National Gardening Day: Celebrate the Joy of Growing

Discover how to celebrate National Gardening Day with simple gardening ideas, wellbeing benefits, and tips for growing flowers, herbs, and vegetables at home.

National Gardening Day is the perfect excuse to step outside, dig into the soil, and reconnect with the simple pleasure of growing things. 

Celebrated each year on 14 April, the day encourages people of all ages to embrace gardening, whether that means tending a sprawling garden, nurturing a few pots on a balcony, or even starting herbs on a sunny windowsill.

For many of us in the UK, spring is when gardens truly begin to wake up. 

After months of cold weather and grey skies, April brings longer days, warmer temperatures, and the first real signs of new growth. Buds begin to open, bees return to forage, and the soil is ready to welcome new plants. National Gardening Day arrives at exactly the right moment to inspire a fresh start in the garden.

Why Gardening Is Good for You

Gardening isn’t just about plants, it’s good for people too. Studies have shown that spending time outdoors and working with soil can help reduce stress, improve mood, and even boost physical health. 

Digging, planting, watering, and weeding all provide gentle exercise while giving your mind a welcome break from screens and daily pressures.

There’s also something deeply satisfying about growing your own food. From tomatoes and lettuce to herbs such as basil and rosemary, even a small garden can produce ingredients that go straight from soil to plate. The flavour and freshness are hard to beat, and the sense of achievement makes every harvest feel special.

Easy Ways to Celebrate National Gardening Day

You don’t need a large garden to join in. Here are a few simple ideas to mark the day:

Plant something new – flowers, herbs, or vegetables.

Start a small herb garden in pots on a windowsill.

Visit a small family-owned local garden centre for inspiration and seasonal plants.

Support pollinators by planting bee-friendly flowers such as lavender or wildflowers.

Tidy and refresh your garden beds after winter.

Even small actions can make a difference, and gardening often grows from these first simple steps.

Growing More Than Plants

Gardens are about more than just plants. They create habitats for wildlife, bring colour and beauty to our homes, and provide peaceful spaces to unwind. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a complete beginner, National Gardening Day is a reminder that anyone can grow something, and enjoy the rewards.

So grab your gloves, pick up a trowel, and celebrate the wonderful world of gardening.

That's Food and Drink: The Hidden Plastic in Tea Bags: Which UK Tea Brand...

That's Food and Drink: The Hidden Plastic in Tea Bags: Which UK Tea Brand...: Many tea bags marketed as biodegradable contain hidden plastics that won’t break down in home compost.  Discover which UK tea brands are gen...

Linda Phillips earns "well-deserved" Victoria Medal

Linda Phillips (PICTURED), one of the leading pioneers in therapeutic community gardening and the founder and driving force of the award-winning charity Roots and Shoots, was this week presented with the Royal Horticultural Society Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) at a ceremony in London.

The VMH is the highest distinction in British horticulture, established in 1897 to honour those making outstanding contributions to the field. 

Limited to only 63 holders at any time, symbolising the 63-year reign of Queen Victoria, it represents a prestigious lifetime achievement award for UK horticulturists.

Linda comes from a family of working gardeners and developed a passion for plants from an early age. In a time where there were very few women working in horticulture, at 18 she became a Royal Parks apprentice at Hampton Court Palace. 

Many of the gardeners she worked with would today be considered to be neurodiverse or have learning difficulties but in the gardens, they were accepted as individuals and as part of the team, establishing her view of gardens as places for everyone.

She founded Roots and Shoots in 1982 for young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to learn practical skills for life and work, including horticulture, complemented with a full educational programme. 

Through hands-on gardening projects students gain a sense of pride, achievement and belonging, while achieving experience and qualifications that are both practical and meaningful.

Roots and Shoots’ Walnut Tree Walk site in Kennington began as a dilapidated and polluted brownfield site used by the Civil Defence in the Second World War. 

Despite no plants on the site and few funds, Linda envisioned a beautiful garden for all. Over 44 years under her direction, staff, students and volunteers have transformed the site into a beloved garden and state-of-the-art environmental charity in the heart of the inner city. 

Many Londoners get their first contact with the natural world and gardening experience at Roots and Shoots. It is a place of hope and joy.

Linda told That's Gardening: “I’m incredibly honoured to receive the Victoria Medal of Honour in recognition of my work in community and therapeutic gardening and its vital importance for transforming people’s lives. 

"Roots and Shoots reaches people from every background and gives them a new perspective on the world. It has been the joy of my life to share my love of the natural world with so many.”

At Roots and Shoots, RBG Kew alumna Linda took her experience as a gardener and applied it to teaching, in effect propagating people in the way that she propagates plants. 

She found if you provide people with kindness and patience, while discovering and encouraging their conditions to thrive, they flourish and grow.

Through her dedication, horticultural skill and remarkable ability to see beauty in everything and potential in everyone, Linda has cultivated a glorious space that nurtures people, the environment and the local community.

Roots and Shoots is a UNESCO award winning organisation. At its heart are beautiful gardens, including the half-acre Wild Garden, tended to encourage wildlife, which provides a vital green lung amidst the urban landscape and a safe learning place.

Linda’s extraordinary horticultural talent has been recognised, including by two Chelsea Gold Medals and a Silver Gilt Medal (in collaboration with Pennard Plants). She is an RHS Associate of Honour and was awarded the MBE in in 2012 “for services to young people”.

Roots and Shoots, Walnut Tree Walk, London SE11 6DN. Tel 0207 587 1131

rootsandshoots.org.uk

Midlands’ Largest Floral Event Opens Friday 3 April After Huge Opening Weekend Turnout

The Midlands’ largest floral event will open fully on Friday 3 April, after drawing large crowds and widespread praise during its opening weekend.

Tulleys Tulip Garden, located at Hatton Country World near Warwick, welcomed thousands of visitors ahead of its official full launch, with organisers confirming that 2026 is its biggest year yet, significantly expanded from 2025.

Featuring in excess of 750,000 tulips and over 100 varieties, the event has grown into the largest floral display of its kind in the Midlands, transforming the Warwickshire countryside into a vibrant spring destination.

The garden comes from the creators of Tulleys Tulip Fest, the UK’s original and number one tulip festival, bringing their award-winning concept to the Midlands on an even larger scale this year.

Just 25 minutes from Birmingham and 45 minutes from Leicester, the attraction is expected to draw visitors from across the region throughout the spring.

Bigger, Brighter and Better Than 2025

Returning for 2026, the event has been expanded with more planting, more features and more to explore than ever before.

Visitors can walk through vast fields of tulips arranged in sweeping waves of colour, with carefully planned early, mid and late varieties ensuring the display evolves throughout the season.

New and returning features include:

* Live acoustic music across the garden

* New photo opportunities throughout the experience

* A Tulip Boutique with gifts and floral-inspired products

* A Coffee House serving hot drinks and refreshments

* Dutch-inspired street food, including traditional Dutch pancakes

Visitors attending the opening weekend described the experience as “beautiful” and “a perfect spring day out”, with many highlighting the scale and atmosphere of the event.

Visitor Information

Location

Tulleys Tulip Garden

Dark Lane, Hatton, Warwick, CV35 8XA

Tickets From 13.95 GBP

Under 2s go free

TulipGarden.co.uk

Additional Information

Free parking available on site

Dogs welcome

A taste of Holland in the UK - 1.5 million tulips set to bloom as UK’s No.1 Tulip Festival opens this April

Around 1.5 million beautiful, glorious tulips are set to burst into colour as the UK’s No.1 Tulip Festival opens on 3rd April, transforming fields at Tulleys Farm in West Sussex into one of Britain’s most spectacular spring flower displays.

More than 100 varieties of tulips have been planted across sweeping fields, creating a vibrant landscape of colour that evolves throughout the season as different varieties bloom in waves.

Alongside the flagship event in West Sussex, two sister festivals in Hertfordshire and Warwickshire will also welcome visitors this spring, meaning millions of tulips will bloom across three locations in England.

Together, the festivals form the UK’s largest tulip celebrations, drawing visitors eager to experience the spectacular colours of spring.

A Spring Spectacle

Visitors can wander through vast rows of tulips ranging from bold reds and golden yellows to soft pinks, deep purples and striking bi-colour blooms, with each stage of the season revealing a new palette across the fields.

Scenic pathways weave through the displays, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the sea of colour while discovering carefully designed viewpoints and striking floral installations along the way.

Alongside the flowers, visitors can enjoy seasonal food and drink, live music and a relaxed festival atmosphere celebrating the arrival of spring.

A Festival That Changes Week by Week

Unlike traditional flower displays that bloom for only a short window, the tulips are planted in carefully timed varieties so the landscape evolves throughout the season.

Early, mid and late flowering varieties bloom in succession, meaning the colours across the fields change week by week and no two visits are ever exactly the same.

A Celebration of Spring

Stuart Beare, owner of Tulleys Farm, told That's Gardening: "After the long winter months, seeing the first tulips begin to open is always a special moment. The fields slowly come to life as the colours appear, and visitors can walk through an incredible sea of blooms.

By planting a wide range of varieties we’re able to create a festival that evolves throughout the season, allowing people to experience spring in full colour."

Event Locations

The Tulleys Tulip Festivals take place at three locations across England:

• Tulleys Tulip Fest – Tulleys Farm, West Sussex

• Tulleys Tulip Fields – Willows Activity Farm, Hertfordshire

• Tulleys Tulip Garden – Hatton Country World, Warwickshire

Visitor Information

Opening 3rd April 2026 (dates vary slightly by location depending on bloom conditions).

For tickets and visitor information:

West Sussex – TulipFarm.co.uk

Hertfordshire – TulipFields.co.uk

Warwickshire – TulipGarden.co.uk

National Nestbox Week: Give Garden Birds a Safe Place to Call Home

National Nestbox Week is the perfect reminder that our feathered friends could do with a helping hand. 

Taking place each year in mid-February, it’s timed just right, many birds are beginning to scout out safe nesting spots as the breeding season approaches.

With modern housing, fewer hedgerows and tidier gardens, natural nesting sites are harder to come by. A simple nest box can make a real difference.

What Is National Nestbox Week?

Launched by the British Trust for Ornithology, National Nestbox Week encourages households, schools and communities across the UK to put up nest boxes before spring truly gets going.

The goal is simple:

more nest boxes = more opportunities for birds to breed successfully.

Why Nest Boxes Matter

Many common garden birds—such as blue tits, great tits, robins and sparrows—struggle to find suitable nesting spaces. Old trees with natural cavities are disappearing, and urban gardens don’t always offer the shelter birds need.

A well-placed nest box can:

Protect birds from predators and harsh weather

Improve breeding success

Bring wildlife closer to home (without disturbing it)

Support local biodiversity in a very practical way

Choosing the Right Nest Box

Not all birds like the same type of home, so a little planning helps:

Small hole boxes (25–28mm): Blue tits, coal tits

Larger hole boxes (32mm): Great tits, house sparrows

Open-fronted boxes: Robins, wrens

Wooden boxes are best, as they breathe naturally and keep temperatures stable. Avoid painted or varnished interiors—birds prefer things simple and natural.

Where (and How) to Put It Up

Position boxes 2–4 metres off the ground

Face them north or east, away from strong sun and rain

Keep them clear of feeders to reduce disturbance

Fix them securely to a tree, wall or fence

Once installed, resist the urge to peek—birds value peace and quiet when nesting.

Get the Whole Family Involved

National Nestbox Week is a brilliant excuse to:

Build a nest box together

Track which birds visit your garden

Teach children about wildlife conservation

Add a bit of nature-watching joy to everyday life

Even one box can spark curiosity and a lifelong appreciation of birds.

A Small Act with a Big Impact

You don’t need acres of countryside to help wildlife. A single nest box in a modest garden—or even on a quiet balcony—can offer a safe haven at a critical time of year.

So this National Nestbox Week, grab a box, a ladder and a bit of enthusiasm. 

https://haiths.com/collections/bird-nest-boxes

That's Food and Drink: National Allotment Society announces ‘Grow to Lear...

That's Food and Drink: National Allotment Society announces ‘Grow to Lear...: The National Allotment Society (NAS) has today announced the exciting theme for National Allotments Week 2026, taking place from 10–16 Augus...