What a difference a few weeks make! The appearance of snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils and the hint of the garden beginning to reawaken has really helped to lift spirits. A few dry days have made a world of difference – the wet weather has meant we haven’t been able to do much weeding, and the winter pruning has been a bit sporadic.

We’ve been informed that Cadent will be replacing the gas pipes outside Martineau Gardens, starting on Tuesday, 23 February. The work is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete.

During this period, there may be days when parking at the gardens is unavailable, as the work will affect our car park entrance. At this stage, it’s unclear whether work will take place over the weekends.

If you’re planning a visit, we recommend using public transport where possible. If you need to use our car park, please check with us beforehand to confirm whether it will be accessible on the day of your visit.

We’ll keep you updated as we receive more information. Thank you for your understanding.

Saturday 9 May 2026

Fancy learning about the buzzing world of bees?

Join us for a Beekeeping Taster session at Martineau Gardens. It’s a great chance to discover how these incredible insects work and try on a beekeeper’s suit for a close-up with the bees. Perfect for anyone curious about nature and eager to give beekeeping a go, all in a friendly, relaxed setting.

When: 9 May 2026

Time: 9.45am – 4.00pm (approx.)

Where: Martineau Gardens

Cost: £98.22 per person

Read more: Beekeeping taster session

During January and February, Martineau Gardens will be open on Saturdays from 12-3pm.

Here are some of the things we’re doing at the moment to give you some inspiration on keeping out and about in your garden for the next month.

We were delighted to welcome the BBC Morning Live crew to Martineau Gardens this morning, as part of the BBC’s Wild About Nature Week.

Neil Jones, Strictly Come Dancing star and ex landscape gardener, talks to Jenni Fryer about the benefits the gardens bring to the local community.

Neil joined our head gardener, Matt Young, to show how anyone can bring wildlife, like bees and butterflies, into their garden, even with just a single pot.

If you missed the live broadcast, you can watch it on BBC iPlayer here. Martineau Gardens appears around 57 minutes into the programme.

Please note that on Saturday, 4 October, we will be open from 12–3pm due to staff shortages. If you’re planning a visit, we’d be delighted to welcome you!

We’re also looking for Visitor Welcome Volunteers for Wednesdays, Fridays and occasional Saturdays. If you enjoy meeting people and being part of a friendly team, this is a rewarding opportunity to get involved.

For more information, visit our Volunteering page, drop by the gardens, or contact us by phone/email.

A huge thank you to Wal Warmington!

We’ve been absolutely amazed by the fundraising efforts of our supporter, Wal Warmington, who took part in the Skyline London to Brighton Bike Ride on 14 September to raise money for Martineau Gardens.

So far, Wal has raised an incredible £356 – and there’s still time to add to his total!

Donating through JustGiving is quick, easy and completely secure. Every penny goes straight to Martineau Gardens, helping us continue the work we do for the community.

You can donate here

It’s our Annual Garden Party this coming Saturday (6 Sept).

Entrance to the gardens will be ticket only, and there will be no free public access.  

We’ll be open again as normal on Monday.

Everyone is welcome to attend our Annual Garden Party. Tickets are available through Martineau Gardens or via the What’s on tab on our website.

It’s been lovely to have some rain! Not a sentence I ever thought I’d ever write, but the change in weather has enabled us to spend some time doing something other than filling endless watering cans. The downside of the recent rain has been that all the weeds have decided to put in an appearance, so we’re working on that instead. Be careful what you wish for…