It is also the only single monthly magazine issue to deliver more than £1m in Retail Sales Value (RSV) over the same period.

The issue sold 182,000 copies on the newsstand, generating £1.04m in RSV, an 19% increase on the same issue from the previous year.

It was supported with an extensive trade marketing and promotional campaign, as well as a PR campaign that generated both national television and print coverage.

BBC Gardeners’ World, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017, continues to be the best-selling gardening magazine in the UK. It has had year-on-year growth in print sales of 9.8% in 2017-18, with a 16% increase in RSV.

BBC Gardeners’ World’s Publishing Director Dominic Murray commented: “The sales performance of BBC Gardeners’ World’s May issue is a magnificent achievement, demonstrating the continued strength and value of special interest content on the newsstand.

BBC Gardeners’ World’s May issue, traditionally the biggest selling issue of the year, featured the annual 2for1 Gardens to Visit Card and Guide. This offered discounted entry to gardens across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. This year’s guide was the biggest ever, featuring discounted entry to 424 gardens, including Kew, the Eden Project, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Warwick Castle and Powis Castle and Garden.

“The 2for1 Guide offers fantastic value for our readers, who come to us in mainstream numbers, and as our continued performance over the last two years demonstrates, stay with us as their trusted guide for gardening advice throughout the year,” Murray continued.

BBC Gardeners’ World magazine is published monthly by Immediate Media Co, priced £4.99.