events and courses
'Growing Confidence' workshops 2013
These workshops are aimed at both novices and the more experienced gardener and will cover topics from 'Year round interest' to 'Apple and Pear propagation, cultivation and maintenance'.
All courses are half-day, £22, run from 10am-12.30 and include refreshments, home-made cake and all materials
to book please contact us
Sat 6th April
Graft you own fruit tree- learn the technique and take home your own tree/s
Sat 13th April
Plant Propagation- This is a hands on workshop where you will learn how to take cuttings, divide herbaceous plants, sow seed and other techniques to enable you to create your own plants for free. Take home the plants you propagate.
Sat 13th April- 2-5pm Volunteer open day. Come along and find out about volunteering oppourtunities at Fern Cottage.
Sat 18th May
Feed the garden organically- Feeding your plants organically can be a challenge. Learn the techniques of successful composting, make your own liquid plant feeds from things already growing in your garden, discover the benefits of mulching, creating leafmould and more.
Sat 15th June
Mini-meadows- Create a low maintenance patch in your garden to attract wildlife. We will look at both annual and perennial meadows for the garden including plants and bulbs to give prolonged interest in your meadow.
Sat 6th July
Gardening with herbs- Learn how to cultivate herbs in your garden, some of their uses and some preserving techniques. We will cover drying of herbs and make your own herbal tea blend to take home.
Sat 20th July
Bud your own fruit tree- Learn the technique of fruit budding to create your own fruit trees. Simpler than traditional whip and tongue grafting it is carried out in late summer instead of early spring. This is a hands on workshop, take home the tree you bud.
Sat 10th August
Floral wreaths for all seasons- Learn simple techniques to decorate your door using seasonal plants from the garden and hedgerow. The techniques learnt in this morning course can be used to make displays all year round including Christmas. Take home your display.
Sat 24th August
Beautiful borders- Learn how to create herbaceous borders for all seasons. Learn propagation of herbaceous plants and how to design with them to create beautiful, low maintenance displays and revamp your garden without the need for a designer. We will demonstrate techniques in our own herbaceous borders here at Fern Cottage.
Sat 14th September
Save your own seed- Save a fortune and breed your own varieties by collecting, storing and sowing your own seed. This is a hands on workshop and will cover seed saving of ornamentals, herbs and vegetables
Sat 21st Sept
Perennial vegetables and nutrient accumulators- These are vegetables that can be productive for two or more years and can help make food growing a lot less work. Nutrient accumulators are plants such as comfrey which can be grown to provide your other plants with nutrients. This reduces the need for fertilizers. They can be grown in the vegetable garden, flower garden and mixed orchard/forest garden.
Sat 19th October
An orchard from scratch- planning and planting a small orchard. Covering apple, pear, plum, cherry and more
Please contact us if you would like any more information or to book a place. Get in touch if there is a subject you would like us to cover in future courses.
These workshops are aimed at both novices and the more experienced gardener and will cover topics from 'Year round interest' to 'Apple and Pear propagation, cultivation and maintenance'.
All courses are half-day, £22, run from 10am-12.30 and include refreshments, home-made cake and all materials
to book please contact us
Sat 6th April
Graft you own fruit tree- learn the technique and take home your own tree/s
Sat 13th April
Plant Propagation- This is a hands on workshop where you will learn how to take cuttings, divide herbaceous plants, sow seed and other techniques to enable you to create your own plants for free. Take home the plants you propagate.
Sat 13th April- 2-5pm Volunteer open day. Come along and find out about volunteering oppourtunities at Fern Cottage.
Sat 18th May
Feed the garden organically- Feeding your plants organically can be a challenge. Learn the techniques of successful composting, make your own liquid plant feeds from things already growing in your garden, discover the benefits of mulching, creating leafmould and more.
Sat 15th June
Mini-meadows- Create a low maintenance patch in your garden to attract wildlife. We will look at both annual and perennial meadows for the garden including plants and bulbs to give prolonged interest in your meadow.
Sat 6th July
Gardening with herbs- Learn how to cultivate herbs in your garden, some of their uses and some preserving techniques. We will cover drying of herbs and make your own herbal tea blend to take home.
Sat 20th July
Bud your own fruit tree- Learn the technique of fruit budding to create your own fruit trees. Simpler than traditional whip and tongue grafting it is carried out in late summer instead of early spring. This is a hands on workshop, take home the tree you bud.
Sat 10th August
Floral wreaths for all seasons- Learn simple techniques to decorate your door using seasonal plants from the garden and hedgerow. The techniques learnt in this morning course can be used to make displays all year round including Christmas. Take home your display.
Sat 24th August
Beautiful borders- Learn how to create herbaceous borders for all seasons. Learn propagation of herbaceous plants and how to design with them to create beautiful, low maintenance displays and revamp your garden without the need for a designer. We will demonstrate techniques in our own herbaceous borders here at Fern Cottage.
Sat 14th September
Save your own seed- Save a fortune and breed your own varieties by collecting, storing and sowing your own seed. This is a hands on workshop and will cover seed saving of ornamentals, herbs and vegetables
Sat 21st Sept
Perennial vegetables and nutrient accumulators- These are vegetables that can be productive for two or more years and can help make food growing a lot less work. Nutrient accumulators are plants such as comfrey which can be grown to provide your other plants with nutrients. This reduces the need for fertilizers. They can be grown in the vegetable garden, flower garden and mixed orchard/forest garden.
Sat 19th October
An orchard from scratch- planning and planting a small orchard. Covering apple, pear, plum, cherry and more
Please contact us if you would like any more information or to book a place. Get in touch if there is a subject you would like us to cover in future courses.
