During National Gardening Week (15 – 21 April), RHS Garden Harlow Carr, in Harrogate, will host a packed schedule of events to share a passion for plants and get gardeners growing. From family-friendly planting for wildlife, to inspiring the first steps towards a new career, there are activities for gardeners of all ages and abilities to enjoy.
Launched by the RHS in 2012, National Gardening Week brings together thousands of people across the country to help keep Britain beautiful by sharing and celebrating everything about gardens and gardening.
On Thursday 18 April, RHS Garden Harlow Carr will hold a special careers day to enthuse local school pupils1, and those considering a career change. Celebrating the fact that gardeners are happiest in their careers2, the day will bring together professionals from all areas of the horticultural industry to share their knowledge and experiences.
Over the weekend of 20 – 21 April, families will be able to take part in a great range of ‘sow and grow’ activities where children of all ages can get their hands dirty and make wildflower seeds bombs to take home.
More experienced gardeners can take part in meadow seed sowing demonstrations to learn how to create their own insect haven. There will also be tours of the garden and talks from professional horticulturists, giving visitors the chance to find out more about the world of horticulture.
[sam id=”4″ codes=”true”]
On Saturday 20 April, the garden will also play host to local horticultural societies, who will be at the garden to speak to visitors and talk about the work they do. On Sunday 21 April, members of the RHS Harlow Carr Bonsai Group will be on hand to offer advice and information about these unusual plants, and visitors are invited to bring their own specimens along to obtain specific advice for their trees.
RHS experts will also be on hand throughout the week to give advice and tips on any gardening problem, and visitors inspired to start straight away will be able to buy plants, tools and gardening products from the RHS Plant Centres.
Normal garden admission applies. Booking not required. For full details of the events, visit www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr or www.nationalgardeningweek.org.uk
Ten top facts about plants and gardening for National Gardening Week:
- There are approximately 20 million gardeners in the UK.
- The world record for the most bedding plants planted in one hour is 2,021 set by Steven Thorpe. The attempt was held in Haworth Central Park, West Yorkshire, on 21 October 2006.
- The total area of gardens in the UK is 4,300sq km – an area bigger than Suffolk!
- Urban gardens contain over 85% of our cities’ trees.
- The world’s most expensive snowdrop, Galanthus woronowii ‘Elizabeth Harrison’, is valued at £750 for a single plant.
- The average domestic garden homes around 250 varieties of wildlife.
- 39% of gardeners admit to being jealous of their neighbour’s garden.
- Half of all garden owners have a rose bush in their garden.
- 62% of us regularly feed the birds in our garden and nearly a quarter provide nesting and breeding habitats.
- The worlds’ tallest sunflower grew to 7.75m high, which is about as high as four men standing on each other’s heads.
