The twentieth edition of THRIVE North Lancashire was launched at the Midsummer Market on 11 September 2026.

It pulls together a collection of local stories, citizen journalism, knowledge sharing and research around how we can move toward FoodFutures’ vision of ‘A thriving local food system that is healthy, resilient and fair.’

The cover is by Chuck Whitehead (you can read about his project on page 22 of the new issue), who says: “These cyanotype images are of large textile banners celebrating the harvest of heritage wheat grown by a community group near Morecambe Bay. Like the wheat variety we used, cyanotypes originated in the nineteenth century. It’s an accessible, magical and adventurous process: try it out for yourself! The technique encourages me to be observant and to create bold images that connect with a place, a time of year such as the harvest and with ‘what’s happening now’ in nature. I share examples and workshops at @cemwhitehead”

This issue’s theme is ‘young voices’. We chose the theme of this issue to catch up on how young people in our district are experiencing and thinking about food growing and the local environment. We hope that this issue has an optimistic feel, giving just a taste of how lots of local young people are growing up with a knowledge of where food comes from, and appreciating their natural environment.

Become a THRIVE supporter

We want to keep THRIVE free for readers across North Lancashire as we have started to see the impact this can have. For example, readers have told us that they felt inspired by all the community action already taking place. People have felt encouraged to tell their own stories, and new community food projects have been sparked by stories told in THRIVE. 

We don’t want to become a publication that is overrun by advertising. Instead we’d love to keep THRIVE freely available across North Lancashire whilst enabling local people to tell their own stories and grow a thriving citizen journalism network here.  

So, we’re asking for a little financial help from our community. By becoming a THRIVE supporter you contribute a monthly or annual amount – you choose – and directly support local writers, photographers, artists and editors who contribute to the magazine. 

No matter what level of support you choose (from £4 to £10 a month), you can pick up a copy of the magazine at a THRIVE supporters event. You’ll also be invited to other skill share events, community food events and meetings that shape THRIVE’s development.

Over the next year with our membership support we want to:

• Continue paying local artists to produce the front cover and other illustrations in the magazine.
• Continue to develop our citizen journalism training and mentoring programme.
• Pay local editors in training, designers, and proofreaders to keep the magazine accessible and easy to read.
• Cover costs of citizen journalists going out to interview food champions and people at interesting projects and businesses.
• Distribute THRIVE to community hubs across North Lancashire – including community centres, food clubs, libraries, GP surgeries, pubs, and cafes.
• Launch the quarterly THRIVE Magazine at seasonal markets that showcase some of the local projects and businesses that the magazine highlights.
• Develop THRIVEpod, a community podcast that seeks to explore a range of topics that are published in THRIVE Magazine with article authors and other special guests.

Contribute to Thrive Magazine

To fill up the pages with exciting projects, skills and ideas, we need YOU to submit proposals!

Would you like to write a column? Or submit questions about growing, sustainability, food waste, composting, food systems and climate change? Can you think up a recipe that reduces food waste or uses local seasonal veg? Are you an artist that explores the themes of food, growing, or the environment? Are you a local forager, food preserver, or permaculturist and want to share your knowledge?

Simply email your ideas and proposal to marketing@lessuk.org 

Pick up a copy

If you would like a paper copy of THRIVE to read, keep or pass on, here is a list of places that have committed to having copies whilst stock lasts:

Magazine Distribution

We need help to make sure our magazines reach all corners of Lancaster District (North Lancashire). Do you have a café, restaurant, shop or community space that could be a distribution point for these magazines? If yes, get in touch by emailing Andi: andi_CL@lessuk.org

Here is a full list of places we distribute to: Thrive pick-up places August 2025

Please give feedback

What you think about the THRIVE magazine is important to helping us make it better. Please fill out this feedback form:

Back issues

You can read all our back issues online or download PDF files by clicking the cover thumbnails below. Hover over the thumbnail to see the issue number and date.