Celebrating National Gardening Week

Run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), National Gardening Week from 27 April – 3 May, is the biggest annual celebration of gardening in the country. With many of us finding ourselves at home, and needing to find ways to make the most of our surroundings during the lockdown, people are turning to gardening.

This year, National Gardening Week is focusing on providing advice and inspiration to help support this increase in interest. The RHS have seen millions more visitors to their site than ever before, seeking advice and researching ways to make the most of their outside space.

Whether you have a window box, are cultivating a vegetable patch or are getting serious with bedding plants, there is a way to get involved. According to a recent OnePoll survey, 53% of adults said their mood was boosted when surrounded by greenery. So why not have a dabble and see how you get on?

If you’re not able to get some gardening underway at home, why not see if you can discover some hidden gems locally. Take some photos and share the love with friends and family when you’re out on your daily exercise.

Team Mzuri flex their green fingers!

To celebrate National Gardening Week, Lisa and her family have thrown themselves in a new vegetable patch and it has been a whole family effort. Expert gardener Grandad has been on hand via FaceTime to offer advice to the fledgling gardeners. With the seeds growing safely inside in yoghurt pots and egg boxes, the heavy work of building the new raised bed outside got underway.

With plants transferred to the new vegetable patch, they have been diligently watered – tho perhaps not quite as often in the last few days given all the rain!

Grandad’s top tip to keep the slugs away is to sprinkle crushed up egg shells in the beds.

It’s a veritable feast in the making with radishes, beetroot, carrots, tomatoes, onions and dwarf beans all coming along nicely.

Low-key gardening for Alex and family

Alex’s usual idea of enjoying the garden involves a book, sunshine and a comfy chair. However, she’s been dabbling and trying her hand at growing some strawberries and is also taking part in a Sunflower Challenge with her son and some friends. Although based on the lack of progress versus some of the other ‘competitors’ the tallest sunflower prize might be a little out of reach!

Luckily the bluebells and poppies are looking after themselves and are in full bloom, adding some lovely pops of colour to the garden too.

Reuse and recycle!

Katherine and Phil have also been hard at work in the garden. Having built a vegetable patch where mange tout, artichoke, cucumber and courgette are being scrupulously looked after in the hope of tasty meals to come – featuring makeshift supports made from sticks collected on walks nearby!

With spare paint unearthed in the garage, a beloved bench has been spruced up with the help of a power hose, sand and a lot of elbow grease. All that’s needed now is the sunshine, a sundowner and a few moments to sit back and enjoy all the hard work!

However you celebrate National Gardening Week, enjoy the fresh air and sense of achievement!