Looking for the perfect gift for the gardener in your life, but left it too late for delivery? Below are a selection of membership ideas and subscriptions you can buy online that will make perfect gifts for Christmas, which you can send notification of by email or print out details last minute to add to a Christmas card.
Don't miss our super guide to the best gardening gifts for Christmas
The best last minute Christmas gifts for 2023
Gardens Illustrated Magazine Subscription
An absolutely necessary Christmas gift for the intrepid gardener, a year’s subscription to Gardens Illustrated will make the perfect present and can be arranged up to the wire. Yes, we’re biased, but we are confident that gardener in your life will love the mixture of beautiful photography, inspiring gardens, practical advice and plant expertise.
Make sure they never miss a copy by getting it delivered direct to their door each month, or choose a digital subscription so they can enjoy it online anytime. Check out our latest money off and subscription gift offers in the link below.
From £21.45
Buy from Gardens Illustrated
Become an RHS member
The vital work the Royal Horticultural Society does throughout the UK is a huge part of the country’s world-beating reputation in horticulture and gardens. A membership offers free entry to five RHS gardens around the country, as well as more than 200 RHS partner gardens, all of which have something unique and exciting to offer; offers on tickets to the organisation's flower shows; and a yearly subscription to the membership magazine, The Garden; as well as unlimited expert gardening advice online and over the phone, regular tips emails and an online gardening coach.
From £53
Buy from the RHS
More subscription and online gift ideas
Garden Organic and Heritage Seed Library membership
The national charity for organic growing, Garden Organic offers a membership for people in the UK and overseas who are interested in growing an organic and sustainable future. You can support the charity and its work through a membership, and access to a range of benefits including The Organic Way members' magazine three times a year; access to an online members-only area of the website with organic growing factsheets, a forum and a gardening enquiry line; 10% off all orders with the award-winning Organic Gardening Catalogue; free or discounted entry to a range of partner gardens around the UK including its base, Ryton Organic Gardens in Warwickshire; and, the most attractive of all for many gardeners, the ability to join the Heritage Seed Library.The Heritage Seed Library (HSL) aims to conserve vegetable varieties such as heirloom types that are not widely available. The varieties on the HSL's annual seed list are coveted and are only available to Garden Organic's HSL members, who receive a choice of 6 free packs of seeds a year. Garden Organic members can join the Heritage Seed Library for an extra £1.50 a month or £18 a year, which can be added on at the same time as when ordering membership to the organisation.From £33
Buy from Garden Organic
National Trust membership
One of the key things many people took away from the lockdowns during the pandemic was a greater appreciation of nature, open spaces, trees and greenery. What better way to continue the connection in the future than by investing in a membership for the National Trust, which does vital nature management work up and down the country and conserves historic, fascinating buildings and gardens for the country.
The charity, as with many charities, suffered during lockdown, having to contend with decreased visitor numbers, so supporting the organisation goes some way to helping with that. There are host of options to choose from, including individual, joint, family and young person memberships, but most include free entry to over 500 places, free parking at most National Trust car parks, a National Trust Handbook, the National Trust Magazine three times a year, and access to an online Members’ Area.
From £76.80 a year
Buy from the National Trust
MasterClass subscription
MasterClass is a great online resource for anyone who loves to learn. With one subscription, you get access to more than 180 courses across a huge range of subjects, including food, business, sports, science, arts and and government. Expect to see expert leaders like Dame Anna Wintour, Dame Helen Mirren and Dr. Jane Goodall.
For those with a green finger, we recommend Ron Finley's gardening MasterClass, in which the community activist and expert gardener gives advice on getting the most from your outdoor space and growing your own food.
From £10 a month
Buy from MasterClass
The Newt in Somerset membership
To visit the beautifully cultivated gardens of The Newt hotel near Bruton in Somerset, you need to buy an annual membership - the perfect gift. This gives the recipient unlimited access to the gardens, woodland and deer park for 12 months, including the Walled Garden, Kitchen Garden and Fragrance Garden, as well as the restaurants and shops on site, free tours, free entry to national partner gardens Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth House and sister garden Babylonstoren in South Africa, a dedicated member's area of the website with virtual workshops, masterclasses and broadcasts, and exclusive member offers and treats.
£68 a year
Buy from thenewtinsomerset.com
English Heritage membership
Give the gift of a year's worth of memorable experiences with an annual membership to English Heritage. Membership grants access to hundreds of historic places, including some of the finest gardens in the country.
Among the gardens you can visit are the glorious terraces of Osborne House, Queen Victoria's Isle of Wight home, and the meandering paths of Kenwood on Hampstead Heath. Membership includes free entry for up to six children, so it's a great way of gifting wonderful days out for families on a tight budget.
From £53
Buy from English Heritage
Garden Masterclass membership
Garden Masterclass is an education provider and portal that aims to bring together gardeners and designers with the very best and most innovative people in the gardening world through one-day workshops (mostly in Britain) and online webinars and workshop videos. Each one is organised around a specific topic, and designed to help participants learn, create and apply new knowledge and skills.
It is run by designer Annie Guilfoyle and plantsman and author Noel Kingsbury, who are now providing an annual membership called Friends of Garden Masterclass, offering a range of privileges for both their UK and growing global audience.
There are two levels - one for online and one for online and live events. Online membership entitles you to a discount of 10% on webinars; a discount of 20% on past webinars, available on Vimeo; free access to premium content from the most popular videos of the past year; discounts on goods from selected retailers including Niwaki tools, Filbert Books, Genus Gardenwear, Phaidon Garden books and Burgon & Ball tools; and the chance to participate in select online events. Online Plus membership adds to this with member-only events, such as workshops or special tutor-led events and garden tours, and early booking for selected live events.
From £24 a year
Buy from Garden Masterclass
The Eden Project membership
As well as being a beautiful garden to visit in Cornwall, the Eden Project is involved with community and conservation projects locally and across the world.
As a member not only will you be supporting these worthwhile causes, you will also have unlimited free entry to the Eden Project and 10% off at its shops, restaurants and cafes. You will also have access to the Members car park and priority booking for ticketed events.
From £60
Buy from the Eden Project
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