The Prime Minister was among more than a dozen senior government figures who helped pack gardening starter-kits for the elderly and isolated on behalf of Battersea charity Thrive at the recent Conservative Party Conference.

Thrive is a national charity that uses gardening to change the lives of those living with a disability or mental ill health and has three gardens in Battersea Park.

The charity also works in Ruskin and Larkhall Parks in Lambeth and Burgess Park in Southwark.

In total more than 280 boxes including seeds, compost, tools and Thrive’s gardening independence guide were assembled by scores of MPs, councillors and activists during the four-day conference in Manchester.

The boxes will be distributed to elderly people to help them discover the joy of gardening for the first time or reignite their passion for growing their own plants.

Thrive attended the conference at no cost to the charity by invitation of the Social Action Team, to highlight the health and social benefits of gardening.

Thrive also works in Berkshire, the West Midlands and the North East, uses social and therapeutic horticulture to positively influence health and wellbeing.

Mr Cameron personalised his box with the message: 'Enjoy your new garden - planting and growing never stops giving me pleasure.’ Based on information supplied by Alyson Chorley.