National Gardening Week
The country’s biggest annual celebration of gardening is taking place from Monday 26 April to Sunday, 2 May 2021. This year, we’ll be encouraging you to Get Your Dose of Vitamin G!
What's happening?
Over the last year, we’ve come to rely on our gardens and green spaces more than ever. Many of us have rediscovered the importance of connecting with nature for our mental and physical wellbeing. For National Gardening Week in 2021, we’re celebrating the feel-good power of plants and gardens, highlighting the scientific links between gardening and wellbeing and sharing easy tips to get your daily dose of Vitamin G.
“Vitamin G is ‘green’, and research has shown that getting a daily dose improves our sense of personal wellbeing,” explains RHS Director of Science, Professor Alistair Griffiths.
“Aim to bring green into your daily life as much as possible for maximum benefits. There are dozens of ways to connect with nature, and you don’t even need to have your own garden to get your Vitamin G.”
Join the RHS and thousands of others on social media to show us how you’re getting your dose of Vitamin G, using the hashtag
#NationalGardeningWeek
For more information on why gardening is good for our health and wellbeing, visit the RHS wellbeing hub, where you’ll find all the latest research from the RHS Science team.
National Gardening Week is the nation's biggest celebration of gardening and raises awareness of the difference that gardens and gardening can make to the lives of everyone in the UK. It inspires more people, particularly the next generation of gardeners, to experience the joy of growing and creating beautiful green spaces.
With millions more people rediscovering the uplifting power of plants and gardening over the last year, the RHS wants to inspire everyone to keep growing and enjoying green spaces. Connecting with nature is vital for our wellbeing, and it’s easier than you think to get a daily dose of Vitamin G!
A few ideas to help you get your daily dose of Vitamin G
Take a mindful moment in your garden or local green space
Pause for a minute to appreciate the new green leaves, listen for birdsong or enjoy the scents of spring blooms to refresh your mind and senses.
Bring the outside in with houseplants
If you’re working from home, add a green, leafy houseplant to your desk or near your work area – studies show this can reduce stress, increase productivity and attention span, and improve reaction speed!
Pep up your plate with quick to grow crops
Have a go at growing some quick herbs, salad leaves, or microgreens on a windowsill, which can be ready to harvest in just a few weeks to add a burst of green goodness and home-grown flavour to your meals.
Plant up a container to make you smile
Choose a combination of colourful or scented flowers, tactile grasses and lush foliage to create a cheerful spring display to greet you whenever you leave or return home.
Grab the opportunity to green up
your day-to-day
Think about how you can connect with nature in your day-to-day activities – could you walk or cycle through the park on the way to the shops, have lunch al fresco or do a workout in the garden?