I was so pleased to visit the school garden I helped to design last year - a friend and I devised the planting for a garden made in memory of one of my son’s school friends who tragically died in an accident five years ago. We planted hundreds of bulbs in the borders and made a jewelled meadow with miniature tulips, narcissus and muscari - all blooming beautifully in time for the garden’s official opening tomorrow. We also put in masses of perennials and grasses designed to bloom throughout the year (especially before the summer holidays!) with lots of plants that have special meaning for the family.

It’s been a special thing to be able to help the family in this way, to do something positive for them, and also for the school. I feel passionately that children should learn about plants and have a connection with nature, and gardens are such a brilliant way to let them experience this - and great for their mental health too.

I’ve written about the garden as part of my diary post coming out tomorrow morning - as well as documenting a particularly busy and garden-rich week.