Courses

All courses through the end of June have been cancelled.  We may rebook some of them in the autumn.  From July onwards we are still planning to run courses, but of course it may not be possible.  We will have to wait and see

Sowing Seeds

How to sow seeds. When to sow different kinds of seeds. Composts. Dealing with dormancy. Pricking out and caring for seedlings. Take home seeds you have sown.

Tutor: Derry Watkins

Creating a Border

How to make sure your garden looks good throughout the year. Designing for successional flowering - using colour, planting styles and plant selection to get the most from your garden.

Tutor: Mary Payne

Making Hazel Plant Supports

Cutting hazel wands and weaving them into informal shapes to support both large and small plants. Practise in my garden. Simultaneously ornamental, creative, energetic and useful.

Tutor: Derry Watkins

Willow Plant Supports

Making small hurdles, supports for perennials and wigwams for climbers. Learn to weave willow plant supports. Take home a wigwam which you have made.

Tutor: Richard Kerwood

Sowing Seeds II

How to sow seeds. When to sow different kinds of seeds. Composts. Dealing with dormancy. Pricking out and caring for seedlings. Take home seeds you have sown.

Tutor: Derry Watkins

Cut Flower Gardening

How to get the most flowers from a small area throughout the year. What to grow, where and how to grow them. Sow your own cut flower patch. How to cut and condition flowers so they last.

Tutor: Georgie Newberry, The Cut Flower Farmer

Making Hazel Plant Supports II

Cutting hazel wands and weaving them into informal shapes to support both large and small plants. Practise in my garden. Simultaneously ornamental, creative, energetic and useful.

Tutor: Derry Watkins

Planting for Pollinators

Gardening for wildlife. What are the best plants to grow to support the bees and butterflies. How to make your garden both aestheically pleasing and ecologically sound.

Tutor: Joanna Mckerr

Gardening in the Shade

What influence does shade have on plants and on your plant selection? What are the best plants to grow in dry shade and in damp shade. Woodland gardening

Tutor: Mary Payne

Colour in the Garden - £50.00

Colour sets the mood of any garden, not just the colour in flowers but in foliage, paving, buildings etc. How to use colour to best effect. How colours change through the day and through the seasons

Tutor: Mary Payne

Flowering Meadows

How to best establish a wildflower meadow from seed or turf. Soil preparation, sowing, seasonal maintenance. How a meadow is likely to evolve over time.

Tutor: Mary Payne

Gardening for the Future

How can we adapt our planting styles and gardening habits? Gardening without plastics. Controlling weeds, pests and diseases without chemicals. Sustainable planting.

Tutor: Mary Payne

Taking Cuttings

Learn how new plants grow from cuttings. How to take cuttings and when. Composts, timing, aftercare. Have a go with the plants in Derry's garden. Take home your cuttings.

Tutor: Derry Watkins

Collecting Seed

How to tell when seed is ripe. How to collect, clean and store seed. Harvest several kinds from Derry's garden. Clean and package them to take home

Tutor: Derry Watkings

Taking Cuttings (repeat)

Learn how new plants grow from cuttings. How to take cuttings and when. Composts, timing, aftercare. Have a go with the plants in Derry's garden. Take home your cuttings.

Tutor: Derry Watkins

Grow Your Own

How to grow the best tasting fruits and vegetables with the least effort. Choosing varieties for flavour and beauty. Using edibles in the decorative garden. Coping with pest and diseases.

Tutor: Mary Payne

Growing Plants for Sale - Two Days

Which plants to grow. Where to grow them. Who to sell them to. Where to sell. How to market yourself. Composts, labelling, equipment, pricing, costs & planning production.

Tutor: Derry Watkins

Gravel Gardening

How to design, make and maintain a gravel garden. Why plants love it. The best plants to grow there. Why it is very nearly the No Work Garden.

Tutor: Derry Watkins

Gardening with Grasses

Using ornamental grasses for year round effect. The best grasses to grow, where to grow them, how to prune them, how to propagate them, what to grow them with.

Tutor: Mary Payne

Gardening Under Glass

How to get the most from your greenhouse, polytunnel or coldframe. How to start young plants off, overwinter tender plants and enjoy the treasures you can only grow under glass

Tutor: Derry Watkins

Drawing to See - £100.00

Using drawing to open your eyes to the the natural world. Inspiring for all levels, from beginners to committed artists. Includes a session on creating your own sketchbook.

Tutor: Sarah Simblett

Designing for Winter Interest

Add another season to your garden. Colour, shape and texture in the winter garden. How to design for maximum winter interest. Evergreens, grasses, seedheads, bark and stem silhouettes

Tutor: Mary Payne

Pruning

How to prune shrubs, fruit trees, perennials, grasses and fruit trees for form, vigour & flowering. When to prune, why to prune, when not to prune.

Tutor: Mary Payne

Taking Winter Cuttings

Propagation for the dormant season. Root cuttings, division, layering and air layering. Follow up to Taking Cuttings. Bring warm clothes.

Tutor: Derry Watkins