Inspiring everyone to grow

What do we want to achieve?

We fundamentally know that gardening is a fantastic thing to do, and we have reams of evidence that there are multiple benefits for us and the environment. We want to make sure this impact can be shared by anyone interested in growing, no matter their age, experience level or location.

What is the RHS already doing to meet this target?

RHS Grow With It seed sowing workshop in the Spruce Court Urban Community Garden, Salford, Manchester

• We’ve invested more in our campaigns to new audiences, particularly those in urban areas, helping us to reach non-members who are interested in gardening but haven’t engaged with the RHS before. Through this work, we can ensure we are talking to a larger and more diverse group of people and potential gardeners, spreading the word about the positive benefits growing can have for themselves, their families and their communities.
• In 2025, our RHS Grow With It campaign saw more than 14,000 people pledge to make a big difference in small spaces – from balconies to raised beds and hanging baskets – with 5,000m² of space transformed.
• Our website has more than 25 million users a year and contains a wealth of information and resources to celebrate what the RHS does. A focused area of the site concentrates on the wellbeing and physical benefits gardening can have, integrating vital scientific research with stories from individuals who have used growing to support them through health conditions such as sight loss, dementia and strokes.
• RHS Community teams work across the country to embed gardening into everyday lives. Our work can be seen on school-sites, within housing associations, shared allotments and hospitals.
• In partnership with the NHS, we’ve built two wellbeing gardens, with a third build in progress, on hospital sites to support patients, staff and visitors in finding a space to relax and recuperate during busy and stressful times. Our work ‘on the ground’ not only helps create an RHS presence in communities, but builds awareness of the benefits of gardening, confidence in caring for plants and creates green hubs for local people to use as they need.

It’s important for us to connect with the UK’s 30 million gardeners to let them know how the RHS can support their communities. From volunteering, seed sharing or just connecting with like-minded people, we want to help facilitate a passion for plants. Group connections can be forged through programmes like Britain in Bloom or RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood, aiming to improve local environments, decrease social isolation and create ambassadors for gardening of all ages and backgrounds.

To do this, we’re committed to developing new and innovative ways to share gardening information, support and resources. Our New Shoots initiative aims to inspire the next generation by giving insights into the horticultural industry and a taste of working in public gardens, whilst our RHS Grow app helps the everyday gardener identify their plants, gives top tips on how to care for them and distils 200 years of expert knowledge from RHS specialist advisors straight to your device.

Some gardeners will already be aware of the power of gardening for wellbeing, mental, social and physical health – that’s why a lot of them do it. However, some people may have never considered that gardening can help or be a potential solution for improving their wellbeing.

Why should gardeners care about this?

The RHS is doing a lot to explain and drum up support for gardening and we hope people can engage with us. Whether they read about new scientific research, take part in a community led campaign or track their plants on RHS Grow, we can help spread the word that gardening is great for wellbeing, engagement with community, making lives better and making people feel happier and healthier.