Learn all about National Gardening Week

Just in time to get into the spirit for Glee Birmingham, National Gardening Week 2022 returns this May. The event was founded in 2012 by the Royal Horticultural Society, and challenges gardeners around Britain to work their green-fingered magic.

National Gardening Week 2022 will take place between Monday 2nd May and Sunday 8th May 2022. This year’s theme is ‘the joy of gardening’ and it has been inspired by the opening of the new RHS Community Gardens, each of which is designed to be a space where groups, families, organisations and individuals can discover, share and grow their joy of gardening.

RHS Gardening Week sees the society fronting campaigns to encourage British growers. Throughout the pandemic, we have seen a generational shift in gardeners. No longer is gardening the stereotypical preserve of retirees. Working and studying from home has given us a renewed appreciation for our gardens. The whole family – including little ones – is now getting involved.

With this renewed spirit, the Royal Horticultural Society is encouraging everybody to take a ‘daily dose’ of gardening. The society has published a list of seasonal gardening tasks to keep us busy throughout the year, from pulling weeds to planting hanging baskets and deadheading plants.

In years gone by, public gardens have joined in the fun. The team at RHS Harlow Carr teamed up with Leeds hospitals in 2021 to showcase the mental health benefits of gardening to staff. Other contributions include competitions to win tickets to visit outdoor garden spaces.

Running just three weeks after National Gardening Week, National Children’s Gardening Week will return from Saturday 28th May to Sunday 5th June 2022. Like RHS Gardening Week, these events also have philanthropic roots – supporting Greenfingers charity.

Children are encouraged to get creative with cress heads, hedgehog feeding stations and much more. In association with National Garden Gift Voucher, the week will support children in hospices around the UK.

Whether yours is a small family garden centre or a larger retail store, there is plenty you can do to support National Gardening Week. Follow the Royal Horticultural Society Twitter page, and consider ideas such as:

• Running live demonstrations on common garden activities such as seeding and pruning
• Wildlife treasure hunts around your store for the whole family
• Charity boxes to support Greenfingers
• Seasonal hints and tips in marketing emails
• Social media competitions to support this year’s theme.

Whatever you do, you’re encouraged to capture your love of gardening with a photo and share it on social media using #nationalgardeningweek. All of these will create fantastic user-generated content that you can also share at Glee Birmingham in June.

Back for its tenth anniversary, this year’s National Gardening Week promises to be bigger and better than ever. We look forward to celebrating with you! National Gardening Week runs between Monday 2nd May and Sunday 8th May 2022.