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 8 Nov, 22 Nov & 6 Dec 2025
  This course is repeated on Fridays 16 Jan, 30 Jan & 13 Feb 2026
• 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 6 Mar, 13 Mar & 20 Mar 2026
• 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 3 October 2025, 10am–3pm
  • In time for Spring: Friday 5 December 2025, 10am–3pm
  • In time for Summer: Friday 24 April 2026, 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:
  • Improving shady borders: Saturday 21 Mar 2026, 10am–3pm
  • Cottage Gardens: Friday 27 Mar 2026, 10am–3pm
  • Ponds and Water Features: Friday 1 May 2026, 10am–3pm
  • Woodland Gardens: Friday 8 May 2026, 10am–3pm
  • Not just nettles; improving habitats for wildlife in small gardens: Friday 15 May 2026, 10am–3pm
  • The Cutting Garden: Friday 22 May 2026, 10am–3pm
  • Naturalistic Planting: Friday 5 Jun 2026, 10am–3pm

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