Springfields appoints the Royal Horticultural Society ‘Charity of the Year’

• Springfields gardens, leisure and outlet in Lincolnshire has appointed the Royal Horticultural Society as its Charity of the Year
• Springfields charity aims are to bring gardening to life with expert advice, inspiration, and innovation for all
• Since opening in 2004, Springfields has always been a pioneering outdoor experiential destination, combining 15 acres of gardens, a green and wholesome family Adventure Land, event and garden centres, eight restaurants with an outdoor outlet of fifty-five stores
• Springfields Gardens are an official RHS Partner Garden
• Springfields will maximise the opportunities to raise funds and memberships for the RHS in stores and at its extensive event programme throughout the year

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has been appointed as its Charity of the year by Springfields, the extensive garden and outdoor experience destination in Lincolnshire.

This appointment was brokered by SLR Outlets, who are pioneers in leisure-based retail. SLR created Springfields gardens and events centre and directly operates the onsite fifty-five (55) store outlet & leisure facility, Adventure Land. The gardens are run by the resident charity, Springfields Horticultural Society, who are the long-term centre of the British bulb industry, home to the national narcissi collection and are celebrating their 60^th anniversary this year.

2025 saw the RHS appoint Springfields as an official Partner Garden and Springfields is now focusing all of its charity activities for the benefit of the RHS. RHS Partner Garden status gives members a free tea or coffee, and free parking, at Springfields, which has proved to be very popular.

The RHS will be represented throughout the centre, retail, restaurants, in the gardens, the outlet and events centre attracting new sign-ups for memberships and raise direct donations and legacies. Springfields runs 30 major events throughout the year attracting over 200,000 guests.

“We are absolutely delighted that Springfields has chosen the RHS as its Charity of the Year. As an RHS Partner Garden, Springfields shares our passion for inspiring people through gardening and this commitment to supporting our charitable work makes the partnership even more meaningful”, said Emma Allen, RHS Head of Horticultural Relations

Springfields Gardens offer a diverse 15-acre landscape with a wide variety of areas including accessible woodland walks, water features, and seasonal displays, including the famous spring narcissi and tulips. Chelsea style showcase gardens by icons like Chris Beardshaw and Kim Wilde complement the wide-open spaces, RSPB bird hide and more formal planting.

“Our vision when we created Springfields was to build on the gardens’ reputation as the home of British bulbs and create a year-round attraction, with an exceptional home and garden centre, events space, high-quality speciality retail and plenty of places to eat and drink. Working now with the RHS is an honour and recognition of 20 years hard work by the team at Springfields making this a unique and exceptional attraction”, said Ian Sanderson, owner of the asset manager SLR Outlets, who originally developed Springfields.

For horticultural experts, the gardens serve as a living library of design and plant diversity with varied styles from the Saga Garden to the contemporary Founders Garden, providing technical inspiration for planting schemes, sustainable landscaping, and year-round interest. Admission is free, making it a premier destination for both casual recreation and botanical study.

Springfields overall has delivered 20 consecutive years of growth, except during lockdowns, attracting guests from a wide catchment from southern Yorkshire, the East Midlands, East Anglia and the home counties. The 15-acre Gardens are key to Springfields status as the leading designer outlet and leisure attraction in the whole of the East of England and East Anglia. Springfields integration of gardens, leisure and shopping continues to be key to attracting a loyal and growing customer base from a very wide catchment.

The onsite Blue Diamond Home & Garden centre complements the gardens and offers guests two dining options including a very popular and extensive café and an Edwardian-style orangery restaurant overlooking the rose walk and duck pond.

Fifty-five leading stores like Molton Brown, Levi’s, Skechers, Dune, Radley London, Osprey London, Crew, White Stuff and M&S Outlet help make Springfields an ideal day out, whilst employing nearly 600 staff for the local economy.

Springfields integrated designer-quality Adventure Land, with ten family leisure attractions, has been designed to outperform all others in the region. Its JCB Young Drivers experience and Tree Top village are bolstered by a series of highly popular events throughout the year. Live music, celebrity visits, the region’s spectacular Firework display and the Winter Wonderland Walk attract over 30,000 paying guests every year.

Positioned on the A16 near Peterborough, Lincolnshire, Springfields is a leading designer garden, leisure and outlet destination serving the whole of the East of England and East Anglia.