🍫🌿

There are many kinds of mint — peppermint, spearmint, apple mint, chocolate mint and more — and they all belong to the same wonderfully aromatic family of plants.
Mint has been valued for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used it in food, medicine and perfumes. In many traditions, mint became a symbol of welcome and hospitality and fresh mint was often placed where guests would be received.

🌿 Mint is also a brilliant wildlife plant. When left to flower, its tiny purple or white blossoms attract bees, butterflies and many other pollinators.
One of the reasons mint is such a successful plant is that it spreads through underground stems called runners, which is why a small patch can quickly become a mint kingdom if given the chance!

At THRIVE, we love that mint is both practical and magical:
🍵 tea for quiet moments
🍋 lemonade for hot days
🍫 chocolate treats for celebrations
🐝 flowers for pollinators
🌿 and a reminder that some of the most useful plants are the ones growing quietly at our feet.

The next time you see a patch of mint, rub a leaf gently and take a deep breath.
Nature often introduces itself through scent first. 🌿✨

🌿💚

13/07/2026

🌿✨ THRIVE Mondays ✨🌿

Today’s session combined Earth science, art and literature through discussion and hands-on learning.

The children explored plate tectonics and volcanic activity as part of our ongoing geology studies, learned about Constantin Brâncuși and discussed the role of children’s authors and the stories that inspire us.

We rounded off the day with practical food preparation, teamwork, plenty of outdoor games in the summer sunshine and a delicious lemonade 🍋🌿

A lovely day of curiosity, creativity and community learning. 💛

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