Ryton Garden Organic

About Ryton Garden Organic

Bursting with vegetables, flowers, insects and organic inspiration, our unique organic demonstration garden is packed with ideas and techniques to help you garden the organic way.

As the only organic horticultural charity in the UK, our garden reflects 65 years of sustainable horticulture knowledge and expertise. The garden addresses ways of dealing with the challenges of climate extremes such as flooding and drought and demonstrates the practices and principles of successful organic gardening, from composting and soil health to encouraging biodiversity.

There’s a beautiful ornamental garden with plants and flowers to attract a wide range of wildlife, and a kitchen garden with seasonal fruits and vegetables that include unusual, heirloom varieties selected from the charity’s Heritage Seed Library – which holds the 800-plus National Plant Collection for heritage vegetables.

Raised beds, containers and vertical plantings show what can be done in smaller gardens, balconies or rented accommodation. And there’s an alpine area dedicated to Garden Organic founder Lawrence Hills, who was a specialist grower of alpines and created beautiful displays for the Chelsea Flower Show.

Between May and August, you can explore the National Plant Collection of Symphytum with 30-plus varieties of comfrey on display. Known as the organic gardener’s best friend, this plant is used to make nutritious, organic liquid feed.

An outdoor classroom offers a regular timetable of organic workshops.