Preview of Free Activities Programme for OGSW 2019

The OGSW 2019 garden activities have been announced on the website. This year, we’re delight to announce an exciting programme of free events and performances that will take place over the weekend. So many in fact that we’ll be sending another update in a couple of weeks with more. For this edition we are focussing on some major activities for children and families and culture vultures.

We're thrilled to provide you with the opportunity to meet CBeebies presenter of Minibeast Adventures Jess French - see below for more details. We also have 'grow your own sensation' Vlogger Huw Richards who'll be on hand to answer lots of questions from visitors of all ages. There will be a nutrition demo by expert Catherine Arnold at Bell House for the whole family, too. The Poetry School's best poets will perform in the Poetry Quarter and in other gardens across the weekend. These are just some of the exciting things we'll be offering - so do check out our website.

Our Early Bird Rates for this year have closed but it’s not too late to buy tickets and enter some of our ballots. Ballots include places on a unique family workshop to create houses and gardens for woodland creatures and the opportunity to attend other fabulous events - these ballots close on 16th May. Now’s also your last opportunity to get your guidebook posted to you directly before the weekend.

Tickets are still available for our Chelsea Fringe panel discussion 'What are Gardens for?' on May 21st at the Coutts Skyline Garden, including a drink, canapés and access to the garden.

Do read all about our programme highlights below:

Family friendly! Meet Jess French and make a bird feeder

Oasis Farm, SE1 - Saturday 8 June - 12 noon

Jess French is a vet, explorer and CBeebies presenter. She joins Open Garden Squares Weekend to talk children about how they can attract more wildlife into their gardens and her latest book How to Help a Hedgehog and Protect a Polar Bear.

Read more about Jess on her website.

Family friendly! Meet ‘grow your own sensation’ Huw Richards

Photo: DK Images ©

Regent’s Park Allotment Gardens, NW1 - 2.30pm
and Approach Gardens, E2 - Sunday 9 June - 12 noon

Heralded as ‘the future of gardening’ by The Guardian, 20 year old Huw Richards began growing on his family’s smallholding in Wales at the age of 3. He uploaded his first gardening video to YouTube when he was 12, and has since surpassed 20 million views online. Meet Huw for a growing workshop and an opportunity to ask him all your ‘grow your own’ questions. Huw will also be signing copies of his book Veg in One Bed, just published and available at a reduced price via the London Parks & Gardens Trust website

Hear Huw welcome you to his garden at his Youtube channel.

Poetry Quarter - Sunday 9 June

This year Open Garden Squares Weekend extends its partnership with The Poetry School to create a Sunday Poetry Quarter in four London squares.

Bryanston Square hosts author Meryl Pugh, Montagu Square hosts poet and naturalist Anna Selby, Portman Squarehosts poet and composer Jade Cuttle, and Manchester Square Gardens hosts Will Burns and illustrator Jess White.

Croquet and Cocktails

Back for 2019 due to popular demand - learn to play the quintessential British garden game with croquet master on-hand in one of three locations.

Photo: Duncan Catterall ©

Royal Crescent Garden, W11 - Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 - 11am-5pm

Nevern Square, SW5 - Saturday 8 June - 12-5pm

Inner Temple Garden, EC4 - Sunday 9 June - 1-5pm

Cocktails by resident mixologist: Gin Basil Smash, Pimms, Mojito, Raspberry Margarita.