We can’t wait for the urban planting symposium we’re hosting tomorrow (4th August)! Four world-class researchers will talk about the plants and designs they use in the face of climate change and the loss of biodiversity. All the proceeds will be used for the restoration of the prairie designed by James Hitchmough at the Gardens.

We’re delighted to launch our programme of public tours of the Gardens. Planned in Autumn 2019, but put on hold because of the pandemic, the first one finally took place this week - and was a big success!

Our next pop-up plant sale is this Sunday (1st August) from 11am till 3pm. It will be on the lower lawns of the Botanical Gardens, near the Dorothy Fox Education Centre. Lots of unusual garden plants available, all at sensible prices, and with advice on hand about suitable locations and care.

Thanks to Patrick for giving us a wonderful talk this morning on the rival histories of Wentworth Woodhouse and Wentworth Castle, and for sharing his archival prints and commissioned images of the two estates. A copy of the lecture is now in the password-protected Friends Area of this website.

Our next online lecture is by the splendid Dr Patrick Eyres. He will talk to us on Tuesday 20th July about Wentworth Castle and Wentworth Woodhouse, two Georgian rivals united through 21st-century restoration and public access.

Our next pop-up plant sale is Saturday 17 July from 11am till 1pm at 145 High Storrs Rd S11 7LG.

Come and browse a large selection of garden plants, plus copies of the new Florilegium book and other merchandise. We’ll also be offering refreshments for £5. Please book your place for tea and home-made cakes by emailing Christine at fobs.talksandtours@gmail.com.

Volunteers are working hard to help keep the Gardens beautiful. The specialist propagation team volunteered for 246 hours during June, while those working in the Gardens provided another 264 hours.

We’re delighted to welcome two bears to the Gardens as part of the admirable Bears of Sheffield trail, all in aid of The Children’s Hospital Charity. The design of the 60 big bears and 100 little bears on the trail is based on the bear sculpture in our bear pit, and designed by the same artist, David Mayne.

Thanks to plantsman and garden designer Jimi Blake for his inspirational lecture for us on the plants and plant combinations he uses in his garden in Hunting Brook, County Wicklow. Such a feast of colour! A recording of the lecture is now available in the password-protected Friends Area of the website.

Sheffield Botanical Gardens has been awarded a 2-year package of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver an exciting programme of horticultural education, informal learning and engagement activities, boosting the Garden’s profile as a regional Centre for Horticultural Excellence.

We’re holding two pop-up plant sales in July: Saturday 3rd from 2pm to 4pm at 47 Slayleigh Lane S10 3RG, and Saturday 17th from 11am till 1pm at 145 High Storrs Rd S11 7LG. Both will have a large choice of garden plants available.

We’re delighted to be hosting an online symposium with four world-class researchers exploring different approaches to urban planting. This all-ticket event is a fund-raiser for the restoration of the prairie at the Botanical Gardens. For information and to book a place, visit the symposium page on Eventbrite.

Thanks to Alan for his lecture this week on the Meditation Garden, which looked at gardening with nature for health, happiness and spiritual well-being. A recording of the lecture is available on the password-protected Friends Area of the site.

Sadly, given the extending of restrictions on public gatherings, we have had to cancel our planned public tour of the Gardens later this month. But we still hope to offer our high summer tour on 27th July, which will take in the perennial flower displays, the bear pit and many of the other attractions of the Gardens.

The latest edition of our monthly newsletter News Shoots is now available in the password-protected Friends Area of the website. Print copies will shortly be on the way to Friends without email addresses. We’ll be taking a break from producing News Shoots over the summer; let us know how you’d like to see it evolve in the Autumn.