Courses

I teach several garden design and horticulture courses that take place throughout the year. If you can't find a date to suit you please contact me. It may be possible to include extra sessions.

Stoke Lodge, Stoke Bishop, Bristol

• Basic Garden Design
  An opportunity to improve and refresh your garden with lots of help and support. You will learn, step by step, how to redesign your own plot. The course will begin with basic principles and go on to cover paving, ponds and other garden features.
  To get the best out of the course it is important that you have a garden (however small) on which to base your design.
  Deadline for enrolment is three weeks before the course takes place, as an information pack will be sent out to students beforehand.
  A daytime course running for three weeks: Saturdays 9 Nov, 23 Nov & 7 Dec 2024
  This course is repeated on Fridays 10 Jan, 24 Jan & 7 Feb 2025
• Choosing Plants for Your Borders
  A short course for those who want no more expensive mistakes through impulse buying. These sessions will cover trees, shrubs and hardy perennials; the best varieties to choose and how to put them together for maximum effect.
  A daytime course running for three weeks: Fridays 7 Mar, 14 Mar & 21 Mar 2025
• Preparing for the Seasons
  Make the best of your garden in time for Autumn/Winter, Spring and Summer. A series of short day courses designed to make every garden season special by anticipating what can be done and how. We will include pruning, propagation and plant selection.
  • In time for Autumn & Winter: Friday 4 October 2024, 10am–3pm
  • In time for Spring: Friday 6 December 2024, 10am–3pm
  • In time for Summer: Friday 11 April 2025, 10am–3pm
• Garden Styles
  A series of one-day courses designed to give you more detailed information and ideas about specific aspects of garden styles. Choose from:
  • NewImproving shady borders: Saturday 22 Mar 2025, 10am–3pm
  • Cottage Gardens: Friday 28 Mar 2025, 10am–3pm
  • Ponds and Water Features: Friday 25 Apr 2025, 10am–3pm
  • Woodland Gardens: Friday 2 May 2025, 10am–3pm
  • NewNot just nettles; improving habitats for wildlife in small gardens: Friday 9 May 2025, 10am–3pm
  • The Cutting Garden: Friday 16 May 2025, 10am–3pm
  • Naturalistic Planting: Friday 23 May 2025, 10am–3pm
  • Front Gardens: Friday 6 Jun 2025, 10am–3pm
• The People Behind the Plants (previously advertised as Hidden Histories)
  Six influential gardeners from the past.
  Tuesday mornings 4, 11 & 18 March 2025, 10am–12.30pm

For details contact the Adult Learning Service, Stoke Lodge, tel. 0117 903 8844.