Garden Courses

Sarah Raven at Yeo Valley’s Organic Garden

Sarah Raven carries tray of plants.There will be two opportunities to hear one of Sarah’s inspirational talks as part of a programme of talks by celebrity gardeners to raise funds for Hortatio’s Garden, the new Cleve West designed garden at the Spinal Centre in Salisbury. The Organic Garden is on the Yeo Valley Farm in the Blagdon Valley in Somerset. On March 18th, Sarah’s talk will be ‘The Cutting Garden’ on growing flowers from March to November, and will feature a flower-arranging lesson (£80); and in ‘Grow, Cook, Eat’ on the 19th Sarah will share her successful techniques on how to produce year-round veg, as well as doing a cookery demonstration (£90). I have heard Sarah speak on both topics and she really is fantastically knowledgeable and very practical as well as inspirational. All events include a two course lunch with wine. Horatio’s Garden is a lasting tribute to Horatio Chapple who was killed in 2011 by a polar bear at the age of 17. Horatio had planned to study medicine and was a volunteer at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre. He conducted the initial patient research for the garden that identified patients’ need for a garden. Tickets are available to book via ssit.org.uk or by calling 07935 054622.

Celebrating outdoor living

garden party flyer

On the 7th- 9th April – Easter Bank Holiday Weekend
Gloucester Quays is launching a new, FREE three-day festival celebrating outdoor living and is inviting everyone to come to the Gloucester Quays Garden Party. As well as market stalls selling garden ornaments, equipment as well as seeds, plants and flowers there will be free expert demonstrations with helpful gardening advice on everything from growing your own herbs and planting a window box, to how to create a vegetable patch in your own garden. www.gloucesterquays.co.uk

Indoor bulb potting

spring bulbs flowering in colourful pots
On 24th March Sarah Raven (in association with The Flower Council of Holland) will be demonstrating indoor bulb potting throughout the day at Perch Hill in a series of hour-long educational workshops that include Q&A sessions. Particular focus will be on five household favourites: Tulip, Hyacinth, Iris, Narcissi and Calla Lily. www.sarahraven.com
pink hyacinth in flower

No-Dig Vegetables

Charles Dowding (my new gardening god) is running a course on No-Dig Vegetables at Great Dixter on February 13th (£120 incl. refreshments and lunch). It is a practical one-day course on the theory and practice of this method and is bound to be hugely inspiring. It is also an opportunity to see Great Dixter when it is closed to visitors. If you can’t make it there, I can recommend reading the book about the course ‘Charles Dowding’s Vegetable Course’ . I read it from cover to cover over a weekend and it is going to change the way I grow vegetables.

The Secrets of Sarah’s Success

Sarah Raven picking flowers in the cutting garden at Perch Hill

Sarah Raven picking flowers in the cutting garden at Perch Hill

Sarah Raven  runs courses at Perch Hill on how to ‘Grow Year Round Veg’ as well as ‘The secrets of her Cutting Garden’. We’ll attempt to keep you up to date with any courses or garden events that are taking place in the future.  You’ll find all manner of information on her site sarahraven.com – be sure to check out the shop which is host to lots of gardening treats.