The Gardens Group

Convenor: Jo Nicholds

From Saxon times Teddington was agricultural and in the 14th Century provided produce for the monks at Westminster Abbey. In medieval times Bushy Park was farmed. Today we are interested in anything that grows in Teddington, from weeds to willows. We are fortunate to live in one of the greenest boroughs in London.

We work closely with the Council’s Parks officers not only in regard to public spaces such as Elmfield Gardens and Jubilee Gardens, but also anything to do with trees.

Teddington in Flower

Each June we organise “Teddington In Flower”, when keen gardeners open their back gardens to our members and the public. For four hours on a Sunday afternoon you can visit gardens you’d never normally be able to see, and all the money raised goes to benefit local charities.

Photos of gardens from 2013 onwards can be seen in the Photo Gallery

In 2023, Teddington in Flower raised a record breaking £3,650 for local charities. The funds were gifted to both Kingston Samaritans and the Landmark Arts Centre for renovation of the surrounding woodland gardens.

Making the most of a welcome spell of dry spring weather, over 250 visitors turned out to discover 12 beautiful private gardens and browse the plant stall outside the Landmark. Crowds enjoyed teas and chats in the charming churchyard of St Mary with St Alban where the hard work of the Adopt-a-Grave volunteers was on display.

Audiences in the church were entertained to two impressive displays of handbell ringing alongside a wonderful display of floral art.

The event was honoured to welcome her Worship the Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Councillor Rhi Lee, who toured the gardens with Teddington Society’s Sally and Geoff Howland.

Teddington Society is overwhelmingly grateful to everyone who helped organise the event and to volunteers on the day, and especially to our garden owners for all their hard work in preparing their gardens and their willingness to welcome us in.

Most of all, we thank our visitors for their generosity and kind support of this charity event.

Take a look at our photo gallery of the day

What makes a good garden?

Join us at 8pm on Tuesday, 5 December to hear “What makes a good garden?” by our expert speaker Edward Flint. More details HERE.