RHS encourages families to grow together this summer

This May half-term, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is encouraging families to Get up and Grow with a full raft 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 all 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 at RHS Garden Rosemoor include self-guided garden trail (available daily) for both adults and children as well as planting workshops (weekdays only) designed inspire people to grow at home. The Get Up and Grow trail is available to download from the Rosemoor website (where you can also find out more information and book tickets). On completion of the trail, each family can pick up some wildflower seeds and a booklet to help people grow for pollinators at home. Don’t forget to visit the Garden Centre too which is stocked full of products to help families grow including starter kits for children, plants, seeds, books, compost, propagators and tools. The team at Rosemoor would love to welcome visitors back for a couple of events later in the year – the Community Garden Fete in September and the Big Soup Share in the autumn. COVID restrictions still apply and Rosemoor is still operating with strictly limited capacity each day. RHS members go free but all visits by members and non-members need to be booked online in advance, to avoid disappointment. For more information, please visit rhs.org.uk/rosemoor.