Spring is finally upon us. To celebrate we have a horticultural theme, and the fantastic Sonia Hensler has created our stunning cover. Our most exciting news is that leading designer Lee Bestall has created an incredible Show Garden for the Chelsea Flower Show to celebrate 500 years of Covent Garden. We also caught up with The Land Gardeners, who extol the virtues of the tulip, and glimpse back in time to the 70s flower market with photographer Clive Boursnell. To stick in the realm of gardening, we, we are delighted to announce that Petersham Nurseries is landing in Covent Garden in the late spring.

Check out our Covent Gardener theatre map and the latest additions to Adam Dant’s fabulous cast of local characters. Can you guess who the three newbies are? Elsewhere we hear from historian Lucy Moore about Covent Garden’s dedicated followers of (18th-century) fashion, and from Jake Arnott, author of historical noir The Fatal Tree, who introduces us to another local character from the area’s sleazy Georgian past.

We also venture into Soho for our new section ‘Just Around the Corner’, where we intend to showcase a neighbourhood within a stone’s throw in each issue.

Feel like a true Covent Gardener with our new Local Knowledge page. Did you know there are over 6,000 residents in Covent Garden all needing the infrastructure that makes life easier and fun?

I urge you to keep visiting Covent Garden, the place I am so happy to call home. Do let us know how many Mercers’ Maidens you manage to spot hidden around the streets.

Follow us on Instagram @thecoventgardener to keep up with our latest offers and amazing competitions.