This year’s theme is - Edible Britain. With a focus on home-grown produce, the Royal Horticultural Society is looking to green-fingered gardeners throughout the UK to share their love of local, home-grown ingredients.

National Gardening Week is a relatively new event, only originating eight years ago. The celebration takes place annually seeing events taking place nationally to bring people together who share a common interest in all things plants and home-grown produce.

Not only does National Gardening Week bring gardeners together, but it also raises awareness of the positive impact and enjoyment gardens and gardening alike can bring to the lives of individuals, families and communities.

Gardening is a hobby which can be enjoyed by all and brings extreme pleasure and sense of achievement both during and after completion. National Gardening Week inspires more people, and in particular, the younger generation to get involved with gardening and experience growing their own plants, fruits and/or vegetables.

Following this year’s theme, Edible Britain, the national awareness week encourages gardeners and not-yet gardeners to think about the space they have to grow home-produce. Whether it be small or big, growing your own produce is a step in the right direction. From pots of herbs to allotments of tomatoes, courgettes and potatoes. 

So, how can you celebrate ‘Edible Britain’? 

The Royal Horticultural Society recommends some of the following things to show your passion for growing home-grown produce:

  • If you’ve got a garden, venue, allotment or vegetable plot you are proud of, why not open it up to the public? Friends, family, neighbours or other allotment members. 
  • Discover an unused area within your neighbourhood or your own garden, and transform it into a place of beauty or an allotment corner. 
  • If your local community has an established garden, allotment or gardening club, hold a fundraising event to raise money to hold cooking lessons or demonstrations, or buy and sell the home-grown local produce.
  • Curate a selection of recipe cards, factsheets or activity worksheets which are centred around growing produce.
  • Adapt your baking skills to include ingredients such as carrots, beetroot and edible flowers which can be sold at a bake sale.
  • Arrange a plant sale which is solely for edible plants which can then be eaten with dishes at home.

If you’re getting involved with National Garden Week this year, take to social media to show how you’re contributing. Don’t forget to tag ourselves on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, as well as the RHS Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account. 

If you’re looking to get more green fingered in the garden, read our latest guide on spring gardening tips.