World Statistics Day: 10 Interesting Facts About Gardening in the UK

World Statistics Day is an international day to celebrate statistics on the 20th of October. Created by the United Nations Statistical Commission, it was first celebrated on the 20th of October 2010. To “celebrate”, we thought we’d share 10 interesting facts about gardening in the UK.

Gardens are more than just pretty patches of green – they are living spaces, ecological assets, hobby havens, and reflections of our culture. On World Statistics Day, it’s fitting to dig into the data behind UK gardens. Here are ten compelling, data-driven facts about gardens in the UK.

1. 87% of UK households have a garden
   Around 87% of households in the UK have access to a garden. That still leaves roughly 1 in 8 households without private or shared garden access.
   Source 1,
   ONS
2. About 12% of British households have no private garden
   The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that 1 in 8 (≈12%) of households in Great Britain have no access to a private or shared garden. In London the figure is over 1 in 5.
   ONS
3. Residential gardens cover about 520,000 hectares in urban Britain
   Residential garden space in urban areas of Great Britain covers approximately 521,872 hectares — about 29.5% of total urban area.
   ONS Urban Natural Capital Accounts
4. Around 36% of UK adults grow their own herbs, fruit or vegetables
   Over a third of people use their garden (or other outdoor space) to grow their own produce.
   horticulture.co.uk
5. 28% say they have a vegetable patch
   A 2021 statistic indicated that 28% of people with a garden have a dedicated vegetable patch.
   horticulture.co.uk
6. Garden & outdoor-living spend is significant
   UK households collectively spent around £8 billion on retail garden products in 2023, with earlier forecasts expecting gardening product sales to top £6.5 billion by 2025.
   aandslandscape.co.uk,
   horticulture.co.uk
7. Average UK garden size is ~188–190 m²
   Estimates put the average UK garden at around 188 m² (≈2,025 ft²), though sizes vary widely across the country.
   horticulture.co.uk,
   horticulture.co.uk
8. Gardens are vital for wildlife and natural capital
   UK gardens in towns and cities cover up to a quarter of the land surface and are estimated to contain around 3 million ponds and nearly a quarter of all trees outside woodlands.
   DEFRA/England biodiversity indicators
9. More than 27 million people garden in the UK
   Roughly 27 million people (around 40% of the population) engage in gardening activities, with participation particularly strong among older adults.
   gardencentermag.com,
   cladcodecking.co.uk
10. Wildlife matters: 87% of gardeners want to attract more wildlife
    A large majority of adults with gardens say they want to make their outdoor space more wildlife-friendly.
    horticulture.co.uk

Sources as linked above; figures and documents were last accessed on 20 October 2025.

Support Local Businesses!

The gardening and horticulture industry in the UK is big business. Help support your local businesses by visiting local garden centres, shops and online shops based in the UK… Like FlexiBorder! Check out our Flexible Garden Borders and our 90-degree angle garden borders.

• They’re eco-friendly as they’re made from recycled tyres.
• They’re child-friendly as they’re made from a strong, long-lasting material but are less likely to cause harm should your child fall on them unlike metal, wood or stone garden edging products.
• They’re lawn mower friendly – you can mow the grass right up to the edge without the use of a strimmer and they won’t scratch the mower!