Gardening

collection of potted herbs

From design to planting our gardening courses and workshops can help you make the best of your outside space. Our expert tutors will be delving into garden design principles including drawing and garden planning. Some of our one off workshops will help you focus on specific parts of your garden such as choosing plants, shady boarders, ponds and water features.

maybe your garden is an outdoor room and geared up for entertaining, a tranquil spot for mindful reflection or a wildlife haven we have gardening courses that will help you improve and develop your green space.

Please note that all our gardening courses are mainly classroom based and, for a variety of reasons, can only involve a small amount of practical gardening outside, depending on the topic.

Courses 2024/25

Garden Design (S10G)

Description: An introduction to garden design, construction and plant use, including restoration and a range of simple maintenance solutions. Course content will also include: design principles, drawing and drafting skills, site analysis, construction methods and techniques, lighting, irrigation and drainage.

Tutor: Jason Loh Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 24 Sep 2024 (Autumn) Times: Tue 19:00-21:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Fully booked Fee: £160 (Concession: £96)

Design Your Own Garden (S13G)

Description: An opportunity to improve and refresh your garden with support and help from a professional garden designer. Learn how to redesign your own plot, beginning with basic principles and going on to look at paving, ponds and other garden features.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 09 Nov 2024 (Autumn) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 3 week(s)

Availability: Last few Fee: £150 (Concession: £90)

Seasonal Gardening: Make the best of your garden in time for Spring (S17G)

Description: One in a series of short day courses designed to make every gardening season special by anticipating what can be done and how. We will include pruning, propagation and plant selection.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 06 Dec 2024 (Autumn) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Design Your Own Garden (S14G)

Description: An opportunity to improve and refresh your garden with support and help from a professional garden designer. Learn how to redesign your own plot, beginning with basic principles and going on to look at paving, ponds and other garden features.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 10 Jan 2025 (Spring) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 3 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £150 (Concession: £90)

Garden Design (S11G)

Description: An introduction to garden design, construction and plant use, including restoration and a range of simple maintenance solutions. Course content will also include: design principles, drawing and drafting skills, site analysis, construction methods and techniques, lighting, irrigation and drainage.

Tutor: Jason Loh Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 14 Jan 2025 (Spring) Times: Tue 19:00-21:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £160 (Concession: £96)

The People Behind the Plants – 6 influential gardeners from the past (S12G)

Description: A look at the fascinating lives of 6 women and men who shaped our gardens and the plants they made popular. A little garden history from a horticultural perspective.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 04 Mar 2025 (Spring) Times: Tue 10:00-12:30 Duration: 3 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £60 (Concession: £36)

Choosing Plants for your Borders (S15G)

Description: An enjoyable and informal course on choosing the right plants for your garden. Professional garden designer Christine Pritchard will discuss suitable trees, shrubs and perennials and how to put them together for best effect. No previous gardening experience necessary.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 07 Mar 2025 (Spring) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 3 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £150 (Concession: £90)

Garden styles: Improving shady borders (S19G)

Description: Learn how to make difficult shady areas an asset rather than a chore. We will look at: both damp and dry shade, and consider the techniques available to improve the growing conditions; which shrubs, perennials and grasses would grow together to give you maximum pleasure with minimum maintenance.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 22 Mar 2025 (Spring) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Garden Styles: Cottage Gardens (S20G)

Description: Focusing on cottage gardens we will look at both design and planting.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 28 Mar 2025 (Spring) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Seasonal Gardening: Make the best of your garden in time for Summer (S18G)

Description: One in a series of short day courses designed to make every gardening season special by anticipating what can be done and how. We will include pruning, propagation and plant selection.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 11 Apr 2025 (Spring Breaks) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Garden Styles: Ponds and Water Features (S21G)

Description: Focusing on ponds and water features we will look at both design and pond planting.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 25 Apr 2025 (Summer) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Garden Styles: Woodland Gardens (S22G)

Description: Focusing on woodland gardens we will look at both design and planting from scratch or using existing planting.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 02 May 2025 (Summer) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Garden Styles: Not just nettles – improving habitats for wildlife in the small garden (S23G)

Description: An introduction to encouraging biodiversity in your garden. We will look at small changes to make a big difference, including compost, soil and planting.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 09 May 2025 (Summer) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Garden Styles: Cutting Gardens (S24G)

Description: Focusing on flowers for cutting we have an opportunity to look at both border design and plant selection.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 16 May 2025 (Summer) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Garden Styles: Naturalistic Planting (S25G)

Description: Focusing on new ways to use plants for informal, wildlife friendly gardening with the emphasis on low maintenance.

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 23 May 2025 (Summer) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Garden Styles: Front Gardens (S26G)

Description: Focusing on the front garden we will look at both design and planting

Tutor: Christine Pritchard Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 06 Jun 2025 (Summer) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

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