Join a photographic seminar with Clive Nichols on Tuesday 29th June 2010. Held  in association with International Garden Photographer of the Year you will learn how to create dynamic garden, flower and plant images. Clive Nichols is one of the world’s top contemporary garden photographers. The seminar will be held at the home of Amateur Photographer and What Digital Camera in the Blue Fin Building in London. Tickets are £29 and include the presentation from Clive Nichols, followed by a Q&A session with tea and coffee served afterwards and a goody bag with MAGIX Website Maker 3 software worth £29.99. Members of the teams from What Digital Camera and Amateur Photographer will attend and be available to answer questions after the presentation. Click here to book your place by email. Please include your name, address and telephone number or call 020 3148 4326 / 1 to pay by card. Places are only confirmed upon receipt of payment. www.clivenichols.com

Cambridge University Botanic Garden is running a Saturday morning course (£25) on the 8th of May called Choosing Plants for Shade & Woodland.  The half day course will help you make the most of the shady areas in your garden.  Using examples from their own woodland garden their Woodland Supervisor, Helen Seal, will explain how shade and woodland plants are adapted to their environment and give you advice on selecting, combining and caring for them in your own garden. www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

Saturdays 10 April - 1 May at Wortley Hall Walled Garden just outside Sheffield. Four half day workshops, as part of the Soil Association’s nationwide Organic Farm School. Covers the essential knowledge and skills required to successfully grow your own produce using organic methods. Each session costs £15 each. Soil Association members get discount: £12 per session. www.organickitchengarden.co.uk

Tuesday 27th April  - with Arne Maynard at Alt-y-bela, near Usk in Monmouthshire.  Learn from an inspirational expert in a breathtaking setting. This is the perfect garden course to explore the possibilities of annuals, biennials and bulbs that can be used like understudies waiting in the wings - and bought to centre stage when needing to fill and empty gap, bridge or extend the flowering season. The course will look at ideas for inspiration and the practicalities of planting pots that can be positioned next to doors, on terraces or as the main act in a town garden where space is limited.  £180 including refreshments and lunch .www.arne-maynard.com

Throughout the year the Soil Association is running a programme of courses around the country to introduce gardeners to the benefits and techniques of organic gardening. On  February 13th there is a course on growing organic apples and pears at Valerie’s Veggies & Plants, Stocking Pelham, Hertfordshire.

Photo by J Hudson

A part-theory, part hands-on practical day, it includes the basics of pruning. Some knowledge of organic growing will enhance the value of this course, but is not essential. One or two trees will be pruned during the day, emphasizing the differences between apple and pear trees. Cost: £65.00 including light organic lunch, £52.50 for Soil Association members. Contact 01279 777178 or email grown@valeriesveggies.com to check availability. www.soilassociation.org/organicfarmschool and look under Organic Farm School for details of all the courses available.