At only two years old the Chelsea Fringe is a mere stripling compared to the 100-year-old Chelsea Flower Show but the young upstart festival is already one to watch. Last year’s Fringe (which coincides and overlaps with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show but is independent of it) featured more than 100 events but as founder and director Tim Richardson reveals, this year is set to be bigger and better.

Micro greens are a great way to grow your own even if you’ve only got space indoors. These diminutive versions of herbs and leaves such as basil, rocket and mizuna may be small in stature but pack a big punch of flavour when added to a dish.

Modern life is increasingly hectic and, paradoxically, the more we need the solace of nature, the less time we have to spend outdoors. When we do finally get out there, tending the plants might not be the first thing on our minds. Here, though, Chelsea gold-medal winning garden designer Kate Gould has plenty of tips and tricks for creating a great garden without the graft.

The Japanese have a delightful spring celebration called Hanami or “flower-viewing”, when they picnic beneath cherry and plum trees in appreciation of the blossom. There are blossom forecasts on television and large crowds gather. With wine flowing, special foods on hand and music playing, it’s common for the parties to go on all night.

A lido in the Thames, floating gardens, hot air balloons, tree towers and a sculpture footbridge were just some of the ideas submitted to an international competition to design green links for the south bank of the Thames.

A live webcam link is giving a birds-eye view of a new peregrine falcon family who have made their home at Norwich Cathedral.

A major restoration project in London’s Bushy Park is nearing completion.

Gardens built from reclaimed windows, which transform from open allotments during the day to illuminated sheds at night, will be springing up at London’s Southbank Centre this month.

A rare Sri Lankan temple step found in the garden of a Devon bungalow was sold for £553,250 at Bonhams this week.

Manchester is inviting green-fingered residents and businesses to adopt Grow Boxes and cultivate their own fruit, herbs and vegetables right in the centre of the city this summer.

Gardeners are being asked to help monitor the progress of nesting birds this spring.

Three free conferences are being held to bring together community food-growing and healthy eating projects across Swindon and Wiltshire.

Heathers, once a feature of almost every garden, are now facing potential mass extinction, according to recent research by the leading plant conservation charity Plant Heritage. More than 340 varieties of heather have completely disappeared over the last ten years and 60% of those remaining are officially threatened.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has been awarded £100,000 by the People’s Postcode Lottery to expand its edible gardening project.