Jubilee Gardens has been especially vibrant this spring, with colourful pollinator-friendly planting schemes and thriving wildflowers attracting bees, butterflies and other important pollinators.
Over recent years, we’ve made a conscious effort to prioritise plants that support biodiversity and provide food and habitat for pollinating insects. This year has been our most successful yet, with early bulbs such as crocus and daffodils providing nectar at the very start of the season and the wildflower area blooming abundantly with native species through the spring. The beds and hedgerows have also been looking spectacular, alive with bees and other pollinators enjoying the rich variety of planting. Our hedgerows include native Holly, Beech and Hornbeam specifically chosen to support local wildlife and the flowers on the female Holly plant are a particularly strong attraction to pollinators. Though Beech and Hornbeam both do their own pollination through catkins they are incredibly valuable for birds and insects who are part of the important wider biodiversity of the Gardens, and hedges help provide great habitats for wildlife, including some of our pollinators.
The display has been a timely reminder of the importance of urban green spaces following this year’s World Bee Day on 20 May and the recent Urban Tree Festival, which celebrates the value of trees and nature in cities.
As a South Bank riverside green space beside the Thames, Jubilee Gardens also plays its own small role in supporting urban biodiversity and connecting people with nature in central London – here’s an opportunity to get involved – don’t miss the 10th annual London Rivers Week 2026 from the 23-30 May. And the Garden Museum’s Annual Plant Science Lecture – a free online talk on 7 July, titled Beekeeping Behind the Scenes from a student beekeeper might also be inspiring.
Whether you’re stopping for lunch, passing through, or spending time with family and friends, we hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the Gardens at their colourful best this season.