Got a veg patch? Help shape the future of UK organic gardening in just a few taps
Sustainable gardening charity Garden Organic is linking with popular veg growing app Fryd to revolutionise how it collects data from gardeners for its much-loved annual survey – marking a new era for citizen science in UK horticulture.
Fryd Lab
For 65 years Garden Organic has been running citizen science projects to help gardeners embrace organic techniques or grow better.
In this latest survey, gardeners are asked to rate the performance of ten common crops on a scale from 1–5. The results provide a valuable snapshot of how each crop has fared under that year’s growing conditions, insights that help track trends, evaluate crop resilience and highlight how the UK’s changing climate is affecting home-grown food production.
This year, for the first time, the widely respected survey will be available throughout November via the Fryd app, the digital garden companion, so people can log their findings via their mobile phone as they garden. The aim is to make it easier than ever for gardeners to take part, reach new growers and scale up participation in Garden Organic’s citizen science efforts.
The partnership forms the first of many citizen science experiments hosted in Fryd Lab, a new feature within the Fryd app designed to make local, at-scale data collection simple and engaging. Fryd Lab’s mission is to crowdsource real-life insights to help fix outdated gardening advice, particularly as shifting weather patterns mean traditional seed packet sowing dates no longer match local realities.
“Gardeners are on the front line of climate change, they see and feel the seasons shift, but advice hasn’t kept pace,” said Florian Hassler, co-founder at Fryd. “With Fryd Lab, one five-minute contribution could help your whole area get better local sowing and planting guidance next season. You can even do it on your phone whilst you garden!”
For 65 years, Garden Organic has brought gardeners together to share what works on their organic plots via its citizen science projects. Thanks to the new link-up with Fryd, everyday allotment growing notes and individual garden observations over time will be converted easily into useful local advice for everyone.
“I look forward to this collaboration taking organic gardening citizen science to a whole new audience using Fryd’s modern accessible platform to reach thousands more growers across the UK,” said Dr Anton Rosenfeld, who heads up Garden Organic’s citizen science work.
The 2024 growing season, dubbed by many as the ‘Year of the Slug’, saw relentless rain, snails and slugs challenge gardeners nationwide. With 2025’s heatwaves, drought and hosepipe bans, this year’s findings will be especially valuable for understanding the impact of extreme weather on crop success.
The Garden Organic survey will run for the whole of November and is free for anyone in the UK to complete via the Fryd app. Fryd is available as a free download, at no charge at all, in the UK on both iOS and Android platforms. Results will be published in the new year on the Garden Organic website and via the Fryd app.
To coincide with the survey’s launch, Fryd will host an online Citizen Science Week 1-7 November, featuring discussions with scientific partners, garden experts and growers about why we need better, localised gardening data and how gardeners themselves can help provide it. It will also announce a new Fryd Lab experiment on soil health with Hort2The Future, and run a soil health quiz, testing growers’ knowledge about soil
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About Fryd
Fryd (pronounced Frood) is one of Europe’s most popular garden planning apps, helping over 300,000 gardeners plan, grow and share their veg patches. The digital garden companion allows users to create bespoke planting plans for their gardens or allotments, discover companion planting combinations, and get personalised sowing advice based on local climate and frost dates.
Fryd is steward-owned, purpose-driven and promotes eco-friendly, sustainable gardening.
Fryd Lab, available in the free version of the app, offers access to community-led citizen science experiments. Fryd is available to download in the UK on both iOS and Android platforms. Joining the Fryd community is free or subscribe to Super Fryd (£9.99 p/month, £44.99 p/year or £179.99 lifetime subscription) which boasts lots of enhanced features.
About Garden Organic
Garden Organic promotes organic growing and composting, citizen science and research, and seed conservation through its Heritage Seed Library. Its aim is to help people grow ‘the organic way’, using natural methods to promote healthy, biodiverse, sustainable gardens.
Founded in the 1950s as the Henry Doubleday Research Association, it has been leading the way in researching and demonstrating best practice organic growing for more than 65 years and brings together a movement of thousands of growers keen to have a positive impact on the green space they nurture.
One of the world’s most spectacular collections ofNerine sarniensis, also known asJewel Lilies, will sparkle into bloom at Exbury Gardens in Hampshire this autumn, offering visitors a rare botanical treat.
From1 October to 2 November 2025, theFive Arrows Galleryat Exbury will be transformed by a glittering showcase of these autumn-flowering bulbs. Part of a historic collection begun over a century ago by banker and horticulturalistLionel de Rothschild, the display now features over900 varietiesin a dazzling array of colours, from fiery orange, scarlet and white to more recent additions in pinks, purples, mauves, bronzes and copper. Their petals are flecked with gold or silver crystalline ‘dust’, making them glisten in the autumn light.
Originally discovered onTable Mountainin South Africa, Jewel Lilies have become a much-loved feature of Exbury’s seasonal highlights and a testament to the Rothschild family’s enduring horticultural legacy.Many of these rare and delicate plants will also be available to purchaseduring the exhibition.
Admission to the Nerine Exhibition is included with entrance to Exbury Gardens, the renowned 200-acre woodland garden in the New Forest. Alongside the nerinecollection, visitors can enjoy theNational Collections of Nyssa and Oxydendrum plus more than450 varieties of Acers, ensuring displays of gorgeous autumn colour throughout the grounds, as well as the Rhododendron Line steam railway
Opening times: Daily from 10am to 5.30pm Exhibition open: 1 October – 2 November 2025, 10am – 5pm Location: Five Arrows Gallery, Exbury Gardens, Hampshire Website: www.exbury.co.uk
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For further information or images, contact PR Emma Mason on 07762 117433 emma@emmamasonpr.co.uk
Notes for editors:
Exbury Gardens, located in the New Forest near Southampton, is open daily from 10am – 5.30pm. www.exbury.co.uk Thanks to its unrivalled collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, Exbury Gardens is famed for its riot of spring colour, as well as a vast array of beautiful, mature rare trees. Over recent years the Hampshire garden has been expanded for all-season interest with areas designed to show off summer and autumn ‘flower power’, as well as an extension of its 1 ½-mile Rhododendron Line steam railway.
Admission prices – to season close, £14 standard adult and £6 child. Under 3s Free. Family tickets (2 adults + 2 children) £38 (July-November).
Award-winning garden designer Zoe Claymore is hosting a special fundraising talk this October in support of Devon’s Stone Lane Gardens.
Zoe’s British Rainforest Garden, created for The Wildlife Trusts, sponsored by grant-giving charity Project Giving Back and supported by insurer Aviva, wowed visitors at RHS Chelsea this May, winning the coveted People’s Choice Award. She will be sharing the inspiration behind the design, revealing how Devon’s lush, rain-fed woodlands and her own family heritage shaped the look and feel of the garden.
The event takes place on Saturday 11 October at Endecott House, Chagford, just a short distance from Stone Lane Gardens, the botanic garden co-founded by Zoe’s great uncle, Kenneth Ashburner. The gardens, which used to be known as the Mythic Garden, are home to the National Collection of Birch and Alder trees, some of which featured in Zoe’s Chelsea design.
British Rainforest Garden credit Clive Nicholls
In her talk, Zoe will explore how themes of heritage, landscape and sustainability came together in her rainforest garden, and she will offer practical advice for recreating elements of the design at home, including how to use birches from Stone Lane Gardens to achieve the look.
The talk will last around 45 minutes, followed by a Q&A. Tickets are £10 (advance) and £12 (on the door), information via the Stone Lane Gardens website, with all proceeds going to support Stone Lane Gardens. Attendees will also have the chance to enter a raffle to win a one-to-one design consultation with Zoe.
Event details:The Story Behind the Rainforest Garden at Chelsea Date: Saturday 11 October Time: 7pm Venue: Endecott House, Chagford, Devon TQ13 8AJ Tickets: Advance £10; £12 on the door
Zoe Claymore is a garden and landscape designer based in southwest London but works across the UK. From her studio, she crafts bespoke outdoor places that resonate emotionally with her clients – while staying mindful of environmental responsibility. Named RHS Horticultural Hero 2023, a triple award-winner at RHS Hampton Court, and double Chelsea winner, she draws on personal, cultural, environmental, and artistic inspirations to shape her designs. A regular media contributor and public speaker, Zoe advocates for innovative, sustainable, and deeply personal landscaping solutions that stand the test of time. www.zoeclaymore.com
Stone Lane Gardens was the creation of Kenneth and June Ashburner, the owners of the grade 2* listed Stone Farm. Kenneth was an avid traveller and plant finder and in the early 1970s began planting the trees he had grown from seeds gathered on his travels and from other botanic gardens. Gradually the garden expanded as the Ashburners bought land, until it took the shape it is today. Originally called the Mythic Garden they started an annual summer sculpture exhibition, which this year is again curated by South West Sculptors showcasing the best outdoor art from West Country artists. Plant Heritage awarded the gardens its ‘National Collection’ status in recognition of the importance of the diversity and rarity of its trees, and ‘Scientific Status’ in acknowledgement of the great work Kenneth Ashburner had done to extend and promote knowledge of the species, work that continues today under the stewardship of Garden Manager, Paul Bartlett. In 2019 Stone Lane Gardens became an RHS Partner Garden and in 2024, Stone Lane Gardens proudly became an accredited BGCI Botanic Garden, an internationally recognised, very prestigious and unique world-wide accolade bestowed by the BGCI at Kew, London. https://stonelanegardens.com
The Wildlife Trusts British Rainforest Garden, sponsored by Project Giving Back (PGB) and supported by the UK’s leading insurer Aviva, was awarded a Silver Gilt and People’s Choice medals at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. It aimed to inspire people to support the restoration of this threatened habitat and show how nature-friendly gardening can help British wildlife thrive. The Wildlife Trusts and Aviva have been working together since 2023 on a mission to bring rainforests back to the British Isles. The British Rainforest Garden told the story of this precious habitat that once blanketed a fifth of the country but now only covers about 1% of the land – and the work underway to recover it.
Introducing the new SummerCool legwear collection from Genus
A hot day in the garden demands the coolest clothing, so when you’re working hard, keep your cool with the new SummerCool legwear range from Genus, featuring lightweight, dynamic thermoregulation fabric that cools you faster as you get warmer.
The right gardening trousers can significantly impact comfort and efficiency and since 2013, Genus has become the go-to for professional and amateur gardeners alike, with clothing known for its technical, durable and built-to-last qualities, that’s also packed with unique gardening-specific features to ensure a great day in the garden.
Designed by gardeners for gardeners, the new SummerCool gardening trousers and shorts for men and women are ideal for any gardening task in warmer weather, incorporating a unique combination of durability, performance, comfort, cooling and ventilation, along with all the horti’ features Genus clothing is renowned for, and customers love.
Going the extra mile to get the right fit and comfort level, this range also has eight waist sizes and three leg lengths across all sizes. Plus an X-long option, and NEW extra short option, over four waist sizes.
Lightweight, dynamic thermoregulation fabric cools you faster as you get warmer
Mesh-lined vents and pockets enhance air circulation around the legs while keeping out bugs
Roll-up straps on the trousers keep ankles cool
UPF 50+ rating protects on the sunniest of days
Packed with clever ‘horti features:
Breathable, adjustable kneepads on the trousers
Part-elasticated waistband for freedom of movement and perfect fit
Studs at the hem of the trousers allow the hem to be cinched tightly around boots or shoes, keeping dirt, mud and debris out
D-ring for keys
Stylish belt
A whopping 10 pockets on both the trousers and shorts, including a small, zipped pocket at the back to keep small items secure
Two colours, Thyme and Indigo
The new Genus SummerCool Legwear range is available now, with despatch to anywhere in the UK and overseas.
The human connection to plants, and our deeper need for them beyond food and beauty, is enchantingly explored by designers Emily Grayshaw and Jude Yeo in their Feature Garden, RHS Healer’s Hollow, at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
Rooted in the rich traditions of herbal medicine dating back hundreds of years, the garden blends folklore, healing and horticultural beauty. It also highlights the growing modern trend to reconnect with nature and recognise the vital role plants continue to play in supporting and protecting our health.
Set in a British woodland glade, a shepherd’s hut is nestled amongst native trees and verdant planting. Beautiful linens with hand-printed botanical drawings give an artistic nod to the cultivated herbaceous beds containing plants carefully selected for aiding skin, digestion, wellbeing and women’s health. Parsley helps with collagen production and skin elasticity, fennel relieves bloating and stomach pain, and peppermint serves as an natural analgesic for painful periods.
A boulder sits amongst the planting and is a simple mortar for preparing herbs to use in tinctures, oils and poultices, with a nearby waterfall and babbling brook adding to the calming ambience. As well as celebrating plants for purpose, the garden encourages visitors to reconnect with the British countryside and its native woodland species.
Designers Emily and Jude, who run Inspired Earth Design, were approached by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to design this garden after winning two gold medals at previous shows, and a best in show award.
Jude said: “We are honoured to be commissioned for such a prestigious project at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival this year. We’ve loved the opportunity to be creative with our plant palette to explore the connection between plant folklore, and plants for medicinal and health purposes. We can’t wait for our visitors to explore the myriad of health benefits that plants can offer.”
Emily added: “It has been an absolute joy exploring the topic of medicinal plants through the eyes of Gaia, a healing woman who lives in a beautiful shepherd hut in a glade in the woods. The off grid feel of the garden emphasises that plants are the origin for so many of our modern medicines and that sharing of ancient knowledge is key to our development of the garden.”
After the show is over, elements from the garden will be relocated to Farncombe Community Garden near Godalming in Surrey, the brainchild of a determined group of local GPs who are keen to encourage social prescribing as part of a treatment plan.
To create the garden, Emily and Jude have assembled a talented team of artisans and fellow experts including:
Artist Georgia Lingwood has created the botanical artworks depicting key plants in the garden on signage and textiles.
Kayleigh Sinclair, Horticulture Team Coordinator at the RHS and founder of The Historical Herbologist, has advised on plants.
Hannam & Taylor has supplied a handcrafted shepherd’s hut.
Cobham Court Landscaping has built the garden, with support from Shade Landscapes, experts in creating naturalistic streams and waterfalls, and Aqua Design & Landscaping.
Boulders on the garden have been sourced from Caradon Stone, other stone and the bridge have been supplied by Allgreen, and materials for the water feature are from Aquascape. Paul Cheetham of Gecko Stonework has crafted the pathway using dry-stone walling offcuts.
Helping to plant the garden is Sarah Mayfield, a designer and lecturer who teaches horticulture to medicinal herbal students, as well as an incredible army of horticultural volunteers.
Plants are supplied by Hardy’s Plants and trees from Majestic Trees.
Notes for editors: Inspired Earth Design – Emily and Jude have been working together, in the horticulture industry, for over 20 years. They bring a wealth of practical knowledge and experience to the Inspired Earth Design studio having consolidated their design skills by gaining their professional garden design diplomas in 2021. Since then they have won two Gold medals at RHS Hampton Court and a best in show, and have completed a huge variety of private and commercial projects.inspiredearthdesign.co.uk | hello@inspiredearthdesign.co.uk |Instagram @inspiredearthdesign
Farncombe Community Garden – based near Godalming, thriving thanks to an expanding group of local volunteers. The idea came from GPs at the nearby practice who wanted to encourage patients and the community at large to interact with nature and each other to benefit their physical and mental health. Their vision is encompassed in the phrase ‘ growing community wellbeing’.
Hannam & Taylor – based near Windsor, its team of craftworkers build beautiful bespoke huts for clients. hannamtaylor.co.uk
Georgia Lingwood – an artist inspired by the natural world; its flora, fauna, and folktales. Working in pencil and watercolour she creates pieces depicting the plants, insects and animals that have captured her imagination, often selecting those with fascinating folkloric connections. georgialingwood.com
Cobham Court Landscaping – a Surrey-based business driven by a local, friendly team of talented professionals with award-winning skills. They’ve been transforming gardens in the local area for over 15 years. cobhamcourtlandscaping.co.uk
Sarah Mayfield – a garden designer, horticulturist, and lecturer with a focus on nature friendly gardens, Sarah teaches horticulture to medicinal herbal students, who learn how to grow and care for the plants they use in their practice. She was awarded The People’s Choice Award and Silver-Gilt medal at 2024 RHS Hampton Court for The Moonshadow Moths Garden, a resilient planting pocket inspired by moths and night pollinators. sarahmayfielddesigns.com
Allgreen – Masters in Stone providing natural stone surfaces and landscaping products to garden designers, architects and private clients worldwide. allgreen.uk
Caradon Stone – the only supplier of Caradon Cornish granite, a premier construction material prized for its durability and sustainable properties. caradonstone.co.uk
Shade Landscapes – a family business specialising in designing and building naturalistic ponds, streams, and water features that bring movement, wildlife, and tranquillity into your garden. shadelandscapes.com
Aqua Design & Landscaping – a Berkshire-based company specialising in bespoke water features. aquadesignlandscaping.co.uk
Aquascape – Aquascape connects people to water the way nature intended. From fire and water displays to Pondless® Waterfalls and ecosystem ponds, its products enhance landscapes and create inviting spaces for gatherings. With over 30 years of experience, Aquascape ensures reliable, high-quality products that bring beauty and nature to outdoor living spaces. aquascapeinc.com
Gecko Stonework – involved in construction and hard landscaping since 1988, having worked for and on behalf of many leading garden designers and architects. Working with natural stone and organic materials, producing bespoke garden features to enhance any outdoor space. geckostonework.co.uk
Verdigris – contemporary copper metal bird baths. Verdigris UK designs and makes large contemporary bird baths which add a decorative and elegant element to your outside space or garden. Not just ornamental pieces but they also provide a vital source of water for garden birds. The company tries to make all its bird baths from reclaimed copper and steel, so they are built to last. verdigris.uk
Newby Hall has won a prestigious gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (20-24 May) for a North Yorkshire-inspired plant display – its first ever at the world’s most famous horticultural event.
The woodland-themed display highlighting some of the most eye-catching and unusual varieties of Cornus, a nod to Newby Hall’s renowned National Plant Collection of Cornus, was given the top award by RHS judges.
These beautiful flowering dogwood trees and shrubs boast colourful ‘flowers’ in April, May and June. The RHS Chelsea display had been carefully designed by Newby Hall’s head gardener, Lawrence Wright, in collaboration with owners Richard and Lucinda Compton, who now curate the collection.
Lawrence Wright (pictured with Lucinda Compton) said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won a gold at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. To be judged as being amongst the best of the best in the horticultural world is incredible, putting Newby Hall’s plant collection firmly on the national and international map. Thank you to all of our team for their hard work in helping us prepare for this. We are now really looking forward to showing the thousands of show visitors the wonder of these beautiful plants and encouraging them to visit Newby Hall in person.”
Newby Hall’s exhibit forms a key part of Plant Heritage’s display within the Floral Marquee (stand GPB 020) at RHS Chelsea, which celebrates the beauty of the National Plant Collections. It was officially opened by broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh who is president of Plant Heritage which champions and conserves garden plants.
Newby Hall’s Cornus collection is one of the UK’s most extensive, comprising over 100 individual specimens, 48 cultivars and 25 species. It was originally started in 1990 by Robin Compton, a passionate horticulturist and former president of the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens – now known as Plant Heritage. The very first Cornus kousa was planted by his father, Major Edward Compton, in 1937, sparking a passion that would eventually grow into this nationally recognised collection.
Richard and Lucinda’s daughter, Sasha Compton, who is an established artist and designer, has been painting the Cornus display at the show, whilst Jake Sutcliffe Garden Design Studio helped build the display.
Newby Hall’s famous gardens are a jewel of the Yorkshire countryside, frequently featured in television productions such as Peaky Blinders and Victoria. The garden boasts 14 stunning ‘rooms’, two heritage orchards, and one of the UK’s longest double herbaceous borders. Other highlights include a Rose Garden at its fragrant peak in June, an Autumn Garden filled with Dahlias and over 80 different varieties of Salvia, and an Edwardian Rock Garden nearing the end of major restoration which is due to be complete in spring 2026.
This September, Newby Hall will also host the popular Harrogate Autumn Flower Show from 19–21 September. Newby Hall & Gardens are open to the public from April to September, welcoming over 120,000 visitors annually. With its rich history, award-winning gardens, and vibrant programme of events, Newby continues to inspire gardeners and plant lovers from around the world.
Newby Hall is a William and Mary house built in the 1690s under the guidance of Christopher Wren and remodelled by John Carr with interiors by Robert Adam and furniture by Chippendale.
Located between Ripon and Boroughbridge, Newby has been home to the Compton family for ten generations.
The gardens span 25 acres of formal planting with an additional 15 acres of orchards and woodland, maintained by a team of seven gardeners and volunteers.
Newby is situated close to the A1(M) and near the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks.
Gardening app Fryd helps people plan their veg patches, find the best crops and companion plants for their climate and location, remind them to water and mulch, and even get inspiration from other home-grown gardeners.
Already the most popular gardening app in Germany and launched in the UK last year, Fryd is an easy-to-use garden planning app that allows you to create your own bespoke planting plans for the allotment, back garden or outdoor space.
In just a few clicks you can get advice and prompts on best sowing times for crops, access a crowd-generated plant database and share tips with other gardeners via Fryd’s online gardening community. You can also copy planting plans from inspirational gardeners from around the world including Tanya Anderson @lovely.greens.
NEW for 2025 includes tailored ‘to do’ advice for your garden, precisely linked to its location and weather, such as when to water, fertilise, harvest and sow. Thanks to Fryd’s clever climate zone feature, the app automatically works out your last and first frost dates as well as other useful weather and climate data, both current and past. This helps you plan the growing seasons with much greater accuracy and success.
Also NEW are month-by-month planning layouts to give you more control and maximise the growing year. Filter plants by suitability for a specific month, making it easier than ever to follow the seasonal rhythm of nature – a top request from existing Fryd users.
Fryd, pronounced ‘Frood’, means joy in Danish and Norwegian and is the most popular gardening app in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Since it was launched in 2019, over 300,000 gardeners have used the app to create more than 134,400 planting plans.
Fryd is available to download in the UK on both iOS and Android platforms. Joining the Frydcommunity is free or subscribe to Super Fryd (£9.99 p/month, £49.99 p/year or £179.99 lifetime subscription) which boasts lots of enhanced features.
Garden planning, season overview, access to the library, recipes, podcasts and the Frydcommunity are all available free of charge for users. A Super Fryd subscription gives users access to a magic wand tool that creates a planting plan in seconds, multiple plans per account, the ability to copy and modify planting plan templates, succession planting suggestions, automatic reminders, and personal support, crop rotation planning tools and even month-by-month planning.
Florian Hassler from Fryd said: “Our aim at Fryd is to make gardening accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their space or experience, and to take the guessworkout of veg growing. By joining the Fryd community you can connect, share experiences and enjoy learning from each other.”
Innovative plant database and customised planting plans –Fryd’s plant database is created and refined by its user community. Plants are registered by gardeners and verified by moderators, ensuring accurate and reliable information. Users can publish and share their own planting plans, fostering a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment.
Tailored gardening experience for different climate zones – Fryd understands the complexities of different climate zones, tailoring the gardening experience to individual growing conditions. This feature ensures that gardeners receive personalised advice and suggestions, enhancing their gardening success.
Empowering urban and small-space gardeners – Fryd is particularly empowering for urban gardeners, offering tips to transform even the smallest spaces into lush, green areas. The app promotes the idea that every garden is beautiful, encouraging gardeners to utilise whatever space they have.
A purpose-driven gardening companion – At its core, Fryd is a mission-driven platform, dedicated to promoting sustainable and eco-friendly gardening practices. The app’s purpose is rooted in empowering individuals to positively impact their environment, championing sustainability in every aspect of gardening.
Family business Arthur Jack & Co has launched its latest classic gardening product – a beautifully hand-crafted round water butt developed in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Made from heavy-gauge galvanised steel, this durable yet elegant water butt is designed to be a striking focal point in any garden. Inspired by 18th-century lead cisterns found in historic estates, it combines heritage craftsmanship with modern functionality.
With a capacity of 225 litres, the water butt stands 80cm high and 60cm in diameter, held together by more than 80 coach bolts. Each butt is carefully hand-assembled in Bedfordshire by artisan craftworkers, featuring a hose-ready tap positioned at the perfect height for filling a watering can. To ensure durability, all joints are treated with waterproof mastic, while an etched finish gives the water butt a distinctive aged patina.
“Following the success of our square water butts, we’re excited to introduce a traditional round design for those who prefer a classic look,” said Arthur Jack founder Tim Dawson. “We are especially delighted to have designed a bespoke product with the RHS for the first time, and as a mark of this special partnership, we have incorporated the highly recognisable RHS shield on the front in place of our usual Arthur Jack flowers.”
The new RHS round water butt is priced at £895 (delivery extra) and available from www.arthurjack.co.uk. A galvanised grille to protect against rodents, birds and leaves is also available, priced at £85.
The rest of the Arthur Jack range: Arthur Jack’s steel garden range includes hand-crafted window boxes, garden planters, obelisks, water feature, trough, boot wash and scraper, as well as a small square water butt (185 litres) and large square water butt (335 litres).
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For further media information, please contact Emma Mason at emma@emmamasonpr.co.uk or 07762 117433
Notes for editors:
Arthur Jack’s products are the result of a great deal of research by a couple of keen gardeners who were unable to find exactly what they wanted for their own garden.
Made of heavy gauge galvanised steel, they are decorated in a traditional Georgian style, complete with Tudor roses and decorative balls. They are made in England by artisan metal craftworkers and then finished with a special treatment to give them an aged patina. Because they are hot dip galvanised, they will have a long life.
® The Royal Horticultural Society. Trademarks of The Royal Horticultural Society (Registered Charity No 222879/SC038262) used under license from RHS Enterprises Limited.
From lush cinematic landscapes to gardens supplying fresh produce to local food banks, urban hidden gems, and even a garden-turned-catwalk, a diverse range of special green spaces will open to the public this year through Scotland’s Gardens Scheme (SGS).
The long-established charity propagates a collection of over 370 unique garden listings, including 53 new gardens signed up this year. This brings the total number of participating gardens to over 400, with 244 charities and local good causes selected for support by garden owners.
The charity raised just under £400,000 through garden open days in 2024, with around £220,000 directly benefitting 240 charities and local good causes chosen by garden owners. A further £22,000 was donated to each of SGS’s core charities – Maggie’s, the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland and Perennial, and the charity also awarded bursaries totaling £7,500 to Scottish horticulturists, through its Cattanach Award, which will be launched again for 2025.
The SGS open gardens 2025 programme includes gardens of all shapes, sizes, situations and interest such as:
2 Durnamuck in the north west of Scotland, recently featured on Monty Don’s British Gardens, a wonderful lochside croft garden
Carolside garden in the Scottish Borders with its glorious rose-filled elliptical walled garden, which featured on Netflix’s The Buccaneers
Drummond Castle gardens, one of Scotland’s most impressive formal gardens dating back to the 17th century, famous for its appearance in the ‘Outlander’ TV series and as the venue for Dior’s first Scottish fashion show in 2024
2 Durnamuck
Other highlights for 2025 include:
Gardens for community and educational benefit – Scotland’s Rural College joins SGS for the first time, with the staff and students of Oatridge College in Broxburn opening their garden on campus, and their colleagues at the Edinburgh campus now also planning to join in next year. Also welcomed back is The Biblical Garden in Elgin, which is used by the horticulture students of UHI Moray (University of Highlands & Islands).
A series of community gardens in the small town of Beith in Ayrshire will be opening for the first time, while the garden at Bannockburn House in Stirlingshire includes a kitchen garden which supplies fruit and vegetables to two local food banks and even includes an apiary.
Gardens for Wildlife & Environment – The inclusion of gardens with an environmental focus continues to be a growing trend and examples include: Archerfield Walled Garden in East Lothian with a new water-saving garden area featuring drought-tolerant species in shades of blue, rust and orange, while Lindisfarne garden in Moray includes a pond and rain garden fed by run-off from the roof and a wildflower meadow left to set seed for the birds, plus a shed featuring a green roof.
Also in East Lothian, Papple Steading features a meadow planted with Scottish native wildflowers, said to be one of the largest of its kind in Scotland, and sown with a wildflower and grass mix from Scottish wildflower seed specialist Scotia Seeds, including species such as yellow rattle, knapweed, ox-eye daisies, selfheal, yarrow, lady’s bedstraw, cowslip and quaking grass, among others. Laura’s Wood in Orkney has a half-acre sown with bird seed mix to feed the wild birds in Orkney’s inhospitable northern environment, demonstrating how garden owners are determined to support their local wildlife.
Ferneries – Ascog Fernery on Bute returns to SGS after a few years’ absence; this is a fascinating, enchanting and well-stocked subterranean Victorian fernery topped with an ornamental ‘terrarium-like’ roof, in the grounds of Victorian Ascog House, and including a 1000-year-old King Fern. Other ferneries can be seen at SGS regulars Hospitalfield House garden where there is a newly restored fernery and Benmore Botanic Garden, a beautiful Victorian structure set into the rocky cliffs above the garden.
Small but mighty gardens – welcoming our Instagram community – We’re welcoming three new small but mighty city gardens this year showing that small can also be beautiful, from gardeners with an Instagram following. Doctor Libby Webb’s small, terraced garden in Edinburgh has been re-designed from a lawned space used by a growing family into a stunningly beautiful haven for plants, people and pets with curved paths and generous planting. Follow her inspirational Instagram account @docleaves.
Writer and presenter Helen Cross will open her family-friendly garden in the southside of Glasgow; her garden includes raised beds for productive veg growing, feeding her passion for cooking and gardening with children, as seen in her book Grow, Cook, Inspire. Follow her @growcookinspire. Also in Edinburgh, garden coach Elisabeth Quinn, on Instagram @the_joyful_garden_ shares her tips on how to use a small city garden to create a garden that is at once family friendly and beautiful.
Post-industrial spaces – This year, SGS visitors can explore the New Lanark Roof Garden which returns after a break. Created on the 9,000 square feet of roof on one of the New Lanark mill buildings, the Roof Garden is the largest of its kind in Scotland. The garden’s patterns of gentle curves and swirls, reflect the turning arc of the great waterwheels which once powered the cotton-mills, and the flowing lines of the threads moving through the historic machinery as the yarn was spun, twisted, wound, and woven. The garden is the work of garden designer Douglas Coltart and is now maintained by New Lanark volunteers. In the heart of urban Glasgow, the SWG3 Community Garden sits behind SWG3, a high-profile events venue, on what was formerly derelict land between two railway lines. Now, it’s a delightful secret garden populated with trees, grasses, shrubs and perennials with wide paths curving through the beds. Apart from the interesting planting, this garden, designed by the horticulturist and garden designer Jeremy Needham, has beehives and two different heights of raised beds which are used by the local community as allotments.
Gardyne Castle
New gardens or returning after a break – Gardyne Castle garden in Angus opens on 21 June, a rare chance to see this enchanting and romantic garden created by the owners over the past 21 years. The garden includes a gorgeous and colourful long double border, herbaceous planting, roses, peonies and lavender, as well as a formal knot garden with yew topiaries and specimen trees complementing a castle that dates back to the 16th century in parts. Further south in the Scottish Borders in Berwickshire, The Walled Garden at the Hugo Burge Foundation opens for the first time with SGS on Fridays in July and August (booking essential). A recently redeveloped walled garden in the grounds of the Marchmont Estate, the garden is designed to inspire creativity as part of the Hugo Burge Foundation, a newly formed arts charity. The garden contains herbaceous borders, a kitchen garden, a colonnade, wildflower meadows, cut flower borders, a sculpture collection and newly restored Mackenzie and Moncur glasshouses.
Glenkindie House in the Strathdon area of Aberdeenshire, is a 16th-century castle remodeled in the 1900s. The walled gardens are laid out in the Victorian Arts & Crafts style with herbaceous borders, a magnificent rhododendron shrubbery, specimen trees and rose beds. There is a fine collection of 19th-century yew topiary depicting teddy bears, chess pieces and characters from Alice in Wonderland. Visitors can also enjoy a stroll around the pond to view the 17th-century dovecot. Glenkindie House has open days in May and August and is famous for its sumptuous teas and strawberry tarts.
Gledenholm garden in Ae village, in Dumfriesshire, has been created by the owner over the past 20 years largely through his passion for propagating plants, which he also generously donates to many SGS plant sales, as well as contributing his top tips for propagation to the SGS blog, to inspire others.
2 Strathview in Conon Bridge near Inverness is a medium-sized garden with mature apple trees and a shady maze of paths through beds packed with perennials sloping down to sea level where there are plenty of birds on the estuary to view. Featuring a small greenhouse, and even a steam model railway which works if weather allows. There are a couple of water features fed by rainwater, leading to a small deep pond. Stunning panoramic views across the Cromarty Firth seen from a ‘food forest’, with fruit trees growing on a set of home designed arches, runner beans, strawberries and apple trees.
Groups & Villages – Visiting a group or village opening remains extremely popular with visitors with the opportunity to view a variety of different sizes and styles of gardens, all showcasing the passion of the garden owners, all on one day. This year there are 24 SGS group openings around Scotland this year, with highlights including:
Gifford, a traditional estate village a short distance from Edinburgh in East Lothian, which includes two stunning large-scale gardens at Broadwoodside (seen on Monty Don’s British Gardens in January 2025) and Gifford Bank, along with a variety of lovely village gardens – 22 June.
Lanark Town Gardens are new for 2025, opening on 13 July with six gardens in the Waterloo Road area of Lanark town. Highlights include a miniature orchard, an extensive rock garden with a collection of alpines, a colourful partially walled garden with a focus on wildlife and a remodeled garden full of interest and surprise. Homemade teas can be enjoyed in the colourful surrounds of Lanark Bowling Club where there will also be the opportunity for all visitors to enjoy a game.
Muckhart Open Gardens in Perthshire are opening on the weekend of 31 May and 1 June with a collection of gardens in and around the Pool o’Muckhart and Yetts o’Muckhart, some of which have not opened previously. A small and very charming village, Muckhart boasts an enchanting variety of cottage and informal gardens displaying some of the best and most thoughtfully considered aspects of amateur gardening in this part of Scotland. From wildlife-friendly gardens and magnificent trees, to beautiful and constantly evolving gardens where paths meander through terraced beds and ponds, and pocket-sized cottage gardens.
Special events – Dalswinton Mill in Dumfriesshire opens on 10 August. The garden of Colin Crosbie, a former Curator at RHS Wisley, the garden is set on both sides of the Pennyland Burn which flows through the middle and the garden includes the owner’s growing collection of specimen plants, and the opening will include a mini plant fair, with music, stalls, talks and horticultural demonstrations. Teasses Garden in Fife will host two special events for SGS this year; an enchanting candlelit snowdrop walk on 21 February and a Summer Solstice evening guided tour of the garden accompanied by the Estate Manager and former Head Gardener, on 18 June.
Music in the garden – A number of garden openings include music in the garden as part of their open day, including the No Strings Attached wind band at Redcroft in Edinburgh, The South West Scotland Piping & Drumming Academy Cowhill Tower, Dumfriesshire, pipe bands at Douneside House in Aberdeenshire and at Norton House on Deeside.
And finally, a new District Organiser in Orkney who has come all the way from the US, has got to know people on the islands by persuading them to open their gardens, resulting in a collection of new and returning Orkney gardens.
“It’s wonderful to be able to present yet another exciting programme of open days to the public and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to our 2025 season. Our garden owners and volunteers are truly inspiring people, and we are so grateful to them for their generosity in sharing their passion for plants and gardening knowledge to inspire many others. We have a passionate following of regular visitors, and we hope to welcome many, many more people new to Scotland’s Gardens Scheme this year, to enjoy the delights of open gardens. Visiting open gardens is a wonderful way to do your bit for charity, the chance to learn something new about gardening and be inspired, to meet other garden lovers and to reap the benefits of being outside in a beautiful environment. Please join us in 2025 and help us raise funds for charities and local good causes again this year.” said Liz Stewart, Scotland’s Gardens Scheme Chief Executive.
For full details of gardens open for charity, explore the SGS website or buy the 2025 guidebook, available on the website at scotlandsgardens.org.
Scotland’s Gardens Scheme supports the opening of gardens throughout Scotland to the public, raising funds for charity through garden gate tickets, plant sales and teas. Most are privately owned and are normally inaccessible to the public at other times. 60% of funds raised at each garden opening may go to garden owner’s charity of choice with the remainder being donated to Scotland’s Gardens Scheme and its beneficiary charities, Maggie’s, the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland and Perennial. Scotland’s Gardens Scheme is powered by volunteers and has been raising funds for charity through garden openings since 1931.
Full garden details can be found at scotlandsgardens.org. Garden and charity highlights can also be found on:
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Newby Hall has won a prestigious gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (20-24 May) for a North Yorkshire-inspired plant display – its first ever at the world’s most famous horticultural event.
This September, Newby Hall will also host the popular Harrogate Autumn Flower Show from 19–21 September. Newby Hall & Gardens are open to the public from April to September, welcoming over 120,000 visitors annually. With its rich history, award-winning gardens, and vibrant programme of events, Newby continues to inspire gardeners and plant lovers from around the world.
