I have been involved with gardens and garden design for more than 20 years, exhibited at RHS shows, worked on TV garden programs and taught garden design and horticulture to university students. What I love most of all is helping people to get the most out of their gardens, to recognise that there is more than one way to design a garden and encouraging them to have a go. A few insights and tips can be empowering, and help reduce the sense of mystery that often surrounds the idea of ‘design’.

Increasingly, I am also focussed on the trees and plants beyond the garden, and providing opportunities for people to explore and learn more about our incredible native flora.

The garden design workshops I offer are mostly one day sessions, and what you might describe as leisure learning, but that is not to say they don’t cover a serious amount of ground - students will gain a solid foundation for designing their own gardens . I have designed the courses to be accessible to anyone with an interest in gardens and plants, regardless of experience or knowledge. They are primarily for fun, enjoyment and inspiration, although hopefully they will whet the appetite for more learning. For the purpose of these courses drawing skills are not necessary. Garden design is a process that is as much about practicality as it is about exploring creative ideas, and most people have more imagination and creativity than they give themselves credit for. Some guidance and fresh insight is often all that’s required to tap into that.

In addition to whole day workshops, I also offer short talks on a range of garden & plant based subjects (more details in the ‘Talks’ section below)……

…..And Winter Tree ID workshops and other wild plant focussed walks (more details in the ‘Wilder Garden’ section below).

Workshops, walks & talks take place at a few different venues - Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire, Sheffield Botanical Gardens, RHS Harlow Carr and elsewhere. Usually there are surrounding gardens to explore to provide inspiration, to illustrate design and planting ideas, or just to stretch legs.

Tea & coffee are provided, and a set of notes to take home.

I hope you will find something of interest and please don't hesitate to get in contact if you have a question.

‘Thanks so much Guy……for all your time and enthusiasm and wonderfully illuminating and informative course. I thought my garden was beyond help but am now looking at it and its potential in a completely different way, and understand why its not worked before and how, with bit of tweaking. I can enhance and enjoy it so much more’  (Angie)

Garden design

Workshops

The following garden design workshops are offered in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire & Suffolk (coming soon):-

• Introduction to Garden Design

• Introduction to Planting Design, and

• Creating Greener Gardens

These take place in the spring and sometimes again in the autumn - see below for more information.

In addition I will run any of my courses on an exclusive basis for small groups (up to 4 people) and am happy to do 1 to 1 sessions tailored to an individuals needs. Please get in touch to discuss.