This National Children’s Gardening Week, the Horticultural Trades Association is highlighting the benefits of gardening for young people, inspiring them, and supporting their physical activity, education and wellbeing.
Recent research from the HTA’s Value of Gardens report found that children living more than a 20-minute walk from green spaces experienced two extra hours of screen time and poorer mental health than those living within a 5-minute walk. To promote participation and enhance children’s health, National Children’s Gardening Week (23 – 31 May 2026) connects families with the joy of gardening and encourages them to achieve quick results from seed sowing, planting, and other gardening activities.
Lee Connelly, The Children’s Gardening Coach, returns as National Children’s Gardening Week ambassador to inspire young minds and provide a fun, educational backdrop for a visit to a garden centre. New for 2026 is the Great Garden Centre Mystery, an interactive, family-friendly adventure that leads children and their parents on a fun journey of discovery to find hidden mysteries around garden centres. The initiative encourages families to explore their local garden centre and to learn, play, and connect with gardening in a fun and imaginative way.
Families who take part in the mystery and snap a photo of themselves at the garden centre will be entered into a prize draw to win a £250 National Garden Gift Card, giving them the chance to continue their gardening journey at home.
Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), said: “Inspiring the next generation of gardeners is at the heart of National Children’s Gardening Week. The Great Garden Centre Mystery will be a perfect half-term activity for families, encouraging footfall, dwell time, and engagement at our member sites, while also demonstrating how accessible and enjoyable gardening can be. It encourages children to get hands-on, building confidence, skills, and curiosity that can lead to lifelong interest and, hopefully, also future careers in horticulture. We are delighted to welcome Lee Connelly back as ambassador, whose passion for children’s gardening plays a key role in bringing this initiative to life across garden centres nationwide.”
Lee Connelly said: “Garden centres are incredible places for families, and The Great Garden Centre Mystery adds a layer of adventure that gets children excited to explore. Cracking the code together creates shared memories and shows children that gardening is full of curiosity, fun, and magic.”
Get involved
National Children’s Gardening Week is a fantastic opportunity for families and garden centres to celebrate the joys of gardening together. To learn more about the initiative, visit: childrensgardeningweek.co.uk
For more ideas about some of the activities, visit: childrensgardeningweek.co.uk/fun-things-to-do or download resources at childrensgardeningweek.co.uk/resources-3
