Stay Curious This National Gardening Week and Beyond!
National Gardening Week (27th April - 3rd May) is a celebration of all things green – but this year, it’s also an invitation to slow down, look closer and embrace curiosity in our outdoor spaces.
Whether you have a sprawling garden, a small patio or a few pots on a balcony, there’s always something new to discover. From the first shoots of spring to the insects quietly at work beneath the soil, curiosity helps us connect more deeply with the spaces we nurture.
Why curiosity matters in the garden
Gardening doesn’t have to be about having a perfect plan or knowing exactly what you’re doing. In fact, some of the most rewarding moments come from experimenting, trying something new and seeing where it leads.
What happens if you plant something in a different spot?
What grows well together?
What surprises might appear if you simply pause and observe?
Curiosity encourages us to ask questions, get our hands dirty and enjoy the process, not just the end result.
Try before you buy: gardening with flexibility
One of the biggest barriers to starting (or expanding) a garden project is often the cost of tools, especially if you’re not sure what you’ll need long-term.
That’s where borrowing comes in.
By borrowing gardening tools, you can:
- Experiment with new ideas without financial pressure
- Try out different tools before deciding what suits you
- Avoid cluttering your home with items you’ll only use occasionally
- Make more sustainable choices by sharing resources
One of our Kingswood members highlighted the savings they’d made by borrowing garden equipment from Share Bristol:
“Such a great initiative! I signed up for an annual membership which costs £50 and have already hired out a lawnmower and strimmer which would easily have cost four times the price of that membership, plus they’re not permanently taking up space in my garage! Volunteers were very friendly and helpful, couldn’t recommend more!”
Borrowing is a simple way to keep your gardening journey flexible, affordable and low-waste.
Tools to spark your curiosity
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few tools that are perfect for curious gardeners:
A true all-rounder. Great for breaking up compacted soil, mixing in nutrients and removing weeds. It’s ideal for preparing beds and giving your plants the best chance to thrive.
Gardening often means getting up close and personal with the soil. A kneel board provides comfort and support, making it easier to spend time observing, planting and tending without strain.
Gardening is even better when it’s shared. A child-sized wheelbarrow is a great way to involve younger helpers – encouraging curiosity, responsibility and a love for the outdoors from an early age.
(And for bigger jobs, adult-sized wheelbarrows are always available too!)
Of course, we’ve also got all the standard tools you’d expect: hand tools like trowels, spades, forks and rakes, as well as power tools like leaf blowers, lawnmowers and hedge trimmers.
Making gardening a shared experience
At its heart, gardening is about connection with nature, with our communities and with each other.
Borrowing tools is part of that bigger picture. It’s about sharing resources, reducing waste and helping more people feel confident enough to give things a go.
You don’t need loads of knowledge to enjoy gardening. You just need a bit of encouragement to get started, and we’d like to think borrowing tools gives our members that motivation.
More Reasons to Choose Borrowing Over Hiring
Why Borrowing Often Works Better
Easier budgeting
Borrowing also makes budgeting simpler. Once you’ve paid your annual membership, you know you’re covered. If you don’t quite finish the job this weekend, there’s no stress about extra hire fees – you can simply borrow the tools again when you next have the time, at no additional cost.
A more relaxed timeframe to get the job done properly
When you borrow from us, you can usually keep items for a full week (or even two if nobody else is waiting to borrow). That means you can tackle projects at your own pace rather than cramming everything into a single day because “time is money.” With daily hire fees, it’s easy to feel pressured to rush or cut corners – borrowing gives you the breathing space to do the job properly.
Friendly advice with no sales pitch
Our team is here to help, not to sell. Many of the people you’ll meet at Share Bristol are volunteers who genuinely enjoy helping others fix, build and improve things. So if you need advice on a tool or a project, you’ll get honest guidance – without anyone trying to upsell you extra bits you don’t need.
Sharing Stuff: A Very Bristol Idea
There’s also something quite Bristol about the whole idea. We’ve always been good at community thinking and sustainability initiatives – from supporting local, independent shops to repair cafes and clothes swaps.
Instead of everyone owning tools they use once a year, a neighbourhood shares them. So while we may not be the first city to offer a ‘Library of Things’, it’s exactly the kind of creative, community-led thinking Bristol does best.
Less stuff sitting in cupboards.
Less unnecessary buying and waste.
More community.
It’s basically the modern version of borrowing a ladder from your neighbour, just a bit more organised.
Stay curious
This National Gardening Week and beyond, take a moment to slow down. Look a little closer. Try something new. Borrow the tools you need, follow your curiosity… and see where it takes you!
Pop in this week, or whenever you’re ready, to borrow gardening tools and start your next project.
