Gardening Courses Info 2020

During the Covid-19 crisis we have had to suspend all courses and close our doors for the foreseeable future. Please do let us know if you are interested in a particular course and we will let you know just as soon as we are able to reschedule. In the meantime, if looking for someone else you could always get them a gift voucher.

Choose a course then get in touch to make a booking or for more information. Alternatively, if looking for someone else you could always get them a gift voucher.

All of our courses and workshops include refreshments and homemade biscuits or cake.

COURSE PROGRAMME 2019-20

QUALFICATIONS

RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture

10 week course once a week £650

The Certificate in Practical Horticulture (CPH) is a unique course that focuses on the essential skills needed by budding horticulturalists today. As a CPH student you will learn key practical skills, taught by experienced and enthusiastic horticulturalists. The essential theory behind the practice is explained, then most of the time is spent learning practical skills and getting 'your hands dirty'. Subjects covered on the course include Soil Care, Feeding & Watering, Seed & Vegetative Propagation and Growing Media. At the end a certificate is awarded by The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) who developed the course.

Please note that there may be funding available to help with course fees. Contact us for further details.

29th January for 10 weeks on Wednesdays, 9.30-4.30

29th April for 10 weeks on Wednesdays, 9.30-4.30

2nd May for 10 weeks on Saturdays, 9.30-4.30

16th September for 10 weeks on Wednesdays, 9.30-4.30

DESIGN
Introduction to Garden Design

8 week course once a week £450

The course gives a basic foundation in the art of garden design, from site survey to final plan. You'll be able to work on your own garden design if you would like to. We will look at the principles and processes involved, and discuss how great design is not about being artistic. We will visit an inspiring private garden, look at the key importance of right plant, right place. We will create planting plans using many different resources. It will be a collaborative process, with as much input as you want from the tutors.

16th January for 8 weeks on Thursdays 10-3

23rd April for 8 weeks on Thursdays 10-3

10th September for 8 weeks on Thursdays 10-3

PLANTS

Planting Pots and Containers

1 day course £70 (includes plants, bulbs, growing medium, bring pots or buy on the day)

This looks at different styles of container and different approaches to planting them for the coming months. You can bring containers with you to plant up, or there will be some available to purchase. Plants, bulbs and growing medium are included. Spring/summer and autumn/winter course available.

1st May 10-3

18th September 10-3

The Cutting Garden

1 day course £60

This course is taught by leading local cut flower grower, Sarah Hammond, and covers the planning and establishment of a cutting garden, however small or large your space.

4th February 10-3

21st April 10-3

15th September 10-3

Dahlia Workshops

Workshop A, 3 hour workshop £40

This first workshop will look at how to propagate, grow and get the best from these beautiful plants. This will include overwintering, planting, cultivating and protecting from pests. Sarah will look at the cultivars which are most suitable for cut flowers.

26th March 10-1

Workshop B, 3 hour workshop £55 (takes place at Sarah’s farm in Knapton and includes flowers)

A follow up workshop where we will explore cutting, conditioning and arranging dahlias. You will make an arrangement to take home with you. These workshops can be booked separately.

7th July 10-1

Peony Masterclass

1 day course £75 (inc flowers)

This will take place at Sarah Hammond’s farm in Knapton where she grows her famous peonies. The workshop will cover how to propagate and grow peonies as well as how to harvest, condition and arrange them.

The day will include a visit to the peony field and you will make a hand-tied bouquet to take home using peonies and other flowers from the cutting garden.

9th June 10-3

19th June 10-3

Planting for Pollinators (inc Wildflower Meadow)

1 day course £60

How do you attract more insects, small mammals and birds into your garden and how do you keep bees and other pollinators happy? We will look at how to garden and what to plant in order to attract wildlife. We will make some habitats for different creatures and look specifically at wild flower meadows.

28th April 10-3

Planting For Year Round Colour

1 day course £60

We will look at how to plant for year round colour (including in winter), using shrub stems, a range of leaf colours, bulbs, perennials and annuals. The course will also cover techniques to extend summer flowering. There will always be a high and a low season in the garden but you really can plan and plant to maximise year round colour.

20th March 10-3

25th September 10-3

Gardening For A Changing Climate

1 day course £60

Many of us are finding that plants which we used to be able to grow just don’t survive any more. A hot summer like 2018 killed off perennials and even trees which had been flourishing for years, and even though 2019 wasn’t as hot as the year before it was certainly a fairly dry summer. We need to begin to change our planting to cope with changing average rainfall and temperatures. In this course we will look at how to plant a ‘drought’ garden, a gravel garden such as Beth Chatto’s famous example and a rain garden. We will also look at how pests and diseases are evolving with the change in climate, and how we need to garden accordingly.

19th May 10-3

13th October 10-3

What Needs Doing Now

1 day course £60

This course looks at what is happening in the garden over the next few weeks. Whether you are new to gardening or looking for inspiration to make changes in your garden this year, you will go away with top tips for gardening in the coming weeks and you will learn:

In March: about what needs doing in this important season and how to do it. We will look at maintenance jobs, seeds that can be sown, plants which need pruning, perennials which can be divided and moved.

In May: about what needs doing in June and July in particular, and how to do it. We will look at maintenance jobs, seeds that can be sown, how to keep plants thriving and flowering through the summer.

In September: about what needs doing in September and October, and how to do it. We will look at maintenance jobs, seeds that can be collected and sown, how to keep plants flourishing longer, what jobs can be done now to prepare for your spring garden.

In November: about what needs doing over the winter months, and how to do it. We will look at maintenance jobs, seeds that can be sown, shrubs and trees which can be planted, how to overwinter tender plants, which plants can be moved and divided now, what jobs can be done now to prepare for your spring garden.

14th March 10-3

5th May 10-3

8th September 10-3

7th November 10-3

Border Renovation

1 day course £60

You may have taken on a new garden or have a mature border which needs some attention. We will look at how to lift and divide perennials, prune and renovate shrubs, refresh the planting plan and increase the season of interest. We will look at how using colour, height and shape, as well as successional planting can provide year round interest. We will also talk about improving the soil structure with a range of organic mulches.

7th February 10-3

10th March 10-3

16th October 10-3

Plants For Free – Propagation and Seed Saving

1 day course £60

This course shows you how to propagate many of your favourite plants and shrubs and create new plants for free. We will also look at seed saving and storage. Expect to leave the course with a small collection of propagated plants and some envelopes of seeds.

31st March 10-3

5th June 10-3

29th September 10-3

17th November 10-3

Gardening Under Glass

1 day course £60

Do you have a greenhouse but hardly use it? Would you like to get one? The things you can grow under glass are endless. Flowers, tropical plants, vines, vegetables. You can have things growing and looking good all year round if you’d like to. This course will look at all the options and cover the key tips for what to grow and how best to use your greenhouse, including watching out for potential pests and diseases.

6th March 10-3

26th June 10-3

6th October 10-3

Care of Fruit Trees

1 day course £60

This course will cover everything from selecting fruit trees to planting and staking them, and from training fruit trees (espalier, cordon, pleached) to annual pruning and protection from pests and diseases. We have examples of plum, apple and pear trees trained on the walls of the Walled Garden which we will look at, as well as the original orchard on the estate.

11th February 10-3

20th November 10-3

Planting Trees, Shrubs & Hedges

1 day course £60

This is the best time of year to plant new trees, shrubs and hedges. The key to establishing them successfully is planting correctly. We will look at planting methods, support, protection and irrigation. The day includes tree planting practice.

15th November 10-3

Basic Tree Survey and Inspection

1 day course £60

This course provides you with the knowledge to be able to identify a hazardous tree, determine the level of risk and then decide on an appropriate course of action. It will enable you to assess possible tree concerns by following recognised diagnostic practices and have a basic understanding of the the legal framework relating to trees. It is aimed at a wide group of people who have a interest maintaining health and safety around trees; you could be a tree owner, a voluntary parish tree warden or an employee who has responsibility for trees in the course of their work. Those completing the course will have a good understanding of when further professional advice/action is required. There will be a practical element to the course, carrying out inspections on a variety of mature and younger trees. This is not a LANTRA certificated course, but let us know if you are interested in us running one.

9th October 10-3

Lawn Care and Maintenance

1 day course £60

This course will show you how to care for your lawn, whether it is a hard working family lawn or a pristine ornamental lawn. We will look at the right equipment for the job, at the best seed mixes for the lawn you want, weed control, common diseases, lawn repair and the lawn care calendar.

14th February 10-3

24th April 10-3

22nd September 10-3

Developing An Annual Maintenance Plan

1 day course £60

Whether you look after your garden yourself or have some help it is really useful to create your own maintenance plan to make sure you know what needs doing each month. There are things which need doing at particular times of year, but much of the plan will be specific to your own garden. We will cover the whole gardening year and how to make sure you do all of the key jobs at the right time. This is a useful exercise for any gardener, including professional gardeners who can use this to create a work plan for each garden they look after. We run this course after every Introduction to Garden Design as it is a good follow up, but anyone is welcome to join.

19th March 10-3

25th June 10-3

19th November 10-3

Creating A Green Wall

1 day course £60

If you would like a herb garden outside your back door but don’t have the space, or if you would like some vertical greenery on your patio or even on a balcony this could be your solution. We will create a green wall using a pallet and two different ways of planting. We will also show you how to incorporate irrigation to minimise maintenance of this mini garden. Come and get creative.

12th May 10-3

9th July 10-3

VEGETABLES AND COMPOSTING

Introduction to Veg Growing

1 day course £60

If you are new to growing edibles this covers all you need to know about designing and establishing a vegetable garden, whether you have taken on an allotment or are wanting to start growing your own vegetables at home (including in a greenhouse). We will cover crop rotation and successional sowing to ensure you eat your own vegetables for most of the year.

31st January 10-3

3rd April 10-3

Composting Made Simple

1 day course £50

This looks at why and how to compost. We’ll cover all the different ways to compost including wormeries, what you can compost and how you can use your wonderful compost to improve your garden. We will also design and build a compost box.

17th April 1-5

11th September 10-2

PRUNING

Pruning Shrubs and Roses

1 day course £60

This is an introduction to the different pruning methods required for a range of shrubs including roses. We will also do a practical session where we will use various tools and methods to carry out seasonal pruning.

25th Feb 10-3

24th March 10-3

29th May 10-3

2nd Oct 10-3

Renovation Pruning

1 day course £60

This is an introduction to pruning, combining essential theory with a practical session on renovating shrubs and small trees. This will cover how to restore overgrown shrubs which may not have been pruned for some years, when to prune fruit trees and bushes, when to prune evergreen and deciduous shrubs.

28th January 10-3

6th November 10-3

FLORISTRY AND CRAFTS

Sarah Hammond teaches our floristry and wreath making workshops as well as our cutting garden courses (see above for these and our Dahlia and Peony workshops). She runs English Peonies, a very successful local cut flower and floristry business. Her hand-tied bouquets are available at various local outlets, farmers markets and direct from the farm. Sarah also arranges flowers for events, weddings, funerals, private clients and local businesses. She grows her flowers and peonies on her family farm in North Norfolk and uses no foam at all in her arrangements.

See above for details of Dahlia Workshops and Peony Masterclasses.

Easter wreath and spring flowers workshops

Morning and afternoon workshops; book one for £55 or both for £95

Easter wreath-making workshop

10-12.30pm

You will create a wreath using sustainable, natural materials and Norfolk grown spring flowers which can be either a stunning table decoration with a candle or hung on a door as a unique welcome. There will be a selection of pussy willow, foliage, feathers, eggs and lots of flowers to choose from. We will provide all materials and flowers, including a pillar candle, plus homemade cake and refreshments.

Spring flower hand-tied bouquet

1.30-3.30pm

Using locally grown spring flowers and foliage you will learn how to create your own beautiful hand-tied bouquet. We want to inspire you to make your own unique bouquets with your home-grown flowers or ones you have bought. Sarah will also talk about how to condition flowers to make them last longer. We will provide all materials, flowers and foliage, plus homemade cake and refreshments.

9th April 10-12.30 and 1.30-3.30

Floristry workshop series

Each workshop runs from 10-1 and costs £60 including all flowers and materials as well as homemade cake and refreshments (or £220 for all four weeks).

This four week workshop series runs between May and July and will include all of the key elements of home floristry using spring and summer flowers and foliage grown on Sarah's Norfolk farm. You will learn how to create your own stunning, unique arrangements for you own home and for friends. Priority will be given to those booking all four workshops, but individual workshops may be booked subject to availability.

15th May: Cutting and conditioning flowers, creating a hand-tied bouquet

22nd May: Foam free arrangements: using containers, flower frogs, wire and taping to create an individual arrangement

July 16th: Large urn arrangement

July 23rd: Long, low table arrangements and tablescapes

Christmas wreath workshops 2020

Sarah will show you how to make your own gorgeous festive wreath from scratch using locally gathered seasonal foliage and berries as well as moss (and no foam at all). We will start the morning with coffee and mince pies to get you in the mood and finish with a festive glass of fizz . Classes are small and if you book early you may be able to arrange a private workshop for you and your friends. Dates tbc

HARD LANDSCAPING

Basic bricklaying

1 day course £60

The course will include:

Tools, equipment and materials - what to use and why; quantifying materials; foundation types; setting out correctly; mortar mixes; building a brick corner.

12th June 10-3

Creating a small wildlife pond

1 day course £60

The aim of this course is to show participants how to build a basic pond using a flexible liner. We will make a small pond on site by the end of the day. You will be taught about the types of pond, formal, informal or nature pond, how to site your pond, tools and equipment required and how to quantify materials, how to choose an edging. Following this we will mark out, excavate and level then line with underlay and liner, before filling and edging.

17th July 10-3

Basic slab laying

1 day course £60

This course will teach the basics of the patio laying process from measuring up and quantifying through excavation and levelling to slab laying to a fall and final pointing up. Aimed at gardeners who want to add construction techniques to their repertoire.

24th July 10-3

Erecting panel fencing

1 day course £60

The aim of this course is to show students how to erect a panel fence using wooden or concrete posts, You will be taught about the different types of fence available, how to quantify and order materials and practically how to mark out and erect a panel fence.

23rd October 10-3

get in touch to book a course or find out more