National Gardening Week 2025 runs from 28 April to 4 May, inspiring us to suggest a selection of books to help children get engaged with the outdoors.

This year the focus for National Gardening Week is new and beginner gardeners with plenty of advice online on how to create your first outdoor garden. And if you haven't any outdoor space, encourage kids to become an indoor ‘plant parent’. The Royal Horticultural Society has tips to support new and curious gardeners as they start their growing journey.

"From beginner gardening tips, how-to guides and videos, to a series of easy gardening challenges to help all keen gardeners to develop a lifelong love of gardening – the RHS is here to support you every step of the way."

Kids love being outdoors and the positive effects of being exposed to are widely known: from improved cognitive function, increased concentration, greater attention capacities, and higher academic performance, better motor coordination, reduced stress levels, increased social interaction with adults and other children, and improved social skills.

What are we waiting for? Let's inspire our young people to get outdoors and reap the rewards. Here is some reading material and books we've loved to help them on the first step of that journey - whether they want to play, grow, take it from plant to plate, be an eco warrior, or just experience the joy of gardening. There's something for everyone.

www.rhs.org.uk/national-gardening-week