The RHS has lots of different types of events, not just the world famous flower shows such as Chelsea and Hampton Court.

There are courses and workshops, photography shows, exhibitions, plant fairs, walks, tours, walkies with your four-legged friends and forest bathing.  Plus activities for kids!

There are all sorts of skills you can learn, not just gardening, but willow weaving, paper cuts, botanical painting, photography, floral arranging, Zarzo basketry, natural dyeing, rag rug making, needle felting, dry stone walling, creating stained glass flowers and calligraphy. Members can attend many of these (but not all) for free.

There are also a number of shows dedicated to a specific flower or plant, so here are some of them:

British Iris Society Show

This is at RHS Wisley on 7 and 8 May, to celebrate the iris with beautiful displays (including a rare Iris from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew).  There are walks, demonstrations, specialist plant sales and lots of opportunities to find out all about this beautiful flower.  It’s free to members and for non-members, normal garden admissions applies. Find out more

National Carnation Show

This will be at RHS Harlow Carr on 12 June outside Harrogate.  The British National Carnation Society will be at RHS Garden Harlow Carr for the first time.  There will be a range of stunning dianthus to enjoy and you can find out how to grow these blooms at home from the experts!    It’s free to members and for non-members, normal garden admissions applies. Find out more

National Sweet Pea Show

Head to RHS Garden Harlow Carr on the 9^th and 10^th July for this show. There’s nothing like the scent and sight of gorgeous sweet pea blooms!  And on this weekend, 70 classes will be judged on the Saturday morning with awards being presented at 2pm.  You can tour the garden’s own sweet pea blooms and listen to expert advice on how to grow your own.  Not only that, you will be able to buy bunches of surplus blooms and seeds so that you can take a bit of the show home with you!  It’s free to members and for non-members, normal garden admissions applies.  Dig up more information. 

National Rhododendron Show

This is at RHS Rosemoor in Devon on 23 and 24 April.  As well as 60 classes covering all sorts of rhododendrons, there are trade and advice stands and wonderful displays of camellias and magnolias! It’s free to members and for non-members, normal garden admissions applies. Find out more

Alpine Garden Society

The Alpine Garden Society takes place on 21 May (the Spring show) and the 15 October 2022 at RHS Garden Harlow Parr and this is a great opportunity to learn more about the varieties of alpines and get lots of advice from UK alpine plant growers!

Find out about the Spring National Alpine Show

Find out about the National Alpine Show in October

Take a look at the various events taking place with the RHS during 2022 here.  There’s lots going on!

Looking for something to do this Easter with the children?  How about taking them on an Easter Egg trail with the National Trust?

The National Trust has adventures in nature trails at many places that they care for across England, Wales and Northern Ireland 

Activities may differ from one venue to another but you can explore the trails this Easter; pick up your trail activity sheet and pencil, and complete the 10 nature-inspired activities.   You can hop like an Easter bunny, make a home for nature, peek into veg patches – and then at the end, collect a Rainforest Alliance chocolate egg. 

The eggs are made in the UK, and the cocoa is responsibly sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.

Find an Easter Egg Trail close to you.

If you can’t to a National Trust venue offering an Easter Egg Trail, don’t worry!  The Trust has an activity pack available in both English and Welsh with activities for children to do!  They can make their own nature crown, discover nature on the floor and create a spring box or bunting!  Find out more here

But there's lots more you can do, including making Easter decorations and crafts, seeing how much you can do from "50 things to do before you're 11 3/4", and checking out what other events National Trust venues are offering.  (Some may need booking in advance.) 

You can even try your hand at learning some calming activities with yoga shapes with Every Bunny is a Yoga Bunny!  Get the family into a mindful state!

Find out about what's on at Easter with the National Trust.

Here's an interesting gift idea for anyone who wants to enjoy a day out, at height, with a great view of London, and something to remember it with!

Virgin Experience Days have a number of experience days for The View from the Shard, London's tallest building.  I saw the programme on how The Shard was built and it was really impressive;  I hadn't realised that they had to take the wind strength into account every day to make sure it was safe for everyone to work at height on the building, for example.  

A visit to The View from the Shard is surely a memorable occasion, with incredible views of London to enjoy.  

If you want to remember the occasion though you could take a look at these experiences that Virign Experience Day offers:  

Visit to The View from The Shard for a Family of Four with Souvenir Photos for £112.00 

Visit to The View from The Shard for a Family of Three with Souvenir Photos for £84.00

Deluxe Visit to The View from The Shard with Champagne, Photos and Guidebook for Two for £98.00

Visit to The View from The Shard with Signature Cocktail and Souvenir Photos for Two for £78.00

There are lots more experiences you can enjoy at The View from the Shard, combining visits with lunch or afternoon tea elsewhere in London.  You could enjoy a cruise on the Thames, combine a visit with a Sunday roast lunch at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, or tuck into a three course meal at Marco Pierre White's London Steakhouse Co.  

Take a look at Virgin Experience Days to see what you think!

Halloween is on the way and there’s plenty to keep everyone amused at English Heritage locations!

There are lots of events.   Many properties will have a new adventure trail inspired by Cressida Cowell’s best selling Wizards of Once series.

Many sites will be holding a new adventure quest
inspired by Cressida Cowell’s series The Wizards of Once.

You can go on spooky woodland walks after dark(that’s for families, kids must be 5 to 12) and there are lots of events for families.  But there are also adults only evening events after dark enabling you to tour spooky historical places.

There are gruesome tales to hear, creepy castles to visit including Berry Pomeroy castle, reputed to be one of the spookiest castles, after dark events (those are for 16+ only) with tales of ghosts and supernatural sightings and the horrors of history!

Discover all about Halloween!

But not only that, English Heritage has got lots of things to discover about Halloween at home such as the history of Halloween.  How did Halloween start? Why do we carve pumpkins?  How do you carve a Halloween turnip or make a spooky Halloween lantern? 

Visit a creepy castle such as Berry Pomeroy!

Halloween activities to do at home

You can make and decorate your own mask with their online guide.  There are Halloween recipes so get baking with a creepy theme!  And there's the English Heritage online shop, too, with lots to choose from if you’re looking for a gift for someone who adores Halloween or spooky stories or creepy histories!

Get on your broomstick and fly off to English Heritage to find out more here!

By the way, there's 15% off Gift and Annual Memberships if you use the code EH2021 - it's valid until 31 December 2021!  Join here or give a membership today!