creating wilder Gardens£95
10:00 - 16:00 Tutor: Tom Nielsen Hot drinks included 'An interesting, informative course with a very engaging tutor. It inspired me to really continue taking steps to make my gardening and planting practices as sustainable as possible.'
'This course was fantastic. My head was brimming with ideas after the course. Tom's knowledge was exceptional and I was so inspired by his talk.' |
This course:
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ABOUT THE COURSE
This course will look at the practicalities of creating a garden which embraces the wild. By using plants that are beneficial for nature, celebrating wilder aesthetics and increasing diversity, we will focus on welcoming wildlife into our gardens. Garden designer and plantsman, Tom Nielsen, will cover how to create immersive, relaxing outdoor spaces you will immediately want to spend time in.
Participants will learn how to look at their gardens with new eyes, work with nature and soil type to create beautiful, resilient planting schemes. The resulting garden will look and behave like a natural landscape but sustains a longer flowering period than that of a native wildflower garden. Careful plant selection enables your garden to cope with the British weather's fluctuations in temperature and rainfall with grace.
The theory on this day will be interspersed with a Wildflower Meadow survey and studying the merits of a selection of plants from Tom's own nursery. The course is based at The Sustainability Centre within the South Downs National Park, Hampshire.
The course covers:
Participants will learn how to look at their gardens with new eyes, work with nature and soil type to create beautiful, resilient planting schemes. The resulting garden will look and behave like a natural landscape but sustains a longer flowering period than that of a native wildflower garden. Careful plant selection enables your garden to cope with the British weather's fluctuations in temperature and rainfall with grace.
The theory on this day will be interspersed with a Wildflower Meadow survey and studying the merits of a selection of plants from Tom's own nursery. The course is based at The Sustainability Centre within the South Downs National Park, Hampshire.
The course covers:
- The site: site analysis: observation, soil, water, aspect, what does your garden want to be and what do you want from it
- Constraints: Climate change, drought tolerance and weather extremes
- Exploration of native/near-native/non-native planting
- The benefits: environmental, financial and personal
- How to do it: materials, plants, techniques planting, seeding and establishment
- Plants to use: for biodiversity and resilience
- Ongoing management: care and evolution of plantings
THE COURSE WILL GIVE YOU
- Knowledge of plants to use in sustainable, pollinator-friendly gardens
- An understanding of preparation and management practices
- How to save money by planting small and using seeds to grow stronger, adaptable plants
- Design skills to create naturalistic, beautiful gardens enjoyed by humans and wildlife
- A handout to support your learning
THE COURSE IS SUITABLE FOR
Beginners or experienced gardeners who are interested in rethinking traditional planting or starting a garden on a new build or on poor soil.
WHAT TO BRING/WEAR
- Stout footwear and weather appropriate clothing/ sun screen/ sun hat
- This course will take place in our indoor classroom and outdoors in our Wildflower Meadow which will involve walking on uneven ground. Please contact us before booking if you have mobility concerns.
- A notepad and pen
- Packed lunch or lunch is available from the Beech Cafe.
- There will be an opportunity to purchase some of Tom's plants after the course, payments must be in cash only.
ABOUT THE TUTOR
Tom Nielsen is a gardener, garden designer and nursery owner who specialises in naturalistic design and planting using nature positive plants that are reliable, tough and beautiful. He is a self-confessed plant obsessive and is constantly growing and trialling new species and selections in his garden and trial beds. Tom trained in botanical horticulture through a HBGBS scholarship at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden and then worked as staff there before setting up his own design practice and nursery in West Somerset.
www.biocentric.org.uk
Tom has also worked in Nicaragua in an agroforestry research farm and his garden segment was aired on BBC Gardeners' World in 2023. Catch Tom's guest spots on the following podcasts -
Not Just a garden episode
https://shows.acast.com/not-just-a-garden/episodes/ep19-a-good-ol-chit-chat-with-tom
Garden Masterclass episode
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5XjxScbHl34ZPLVT7Gkn2T
www.biocentric.org.uk
Tom has also worked in Nicaragua in an agroforestry research farm and his garden segment was aired on BBC Gardeners' World in 2023. Catch Tom's guest spots on the following podcasts -
Not Just a garden episode
https://shows.acast.com/not-just-a-garden/episodes/ep19-a-good-ol-chit-chat-with-tom
Garden Masterclass episode
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5XjxScbHl34ZPLVT7Gkn2T
Check Out Accommodation
You can get 10% discount when you stay with us during your course in our campsite or eco lodge. Please call us on 01730 823166 to make your accommodation booking. Our reception is open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
