National Gardening Week launches on Monday; a week when organisations, groups and individuals across the UK will share a passion for gardening and encourage the nation to ‘Keep Britain Beautiful’.
Launched by the RHS for the first time last year, National Gardening Week aims to get the nation growing – opening the doors to gardening and inspiring everyone to give it a go!
Celebrity gardening personality and RHS Vice President Alan Titchmarsh comments on the week:
“… I hope that all areas of the gardening world, from industry and horticultural colleges to charities and gardeners, embrace the opportunity and use it to promote the importance and joy of growing plants. It’s also a chance to get the nation to consider just what part growing things can play in society.”
One main theme for this year’s week is ‘Going Wild for Wildflowers’. It’s no secret that there has been a significant decline in bees, butterflies and other garden wildlife in the last few decades, for a number of reasons but significantly, due to a declining number of wildflowers in the countryside. By introducing a wide range of ‘wildlife friendly’ plants into gardens big and small, gardeners can encourage pollinating insects and the positive knock-on effects of having them in the garden. (For one, its estimated that value of insect-pollinated fruits and vegetables grown in the UK is about £220 million a year!) Well publicised by the Olympic Park Wildflower meadow last year, wildflowers are now back on the radar of gardeners across the UK, and thankfully garden wildlife is moving back up the list of priorities.
Some of our recommended wildlife friendly plants can be found here… plus we also stock a range of wildflower seed in the shop – so you can create you own mini – or not so mini – wildflower meadow in your own garden! More information about National Gardening Week can be found on its own designated website here!
