Children: getting them interested in gardening

Inspiring children to enjoy plants and gardening can give them a healthy hobby for their whole lives. Capture their interest with brightly-coloured flowers, scented plants, tactile leaves and tasty, quick-growing, edible plants.

Children: getting them interested in gardening

Quick facts

Visit our children’s pages for gardening activities and information about the Campaign for School Gardening

Why the RHS inspires children to garden

Gardening is a healthy and inexpensive way for children to learn and have fun at home, school or the allotment. Research suggests children perform better at school if they’re involved with gardening and many will develop a greater interest in healthy eating if they get to grow their own veg.

Gardening for children
Activities to get children into gardening
Kids spotter guides
Campaign for School Gardening – the RHS’ flagship scheme to encourage children to garden

Plants to inspire children

Experiencing success in growing plants as a child is often a person's first memory of gardening. Give children their own positive experience by introducing them to some inspiring plants;

Places to visit

Outings to other gardens can be great for kids;

Resources

On the web:

Books for gardening with children

  • Great Gardens for Kids by Clare Matthews (Hamlyn 2002, ISBN 9780600605164)
  • Kids in the Garden: Growing Plants for Food and Fun by Elizabeth McCorquodale (Black Dog Publishing 2010, ISBN 9781906155926)
  • Lets Go Gardening! A Young Person’s Guide to the Garden by Ursula Krüger (Lutterworth Press 1993, ISBN 9780718828790)
  • The Family Garden by Lia Leendertz (Dorking Kindersley 2009, ISBN 9781405335485)

These books are available through the Lindley Library.

Join the RHS

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Gardeners' calendar

Find out what to do this month with our gardeners' calendar

Advice from the RHS

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.