Chelsea Fringe 20 May – 4 June

The alternative garden festival is back for its sixth year, with a host of nationwide and international arts and community events celebrating the joy of plants

Floating Pocket Park

Tony Woods of garden and landscape design specialist, the Garden Club has designed a 730 square metre floating park on the Grand Union Canal. Located in Paddington Basin, west London, the park consists of a series of interlocking floating platforms and walkways with open lawn areas, communal seating and diverse planting to encourage wildlife and birds. Its launch will tie in with the Chelsea Fringe and include special events. • When From 20 May. Merchant Square,

Paddington Basin, London W2 1JS. • Tel 020 7298 0800. • Web merchantsquare.co.uk

Urban Eden

Three squares close to London’s Liverpool Street Station are to be transformed into themed gardens with a focus on health, vitality and wellbeing for Broadgate’s Urban Eden campaign. Broadgate Plaza, Finsbury Avenue Square and Exchange Square will be hosting open-air workouts, mood-boosting massages and art exhibitions in a bid to create a stimulating green space in the City. • When 20 May – 4 June, 9am-5pm.

London EC2M. • Tel 020 7505 4100. • Web broadgate.co.uk/ExchangeSquare

A Garden in a Teacup

Take part in a tea-tasting ceremony in London’s Spitalfields and learn how to create specially blended tea infusions to benefit your health and wellbeing. • When 3 June, 11.30am-1pm. £15.

5 Fournier Street, London E1 6QE. • Tel 020 7247 4745. • Web townhousespitalfields.com

El Jardín de Papel

The Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery will host award-winning poet Edward Barker for an evening of poetry reading on the theme of flowers and gardens. The reading will take place amid the work of Spanish artist Mersuka Dopazo who creates large-scale floral collages using hand-made papers and fabrics covered in garden motifs. • When 25 May, 6-7.30pm. 2a Conway Street,

Fitzroy Square, London W1T 6BA. • Tel 020 7436 4899. • Web rebeccahossack.com

Daisy-Chain Trail

Designed by local radio station Corinium Radio, the tour of Cirencester’s community gardens and allotments opens with a pop-up garden at the Abbey Grounds Bandstand on 20 May and concludes with a flower tea

Discover how to mix your own herbal and floral teas at a Garden in a Teacup. Head to the Rebecca Hossack Gallery for a floral mix of poetry and art. Paddington Basin will be home to the Floating Pocket Park, complete with lawns, seating and flower beds.