Category: Learning with Experts

Natural beekeeping

Course Description

The Theory and Practical Techniques for a Sustainable, Organic Approach to Cultivating Bee Colonies

This four-part online beekeeping course is taught by Philip Chandler, author of ‘The Barefoot Beekeeper’ is an introduction to what has become known as ‘natural beekeeping’, which differs in some important respects from the conventional approach to this subject. Our focus will be on keeping bees for their own sake, rather than simply for the products of their labour.

Of course, we also appreciate what they do for us and if there is a surplus of honey, we will be pleased to have some for ourselves. If you are already a keen gardener, you may have considered the idea of having a beehive or two in your garden, but been put off by the cost and complications of conventional beekeeping equipment. In this course, I will show you how keeping bees can be much easier than some would have you believe, while costing much less than you think, especially if you can do simple woodwork yourself. 

COURSE INFO: Learning with experts

Clematis + climbers

Course Description

“When should I prune my clematis?”; “Why has my wisteria not flowered?”; “Does my rambling rose need pruning?”; “How can I screen my neighbours?”; “What can I grow up through my tree?”; and “What can I grow on a north facing wall?”

Subjects like pruning, planting and using climbers in your overall design can be really intimidating but my course demystifies all of these so that you can really enjoy using them. You will gain good all-round knowledge of climbers including when and how to prune, different varieties for different situations, and an increased knowledge of both clematis and many other climbers.

COURSE INFO: Learning with experts

Shrubs

Course Description

Shrubs are the backbone of planting design. They provide essential structure, beauty and colour from foliage and flowers, texture and a great variety of shape and form in the planting palette.

Garden Designs without shrubs tend to look strangely immature and lacking. This course delivers essential advice on selection of the right shrubs for any garden design situation. You will also learn the practical aspects – the simple secrets of pruning, and how to plant and care for your shrubs for best results.  Foliage is the foundation of good planting and shrubs deliver leafy colour in both deciduous and evergreen form. Learn how to use shrubs to create simple but effective planting combinations for designer impact in any garden.  If you select wisely the shrubs in your garden can create all-year round interest year after year. This course tells you what to choose for just about every situation in your garden, and at any time of the year.

COURSE INFO: Learning with experts

Roses

Course Description

Wherever you are in the world, Michael Marriott will help you plan and nurture a beautiful rose garden. He will help you choose the right rose for your situation, and advise on everything from pruning roses, to fragrance and colour combinations. Whether you live in the cold climates of Hokkaido or Canada, the heat of Florida or India or simply in Hampshire – Michael will help you find the perfect rose to suit your climate.

COURSE INFO: Learning with experts

Gardening for wildlife

Course Description

Gardening for wildlife will teach you how to create a beautiful garden that attracts birds, bees, insects and other pollinators and mammals.  

You will learn all about what to plant in the way of trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, annuals and grasses to benefit insects and birds.  You will learn how to provide a continuity of food supply, habitats and places to breed.  We will also cover whether the garden is a place for wildlife to visit or to live.

COURSE INFO: Learning with experts

Designing small gardens

Course Description

This course is aimed at anyone who wants to create their own personal sanctuary. It inspires those who want to rebuild or restructure a small backyard or just redecorate a corner to get more privacy and atmosphere and host beautiful soirées summer after summer. This course can be a starting point to renovate an old rooftop into the new bar in the neighborhood as well as to rearrange the herb section in an existing and well designed backyard.

Annie will guide you step by step through design process, starting with where to get inspiration and how to assess your site. The next stage is surveying and analysing every element of the garden, before working on the site arrangement and the detailed design. Once you are happy with the layout of your garden you can choose and design you own planting scheme. If you have a small garden that is really puzzling you, then this is the course for you.

COURSE INFO: Learning with experts

Herb gardens

Course Description

Herbs are beautiful multi-functional plants that are easy to grow and have many beneficial effects on our health and the health of our gardens. They look and taste fantastic and they are an easy and cost effective way to add interest to our garden and to our diets. They are forgiving tolerant plants that can survive in the most unlikely of containers, and given the right conditions will thrive in the smallest of spaces.

Herbs connect us with many traditions and cultures through millennia and offer interest to every gardener whether your interest is in food, wildlife, flower arranging, or purely ornamental growing, herbs have something to offer.

This course will talk you through the multifunctional nature of herbs, how to grow them and how to look after them and will suggest some familiar and perhaps unfamiliar herbs to try.

COURSE INFO: Learning with experts