Classrooms across the UK are being encouraged to get outdoors and start growing as National Children’s Gardening Week returns this month.
Taking place from 24 May to 1 June, the annual event celebrates gardening and outdoor learning while encouraging children to connect with nature through simple hands-on activities.
Schools, nurseries and families are all being invited to take part, whether through planting flowers, growing vegetables or creating wildlife-friendly spaces.
The week has become increasingly popular with schools looking for low-cost ways to support wellbeing, sustainability and outdoor learning. Even small gardening projects can help pupils develop responsibility, teamwork and confidence while creating opportunities for cross-curricular learning.
Many teachers use gardening activities to support science topics such as plant life cycles and habitats, while others incorporate measuring, journalling, sketching and creative writing into the experience. Schools without access to large outdoor areas are also finding creative ways to get involved using window boxes, recycled containers and small courtyard spaces.
From sunflower-growing competitions to mini herb gardens on classroom windowsills, National Children’s Gardening Week offers schools a simple way to bring outdoor learning into everyday classroom life while helping children build a stronger connection with the world around them.
