About

Join The Royal Parks volunteers for a day of activities in this historic and beautiful setting.

Come along to Greenwich Park for the next Open Day at the Queen’s Orchard to inspire your love of gardening, food growing and the outdoors!

Drop in throughout the day to explore this beautiful corner of Greenwich Park, take a chance to stop and ‘smell the rosemary’, and take part in a range of activities (for people of all ages). Whether you’re a keen gardener or simply love the outdoors, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

What to expect?
Learn about pollinators, sowing and growing with a range of activities, including:
- Buzz like a bee and help deliver pollen to plants in the pollination game
- Learn how to make a wildflower seed ball with the Orchard volunteers (to plant at home or give away as a gift)
- Ask the Head Gardener for gardening tips and advice
- Show off your creativity and dress up our friendly new scarecrows!

Take part in the seed swap!
Have you harvested any seeds from your garden this year? Bring them to the ‘seed library’, swap them with seeds we’ve recently collected from plants in the Orchard – or simply browse the collection and chat with the expert gardeners to find out more about different plants and sowing techniques.

* The Queen's Orchard was part of Greenwich Park from the 17th century onwards, but was alienated in 1976 when the Greenwich Hospital Estate sold it to Greenwich Council.

It remained in their ownership and was managed as a wildlife garden until it was returned to The Royal Parks.

The Royal Parks with help from local volunteers and members of Greenwich Park Friends Group cleared the site and set in motion plans to restore the orchard to a place for growing fruit and vegetables. During 2011 a variety of were planted, the earliest dating back to the 1500's.

During 2012, pathways were restored, raised planting beds using timber and brick and the two ponds were installed. Volunteers working with The Royal Parks cultivated the beds, planted and tended a variety of vegetable and flowers.