London’s gardens go wild for this years Good to Grow week

Whether you want to go on a bug hunt behind the British Library, explore the wonder of herbs in Hackney, get your hands dirty planting on a train platform at one of London’s many energy gardens, learn outdoor DIY in Mitcham, or get your sticky mitts on some organic plants from Surrey Docks (or Growing Communities, OrganicLea, Story Garden) then this year's Good to Grow has it all.

Here’s our handy breakdown for the wildlife lover, the hands-on gardener, the plant lover, or those with little ones in tow.

Or if you prefer to keep it local – just find your nearest garden on our map

Go Wild in London

Capital Growth gardens are giving nature a boost this good to grow week with lots of them running nature friendly activities. Get involved in a bug hunt, bioblitz, plant some wildlflowers or just learn more about the creatures that live in your garden.  

• Brondsebury Park Energy Garden (Fri 26) or Rectory Road Energy Garden (Sat 27) – who are running a bioblitz
• Canbury Community Garden (Thu 24 and Sun 28) - where you can visit happy hens
• Hackney Herbal (Sat 27) - sharing their knowledge of how herbs help nature
• The Paradise Cooperative (Sun 28) - who are running nature inspired crafts and a citizen science activity

Get your hands dirty

Many of the gardens are getting things ready for the growing season and another pair of hands is always welcome.  If you love to get your hands in the soil, here’s a few places you can help out:

• Octopus Community Plant Nursery, Islington, Weds 24 April      
• Brockley Energy Garden, Lewisham, Thurs 25 April              
• Finchley Central Energy Garden, Barnet, Thurs 25
• Hampstead Heath Energy Garden, Thurs 25 April
• Mitcham Community Orchard and Gardens, Friday 26              
• Acton Central Energy Garden, Friday 26
• St. John's Church plot, Barnet, Saturday 27 April
• Phoenix Farm in White City, Hammersmith, Thurs 25 & Saturday 27 April  
• St George's CoE Primary School, Southwark, Saturday 27 April    

For the plant lover

For many of us who like to take something home to our growing patch, these gardens are teaming with great value plants for sale – rest assured your money goes back to making London green.

• Global Generations Story Garden, Kings Cross ( Fri 26)
• Growing Communities in Springfield Park, Hackney (Sun 28 )
• Organiclea at Hawkwood Nursery, Chingford (Sun 28)
• Surrey Docks Farm – Mon to Fri and Sunday

For the family

Food gardens are great for little ones. Get them outdoors and active, and many gardens have something special up their sleeves for little ones including

• Canal Club Garden (Sun 28) who are doing arts and crafts and seed sowing for youngsters
• Global Generation (Thurs 25) join them for a bug hunt, garden tour and gardening activites
• Holy Trintiy Barnes (Sun 28) who will be doing children activities alongside a plant sale
• Rejuvination Gardens (Sun 28) join them for planting & repotting seedlings, vegan soup and a drum session
• Meadow Orchard (Sat 27) enjoy a hearty soup, learn some bushcraft skills and join them for an outdoor ukulele session

Not in London? Don't worry - we have a UK wide curated list.

Explore the map