WEDNESDAY 22nd APRIL from 4 – 4.45pm
Come and meet our new seeds!
They’re all neatly packed in envelopes and waiting to go to new homes. Or perhaps you have some of your own that need somewhere new to grow?
You can swap or use packets from our brand-new seed library. Lisa will advise you in this handy drop-in session if you have questions.
In partnership with Granton Community Gardeners .
Dobbies’ Edinburgh store is inviting local schools, charities and community groups to apply for this year’s Dobbies Community Gardens, giving successful groups the opportunity to receive support to help bring green spaces to life across the country.
In 2025, each of Dobbies 53 stores selected a winner from over 600 entries to receive support, supplies and advice through the community initiative. Dobbies’ Edinburgh is committed to giving back to the community on both a national and local level and is passionate about encouraging the nation to discover and share a love for gardens.
Dobbies Community Gardens will support its local communities by providing essential tools, plants and expert knowledge from colleagues to groups, to bring their green spaces to life. Dobbies’ Edinburgh store colleagues will also provide dedicated time to each project through volunteer hours.
The community gardens initiative nurtures wellbeing, connections and inclusion to help inspire local residents to spend more time in nature.
Dobbies’ Edinburgh store is looking to hear from local groups hoping to start, restore or upgrade their indoor or outdoor green spaces, and learn more about what they would do with the support.
Dobbies’ Plant Buyer, Nigel Lawton, is encouraging groups across the country to apply. He said: “Every year we look forward to hearing from the variety of inspiring groups about what they are looking to their garden spaces, with our support.
“We encourage local communities and groups within 20 miles of their local Dobbies store to apply to help create their perfect shared garden spaces that will bring joy to the community all year long.
“Whether they are a charity looking to upgrade their green space, a local group looking to bring the community together with a new project, or a school with plans to restore a vegetable patch, we want to hear from anyone who has a garden project that we could support.”
Craig Allardyce, Secretary of Your North Muirton, helped transform an area of land into a community garden with more than 30 raised beds with help from Dobbies.
Craig said: “Our new space supports a wide range of local involvement from individuals renting a low-cost raised bed to grow their own food, to schools and community groups using the area for hands-on learning and shared planting.
“Dobbies Community Gardens is a fantastic initiative to help bring local communities together and we would encourage groups looking for help with a garden project to apply.”
Applications are now open and close at 5pm on 31 March 2026.
Those entering must be within 20 miles of Dobbies’ Edinburgh store. Successful projects will be invited along to their local store for a consultation before getting recommendations from Dobbies’ colleagues about what products and tools will help bring the space to life.
To find out more information about Dobbies Community Gardens and to fill out an application form, visit Dobbies Community Gardens | Dobbies Garden Centres
Dobbies Edinburgh store is welcoming the new season with its Spring Garden Savings Weekend, running from Thursday 5 to Monday 9 March, inviting local gardeners to kick-start spring with fresh inspiration and great savings across plants, gardening tools and more.
As the first signs of spring begin to appear across Edinburgh, the Green Team at Dobbies is marking the change in season with five days of offers designed to help gardeners refresh their outdoor spaces.
Customers visiting the store will be able to explore more than 415 own-brand gardening products, alongside new-season plants and new outdoor living ranges as spring gets underway. From colourful primroses and pansies for instant colour, to houseplants that will liven up your interiors, there’s plenty to help you embrace spring vibrancy both indoors and out.
Special offers during the Spring Garden Savings Weekend include:
Nigel Lawton, Dobbies Plant Buyer, said: “Spring is one of the most exciting times of the year for gardeners, and our Spring Garden Savings Weekend is all about helping our local communities to make the most of the season ahead.
“We’ve got fantastic offers across plants, bulbs, gardening tools and essentials, plus plenty of new arrivals in-store to inspire customers.”
In addition to garden savings, Dobbies Edinburgh store will also be unveiling its new spring summer menu in the restaurant, offering customers the chance to enjoy seasonal dishes and sweet treats as part of their trip.
The Spring Garden Savings Weekend runs from Thursday 5 to Monday 9 March at Dobbies Edinburgh store. For more information, visit www.dobbies.com.
How is it already February? Spring is just around the corner and there’s still lots to do to get our new sites ready for growing!
Come along and lend a hand and spend some time outside with us!
Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a free-to-attend children’s workshop on Sunday 4 January at its Edinburgh store, where children can discover fun and creative ways to recycle their Christmas trees as the festive season comes to a close.
In January’s Little Seedlings Club workshop, children will learn about where real Christmas trees come from, why Christmas trees are good for nature, what happens to them after Christmas, the importance of recycling and how to stay safe while doing so.
Children will then get to take part in a true or false game to test their knowledge on what they have learnt during the session. This is then followed by a build a mini wildlife habitat activity which involves children using recycled Christmas tree branches to make a habitat for their own gardens, that animals from hedgehogs, insects to frogs can call home in the cold winter months.
Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club is designed to be fun and engaging space for kids to learn about gardens and nature, with interactive activities and games, and the chance to ask lots of questions. The session takes place monthly at Dobbies’ Edinburgh and covers a range of topics and activities to fit with the seasons.
Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, said: “Our Little Seedlings Club in January is ideal for young gardeners looking for an exciting project now that Christmas is over.
“The workshop at our Edinburgh store also covers some simple ways to help the planet. We are all looking forward to welcoming the Little Seedlings for the first session of 2026 and to see their wildlife habitat creations created from recycled Christmas trees.”
Those interested in learning more about the free children’s workshops at Dobbies’ Edinburgh are encouraged to visit www.dobbies.com/events to book a free space.
SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 1 – 2pm
Does a bee choose which flower to visit, or does the flower choose its preferred pollinator?
Why do plants produce flowers with different colours, patterns and aromas?
Do roots have relationships with other species too?
Join us in this unique workshop where gardening becomes practice of connection, care and relationship!
Fancy a bit of family fun in the Drylaw secret orchard this Wednesday? Come along for a free outdoor activity session with Paul our gardener and Alia our youth worker.
There will be snacks, drinks, craft, gardening, and tree care going on in a relaxed and informal setting within the beautiful orchard on Easter Drylaw Avenue.
Wednesday 6th August
10.30 meet at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
OR: 10.45 meet at East Orchard, between 6 and 8 Easter Drylaw Avenue.
Nature craft and gardening activities. Relaxed and friendly staff.
FREE! Please bring sunhats, water bottles and suncream- it’s going to be warm!
Exciting News for local gardeners! 
Have you ever wanted to get stuck into some gardening but didn’t have the tools? We’ve got you covered!
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre has launched a Garden Tool Library – a brand new free service to help our local community borrow hand tools and get gardening without the cost of buying them.
– Become a member of Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.
– Fill out a second quick form to join the Tool Library.
– Bring along proof of address (like a letter or driving license).
– Start borrowing! Tools can be borrowed for up to two weeks at a time.
Free to join
Free to borrow
At the moment we’ve got hand tools only, but we’ll be adding more soon – so stay tuned! 
Pop in and see us or get in touch to find out more.
This May, Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a new hands-on planting and afternoon tea experience at its Edinburgh store, combining an exclusive afternoon tea with a seasonal planting workshop, inspired by the RHS Chelsea Garden Show and Dobbies’ 160-year heritage.
The Heritage Planting and Afternoon Tea will take place during the week of RHS Chelsea Flower Show, on Tuesday 20 May and Saturday 24 May. Taking place in the Edinburgh store, this event will give guests the perfect opportunity to create their very own bespoke planted container and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea.
Attendees will enjoy a 90-minute experience where they will join Dobbies’ Green Team in the plant area for a seasonally relevant planting demonstration and Q&A session. Each guest will receive a limited-edition 160 heritage Dobbies’ pot and a selection of seasonal plants, carefully chosen to reflect the spirit of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which they will plant up and take home.
Customers at the Edinburgh store will then make their way to the restaurant to enjoy a traditional Heritage Afternoon Tea, which has been carefully curated in honour of celebrating Dobbies’ 160th birthday, and features three tiers of sweet and savoury delights, including Dobbies’ famous scones, plus unlimited tea and coffee refills.
Claire Bishop, Dobbies’ Senior Houseplant Buyer and Chair of Assessors at the RHS Chelsea Garden Show, said: “We are excited to be celebrating 160 years of helping British gardeners to grow by bringing this new event to our Edinburgh store.
“Our planting and afternoon tea events have been really popular with our customers, and it’s been fantastic to have one that celebrates RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I’ve loved selecting the plants and hope those attending enjoy creating their own seasonal containers that they can take home and enjoy.”
Tickets for the Heritage Planting and Afternoon Tea experience at the Edinburgh store are £45 per person.
For more information and to book on Dobbies’ events, visit:
We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate David Waughman, who was awarded the ‘Anne, Duchess of Norfolk Award for Volunteer Gardener of the Year’ at the recent Hospice UK Annual Conference!
David has been a dedicated part of our team from the very start, serving as one of our original Compassionate Gardeners. Before that David helped maintain the grounds of St Columba’s Hospice Care, showing his passion for both gardening and volunteering.
Our Compassionate Gardeners are a special group. We’re one of the only UK hospices offering a little TLC to the gardens of people living at home with an end-of-life diagnosis, and helping restore them to what they once were.
Sharing the joy of the garden through the seasons, our Compassionate gardeners add so much to the wellbeing of the garden owners in the most precious of times.
It was truly heart-warming to see David recognised by his colleagues and peers from across the hospice sector. Thank you, David, for your dedication and for the incredible impact you make to those you support. Congratulations on this well-deserved award! 
Are you a keen gardener? Find out how you can put your skills to good use by becoming a Compassionate Gardener https://bit.ly/3OH1Wwb.
