Skip to content

Covid: How indoor gardening has helped during lockdown

Indoor gardening has proven popular during the coronavirus pandemic as people spend more time at home.

Sales of house plants have boomed during lockdown and are up by 200%, as indoor gardening among the under-35s increases by 75%.

Two women from Greater Manchester say they have realised first hand the benefits of having plants in their home.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]

5 April 2021

Explore More

The Titan Arum plant took 12 years before it successfully flowered in the venue's Glasshouse in 2015.

Rare 'corpse flower' blooms in botanical gardens

Science & Environment

A donkey has been given a life-changing pair of orthopaedic boots

Therapy donkey gets life-changing orthopaedic boots

A den made from sticks and wood in a garden designed by London children

The London garden where no adults are allowed

Wendy Hurrell meets Martin Hojka from the Hyde Park super nursery

Behind the scenes at Hyde Park 'super nursery'

Hacker meets Emmanuelle Lhoni

CBBC's Hacker T Dog celebrates 15 years on screen

Deborah wearing an eye patch made with pearls

Woman who lost eye due to cancer in sunburn warning

Cheerleading team

Cheerleading team bring gold medals home

Running club at Salford Quays

The running club that is changing people's lives

Wigan Athletic players welcome back Callum Jones

Player gets 'hero's welcome' after cancer all-clear

Keyframe #1

Woman catches police watching Netflix in her home

The crowd for Joe Wicks

Hundreds turn out for Joe Wicks 5k

Soldier silhouettes installed in Salford park in remembrance tribute.

Soldier silhouettes installed for Remembrance Day

Bobby Bolton

Heartbroken man revamps van for Oz adventure

CCTV footage outside Liam Smith's home in Shevington

Police release CCTV that helped catch killers

Blackberries in a hand

Early blackberries sign of 'climate breakdown'

Karl Porter

Comic overwhelmed as millions watch slo-mo footballer routine

Leigh lifting the Challenge Cup in 1971

Leigh fans recall 1971 cup glory ahead of final

Andrew Malkinson

Andrew Malkinson: There were mass failings by police

priest sprinking holy water behind bike rider

Priest who rode on motorbike at funeral criticised

Keyframe #4

Police release CCTV of fatal assault outside pub

Joey Swindells, a 28-year-old busker from Bolton, sits at his makeshift drum set. His hand-written "Busking Joe" sign is propped up in front of him, next to his equipment case

Drummer quits office job to busk near gig venues

Joey Swindells says it is "amazing" to earn a living from busking near gig venues and festivals.

A Manchester woman sitting outside at a restaurant wears a grey t-shirt and talks into a BBC microphone

‘Ow much? Oasis fans react to homecoming gig prices

The cheapest ticket for the Manchester gigs next July will be £148.50 – and that is standing only.

Six children stand in front with their karate medals while three teachers stand behind them smiling

Karate kids return home with 100-medal haul

A group of young martial artists from Rochdale are celebrating after a pan-European tournament.

Image from video showing incident at Manchester Airport

BBC Verify analyses Manchester Airport incident footage

BBC Verify's Richard Irvine-Brown analyses the footage from Manchester Airport's Terminal 2.

Rebecca Joynes smiling with folded arms as she watches boy A with the Gucci belt

CCTV shows teacher buying Gucci belt for schoolboy

Teacher Rebecca Joynes is seen paying for a £350 belt for a schoolboy she groomed and had sex with.

Crowd stuck in darkness at airport

'It's utter chaos': Video shows huge crowds stuck in darkness at terminal

One passenger describes seeing people climbing over one another after a major power cut hit the airport.

Jack Grealish standing on a bus during Manchester City's title parade

Grealish almost falls off bus at Manchester City parade

The midfielder appeared to get caught out as the vehicle started to move from a stationary position.

Cindy Ngamba

Boxer's delight at spot on Olympic refugee team

Bolton-based Cindy Ngamba will represent the International Olympic Federation’s Refugee Team in Paris.

Fans at Co-op Live venue

'We thought it was a joke' - Dismay as Co-op Live gig cancelled

Rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie's show was postponed just minutes after the doors were supposed to open at the £365m venue.

Jasmine from Swinton

Girl, 7, on mission to clear the streets of litter

Jasmine is on a quest to tidy up her hometown because littering is "bad for the environment".

Hairstylist Callum Walker doing a client's hair

Fashion week 'surreal moment' for young stylist

Callum Walker says he never expected to be styling models after having "so many doors" shut in his face.

Erik ten Hag and Alfie

Man Utd fan who cried at FA Cup win meets heroes

Alfie's tearful reaction to a last-gasp victory over Liverpool was widely shared on social media.

Bob Darlington

Train driver retires after more than forty years

A retirement party has been held at Manchester Victoria for a popular Northern train driver.

Adonis Norouznia

Vegan cafe boss abused online for selling meat

Adonis Norouznia has been threatened since adding meat to menus due to rising costs.

Policeman on horse

Police force recruits its biggest horse

Adjustments have been made for Trooper, who should give his rider an advantage in crowded areas.

Drone footage shows extent of damage by the blast

Drone footage shows extent of house blast damage

The house in Bury, Greater Manchester, was completely destroyed in the explosion on Wednesday.

Fire at house in Bury after explosion

Woman seriously injured after house explosion

Greater Manchester residents have been evacuated from a street after a blast at a house in Bury.

Annabel Tiffin and Kawser Quamer

BBC weather reporter reacts after viral slip-up

Millions saw Kawser Quamer inadvertently reveal a surprise party for her niece on TV.

Savannah

Girl, 8, cuts hair for cancer patient wig

Savannah was moved to donate her locks after seeing some boys do the same on BBC North West Tonight.

Danny and his son and as the masked singer

Moment Danny Jones's son realises daddy's Piranha

Watch the moment Danny Jones's son realises his father was the celebrity behind Piranha in the Masked Singer UK.