National Gardening Week – Look closer and discover hidden wonders waiting in every garden

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced ‘Be Curious’ as the theme for National Gardening Week 2026, inviting people of all ages to ask questions, try something new and discover the many ways gardening can enrich their lives.

Running from 27th April to 3rd May, the RHS is encouraging people of all ages across the UK to take part in simple, curiosity-led actions, from noticing what is already growing in their own gardens or local green space, to planting something new, taking part in a wildlife count or learning more about gardening through a course or workshop.

Tim Upson, RHS director of gardens and horticulture, said: “Gardening is all about curiosity, experimentation and asking questions.

“This year’s National Gardening Week is a celebration of the wonder that plants and gardens bring to our lives while encouraging people of all ages to learn about plants, connect with nature and discover the wellbeing and environmental benefits of gardening.

“The record numbers of enquiries to our RHS Advisory Service, alongside the highest visitor numbers to our gardens in recent years demonstrates a growing thirst for gardening knowledge and time spent in nature.

“We hope more people lean into their curiosity this National Gardening Week.”

To help inspire people to take part in this year’s National Gardening Week, the RHS has pulled together a series of curiosity led actions that anyone can try throughout the week:

● Day 1 – Enjoy: Take a moment to enjoy what already loves growing in your garden, balcony, windowsill or local green space and enjoy being in nature

● Day 2 – Grow: Plant or sow something new!

● Day 3 – Observe: Look out for wildlife and record what you see, from beetles and butterflies.

● Day 4 – Experience: Touch, smell and taste plants, explore gardening through your senses or visit a new garden or a local green space

● Day 5 – Experiment: Try something different such as propagating a plant, developing your own compost, building a bug house or experimenting with new planting techniques

● Day 6 – Learn: Discover a new gardening tip, skill or fact.

● Day 7 – Celebrate: Call yourself a gardener and reflect on what you’ve discovered – The RHS State of Gardening Report found that less a quarter of adults in UK consider themselves gardeners, but gardening starts with curiosity and you don’t need to identify as a gardener to garden!