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Rose Awareness Week: Stopping to Smell the Roses… Properly!

There are few flowers quite as iconic, romantic and gloriously British as the humble rose. 

Whether climbing over a cottage wall, standing proudly in a formal garden, or blooming in a patio pot beside the barbecue, roses have been charming gardeners for centuries.

That is why Rose Awareness Week is such a lovely opportunity to celebrate one of the nation’s favourite flowers and encourage more people to discover just how rewarding rose growing can be.

Across the UK, gardens burst into colour during late spring and early summer as roses begin to bloom. From deep velvety reds and delicate blush pinks to bright yellows and crisp whites, roses bring beauty, fragrance and character to outdoor spaces of every size.

And the best bit? You do not need to own a grand country estate with a gardener called Nigel to grow them successfully.

Why Roses Still Matter

Roses are more than just pretty flowers. They support pollinators including bees and hoverflies, provide structure and colour in gardens, and can even boost wellbeing.

There is something wonderfully calming about tending to roses. Deadheading blooms, watering during dry spells and simply sitting with a cup of tea admiring the garden can be surprisingly therapeutic after a long day.

Many people also associate roses with memories. Perhaps your grandparents had a rose archway. Maybe your mum grew fragrant roses beside the washing line. Or perhaps you remember being told firmly not to kick a football anywhere near the flowerbeds.

Some traditions never change.

Roses for Every Garden

One of the biggest misconceptions about roses is that they are difficult to grow. Modern varieties are often far hardier and easier to maintain than people realise.

Popular types include:

Climbing roses for walls, arches and fences

Shrub roses for borders

Patio roses for containers and smaller gardens

Rambling roses for dramatic displays

Hybrid tea roses for classic elegant blooms

Many newer varieties are also bred for disease resistance, meaning less fuss and fewer gardening headaches.

Top Tips for Healthy Roses

If you are thinking of giving roses a go, here are a few simple tips:

Plant roses somewhere with plenty of sunlight

Water deeply during dry weather

Feed regularly in spring and summer

Remove faded blooms to encourage more flowers

Prune during late winter or early spring

Keep an eye out for pests like aphids

And yes, gardening gloves are highly recommended unless you enjoy being unexpectedly stabbed by shrubbery.

A Blooming Good Excuse to Visit a Garden Centre

Rose Awareness Week is also the perfect excuse for a wander around your local garden centre. Expect tempting displays, beautifully scented varieties and probably at least one moment where you convince yourself you definitely have space for “just one more”.

You may even discover edible roses, rose-scented products or companion plants designed to help roses thrive.

So whether you are an experienced gardener or somebody whose gardening skills currently begin and end with watering a cactus once a month, Rose Awareness Week is the perfect time to appreciate these timeless blooms.

After all, life is far nicer with a few roses in it.

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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.

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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