Happier Outdoors Festival

The Happier Outdoors Festival is back!

The Happier Outdoors Festival is back for 2025. It celebrates the life-changing power of nature on our doorsteps. Being in nature is good for us! Just two hours a week can make us feel better mentally and physically. Research has found that being in nature has been found to help with depression, stress, anxiety and even dementia.

Islington has lots going on in local green spaces - whether this is community gardening projects, guided walks or activities taking place in parks. Find out about what's on, including some special events for April.

April events

There are some special outdoor events coming up in April - a trip to Kew Gardens and an Intergenerational Event - organised by Age UK Islington and other Islington partners. All are great opportunities to get out into green spaces!

❤️ Kew Gardens trip

Thursday 24 April 2025, Meet 11.30am at main entrance (booking essential)

Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria Gate (main entrance) Kew, Richmond, TW9 3JR

Kew Gardens Trip Thursday 24 April Book to join us at Kew Gardens to celebrate the arrival of spring with a free visit organised by Age UK Islington. Two Age UK Islington volunteers will be there to greet you. You’re welcome to stay with them throughout the visit. However, please note this is not a guided tour, and if you prefer, maps will be provided so you can explore at your own pace.

Booking is essential!

Request a place by providing your contact details in the booking form below. Please note that places are limited and you will need to register with Age UK Islington to attend.

Request to book

❤️ Spring Intergenerational Event

Saturday 26 April 2025, 10.30am-1pm

Islington Ecology Centre,191 Drayton Park, N5 1PH

Spring Intergenerational Event Come and join with others to enjoy local nature and craft activities with The Garden Classroom. There will be a presentation about butterflies and animal encounters with Zoolab
Plus, free refreshments and drinks! The event will be both indoors and outdoors so please dress for the weather. For more information, please contact:brightstartcentral@islington.gov.uk.

❤️ Octopus Community Plant Nursery

Age UK Islington's Social Prescribing team were recently invited to the Tufnell Park estate where Octopus have a large community garden and plant nursery. This has a regular community volunteering session on a Wednesday morning, open to anyone who would like to drop in and get involved.

The Octopus Urban Growing Project transforms underused spaces into thriving community gardens. They work with volunteers from local communities across the borough on estates and parks.

Their hub is the Tufnell Park Community Plant Nursery, where they grow plants for local greening projects while offering regular volunteer sessions, open days, workshops, and events. Whether you're interested in learning about plant care, taking part in hands-on gardening, or just meeting like-minded people, there's always something to get involved in.

The Tufnell Park area has been selected as Islington’s ‘Nature Neighbourhood’, one of 18 Nature Neighbourhoods across the UK. This is a national scheme that will realise the ambition established by the People's Plan for Nature at a neighbourhood level, an initiative managed by the WWF, the RSPB and National Trust.

To find out more and to get involved in the Octopus Urban Growing project, please see the Octopus website.

❤️ Story Garden run by Global Generations

The Story Garden has been emerging from the site of a concrete car park since 2018. Nestled between big institutions (The Francis Crick Institute, The British Library and St Pancras International Station) it was named through a community process to reflect the many stories that get shared and created in the garden.

Carefully designed, grown and nurtured by 1000’s of hands, The Story Garden has been transformed into an abundant habitat where food and flowers are grown, stories are shared, new ways of knowing are found and new friendships are created.

Newcomers are always welcome and you are invited to get involved!

Weekly Gardening Club on Thursday afternoons.

Their Floating Garden has monthly Twilight Gardening sessions

The First Saturday series at the Story Garden will feature plant sales as well as free activities - find out more

❤️ Gardening at North Library

North Library is looking for some willing and able volunteers to help them make summer hanging baskets for the front garden at North Library on 8th May.

See the poster.

❤️ Islington Parks Activities

For more ideas about how to make the most of Islington's parks, please see an introduction to some activities and events below. The latest information is also available in the April - June Age UK Islington Get Together printable newsletter.

Age UK Islington Activities webpages

❤️ Islington in Bloom

Islington in Bloom is the annual gardening competition that encourages residents, community groups, children and businesses to get involved and spruce up their green spaces. You don’t need to have any experience, or even a garden to take part; the categories include best front garden, best balcony, and best tree pit.

The competition opens on Friday 2 May and closes on Friday 6 June, so now’s the time to get planning your entry.

Get started with your entry!

❤️ Help finding activities and groups

You might also want to try the Islington Activities Finder which has lots of activities to choose from and you can find your nearest venues:https://islington.activityfinder.net/

If you're not feeling confident in finding or getting along to an activity or group - outdoors or at a local community venue do get in touch with Age UK Islington.

We can help with information about local activities that fit your interests and with finding accessible ways to get there.

Contact Age UK Islington on gethelp@ageukislington.org.uk or call them on 020 7281 6018 (Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm).