Saturday 26th September 2026
Back to the Garden
Join us for a day of inspiration, discovery and family-friendly fun as the Kendal Nature Recovery Festival returns to the heart of Kendal.
This year’s theme, Back to the Garden, celebrates one of the most powerful places we can all make a difference for wildlife – our own gardens, balconies, allotments and community green spaces.
Whether you have a large garden, a few pots outside your front door or simply love spending time in nature, you’ll leave with ideas, inspiration and practical ways to help local wildlife flourish.
A day packed with nature
Throughout the day you can enjoy a fantastic programme of activities, including:
- Inspiring talks from nature experts
- Hands-on workshops and demonstrations
- Gardening advice to help you create wildlife-friendly spaces
- Children’s activities and family fun
- Local conservation groups and campaigns
- Photography exhibition and competition winners
- Opportunities to meet like-minded people passionate about nature
Why “Back to the Garden”?
There are over 25 million gardens across the UK, covering more land than all of our National Nature Reserves combined. Together, they have the potential to become one of the country’s biggest networks of habitats for birds, bees, butterflies, hedgehogs and countless other species.
Small changes really do add up. Planting for pollinators, leaving a patch of grass to grow, adding a pond or simply making space for nature can all play an important part in helping wildlife recover.
This festival is all about sharing ideas, celebrating what people are already doing and showing how everyone can make a positive difference – one garden, one community and one conversation at a time.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, completely new to growing, or simply looking for a great day out with the family, we’d love you to join us.
Everyone is welcome, and together we’ll discover how getting Back to the Garden can help nature thrive.
(venues, timings, and programme to be released soon)
