Health
Safety first: No Falls Week
The No Falls Foundation, the first and only UK-based charity for the work at height sector, is launching the first ever ‘No Falls Week’, a powerful campaign dedicated to promoting safe working at height.
Local Heroes
Sandi Toksvig to open Bramshott village gardens event
The residents of Bramshott in Hampshire, open their gardens to the public every two years to raise money for local charities and to fund improvements in their own village.
Health
UK population has low life satisfaction and is more anxious, suggests new ONS data
Exploring UK quality of life, the Office of National Statistics wellbeing report reveals increases in economic inactivity, low life satisfaction with financial pressures contributing to poor wellbeing.
Charity
NGS & Macmillan: 40th anniversary of a very special partnership
As part of Gardens and Health Week, the National Garden Scheme is celebrating a unique, 40-year charitable partnership with one of the most significant beneficiaries, Macmillan Cancer Support.
Gardens
Great Comp Garden’s Azaleas
The unnamed azaleas gifted to Great Comp Garden in Platt, near Sevenoaks have erupted in thousands of blooms throughout the historic woodland garden.
Health
Gardens and Health Week: The uplifting impact of gardens
To mark Gardens and Health Week (4th-12th May), the National Garden Scheme brings together all that is good about gardens.
Education
The Newt & RHS: Growing a new generation of gardeners
2024 marks The Newt in Somerset’s third year as headline sponsor of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, supporting the RHS in their mission to encourage and improve the practice of horticulture.
Awards
BBC’s The One Show and RHS announce return of the Growing Together Award for 2024
In celebration of community gardening, the BBC’s The One Show and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announce the 2024 Growing Together Community Gardening Competition
Good stuff
The Chatsworth playground is a marvel… if only I was still a kid
With towers, rope bridges, zip lines, slides and all round adventure, the children’s woodland playground at Chatsworth is an example to all.
Health
New compulsory bird registration rules
Regardless of the size of the flock, Defra has announced compulsory registration requirements for all bird keepers to combat avian influenza outbreaks.
Gardens
RHS National Gardening Week celebrations aim to demystify gardening
For National Gardening Week, the Royal Horticultural Society is celebrating the theme of ‘Knowledge is Flower’ to debunk the biggest gardening myths and celebrating UK’s green fingers.
Gardens
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh seeks support to save the Palm Houses
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh needs to raise £250,000 towards completion of the Palm Houses restoration to ensure their ongoing to legacy inspire and educate.
Plants
Native plant consumption in the US
Fuelled by consumer demand and mandated by legislation, native plant consumption in the US is growing but it’s a protracted process.
Research
Urban trees reduce heat-related mortality rates
Study found that London’s urban forest helped avoid 153 heat attributable deaths, representing around 16% of Urban Heat Island related mortality.
Gardens
Horatio’s Garden launches private tours of their gardens
The spinal injury charity Horatio’s Garden, has launched a new series of tours offering the public the chance to visit their award-winning, fully accessible gardens.
Health
Dr Michael Mosley on the benefits of gardening
On his BBC Radio 4 podcast ‘Just One Thing’, Dr. Michael Mosley explains that gardening is not only good for physical fitness but benefits the brain, mood and gut microbiome.
Health
Policymakers urged to provide sustained funding for therapeutic horticulture initiatives
Members of the Scottish Gardening and Horticulture Cross-Party Group (CPG) have written to Ministers advocating for the health benefits of horticulture and gardening in healthcare.
Events
RHS Family Gardening Festival
Celebrating budding gardens, all five RHS gardens will be hosting a range of activities for families to get involved in gardening during the upcoming garden festival.
Gardens
RHS Chelsea’s Flood Resilient Garden is heading to Howbery Business Park
The Flood Resistant garden, designed by Naomi Slade and Dr Ed Barsley to drive awareness of flood risk is destined for Howbery Business Park in Oxfordshire.
Gardens
Ballot open to visit 10 Downing Street garden
Part of the 2024 London Open Gardens, the garden at Number 10 Downing Street will be opening via a public ballot.