J. Parker’s, a long-standing horticultural business based in Greater Manchester, has announced the launch of the Children’s Gardening Club. The scheme is open to children across the region and will meet monthly from 25 January, offering free outdoor learning experiences that aim to encourage curiosity, wellbeing and environmental awareness.
Sessions will cover basic gardening skills such as soil care, planting and teamwork, with a strong emphasis on creativity and outdoor play. According to the organisers, the club is not just about growing plants, but about helping young people “discover more about themselves.”
Maz Lees, who leads the initiative, said: “This club aims to nurture that same joy I’ve seen in my own children when they connect with nature. It’s a chance to explore, create and learn in a supportive environment.”
The new club will be based at Daisy Nook, a local hub for gardening and environmental activities that already hosts 24 free talks a year. The site has become a focal point for community engagement, offering regular events on wellbeing, environmental topics and outdoor learning.
The Gardening Club follows on from a series of community-driven projects by J. Parker’s. Last October, the company hosted a workshop led by TV gardener Frances Tophill for 50 schoolchildren at Daisy Nook. This was followed by the creation of a sensory garden at a primary school in Sale Moor.
Looking ahead to 2026, an international-themed garden border celebrating multiculturalism will be designed by Edward Doherty and his team at another Greater Manchester school. Doherty, who is also J. Parker’s offline marketing manager, said: “Creating lasting and impactful projects within the community is central to our ethos.”
The company’s community work also includes partnerships with regional organisations such as Petrus, NorthCare and Oldham Athletic Community Trust. These collaborations are intended to make initiatives like the Children’s Gardening Club more inclusive and widely accessible.
J. Parker’s said the Gardening Club will form part of a broader 12-month programme that aims to highlight the role gardening can play in education, wellbeing and social connection.
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