This May half-term, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is encouraging families to Get up and Grow with a range of activities to inspire people of all ages following a year which has seen millions more people take up gardening than ever before. For the first time, all five RHS Gardens are hosting the same event following the opening of RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford, Greater Manchester, on 18 May.
Starting 29 May, it is a chance for families visiting the five RHS Gardens of RHS Rosemoor in Devon, RHS Wisley in Surrey, RHS Harlow Carr in Yorkshire, RHS Hyde Hall in Essex and the brand new RHS Bridgewater in Greater Manchester to have fun outside growing together. Whilst exploring the gardens in all their late spring glory and finding wonderful spring flowers, beautiful views, and spotting the abundance of wildlife, they can be solving all the clues on a trail designed to help families discover the different kinds of pollinators that contribute to a healthy garden ecosystem.
Families will discover that it is not just bees and butterflies but beetles and other insects including night-flying moths that all help pollinate plants. The trail will show how plants have evolved to attract different kinds of pollinators with their scent, colour and shape, and visitors can learn which plants in their own gardens are beneficial to various insect groups. Activities vary at each garden but could include planting workshops and storytelling – all of which are designed to inspire people to grow at home. For more details on what’s happening at each garden, visit the RHS website: www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/whats-on-at-rhs-gardens
The Get Up and Grow trail is available to download from the RHS website, where you can also find out more information and book tickets. Don’t forget to visit the Garden Centres too which are stocked full of products to help you grow including starter kits for children, plants, seeds, books, compost, propagators and tools.
At RHS Harlow Carr, as well as the garden trail which will see families getting to know the many plants that attract pollinators, the Garden Detectives will be on hand Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, leading families on wellbeing adventure walks. There is also a Plants for Pollinators workshop on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, which includes planting seeds to take home and nurture into plants. Wellbeing Wednesday features a Family Story Yoga session and the ever-popular Birds of Prey Display returns on Thursday 3 June.
