Courses for 2018 - 2019
Summer 2018
Learn how to take cuttings to ensure that you have a steady supply of plants. Understand the theory and the benefits of taking cuttings. Gain practical experience by taking your own cuttings.
Saturday 11th August 10am - 4pm
Cost £75 includes welcome coffee and homemade cake and all plant material to take home with you. Payment by BACS or cheque (details provided upon booking). Maximum of 10 people.
at the Somerset Rural Life Museum
Why are plants given botanical names? What is a species and cultivar? How do we identify plants? Gain the basics of botany and the naming of plants. Examine the different parts of plants using microscopes to help understand why plants are put into particular families.
Friday 7th September 10am - 4pm
Cost £75 includes welcome coffee and homemade cake. Payment by BACS or cheque (details provided upon booking). Maximum of 10 people.
at the Somerset Rural Life Museum
Autumn 2018
How do you increase your plant stock over the winter months? Learn the techniques to take woody cuttings of different plant species such as dogwood and currants.
Saturday 17th November 10am - 4pm
Cost £75 includes welcome coffee and homemade cake and all plant material to take home with you. Payment by BACS or cheque (details provided upon booking). Maximum of 10 people.
at the Somerset Rural Life Museum
What's so important about soils? Why do gardeners need to know about soils? On this soils course, gain knowledge of soil characteristics and how to test and dig them. Learn about the different types of composts and soils and when to use them for particular plants and situations.
Saturday 20th October 10am - 4pm
Cost £75 includes welcome coffee and homemade cake. Payment by BACS or cheque (details provided upon booking). Maximum of 10 people.
at the Somerset Rural Life Museum
Winter 2018
A practical day collecting plant material on a winter ramble and making a Christmas wreath. Includes Scandinavian festive cakes and hot drinks.
Details to follow shortly.
A session on seeds. Learn about the diverse range of seeds and how they are dispersed. Find out about fascinating seed banks, from their beginnings to the creation of the Global Seed Vault in Arctic Norway.
Details to follow shortly.
Early Spring 2019
Plan a season of vegetables for your garden for successional cropping. Learn how, what and when to plant to avoid gluts. Includes both theory and practical lessons, including seed to take home with you.
What are roots and why are they so important to plants? How can gardeners make new plants from pieces of root? On this course, learn all about a plant’s root system and the different types of roots. Learn how to take root cuttings from a variety of plants. This will include cuttings to take home with you.
Discover how to get your kids into horticulture including a range of activities to get them interested. This course introduces children into growing plants with practical experience of how to make new plants, looking at plants under microscopes and planting in the garden.
Mid to late spring 2019
Learn the easiest way to take cuttings from your garden and ensure you have a backup of plants for the following year. Gain practical experience by taking your own cuttings to take home with you.
Gain knowledge of seed sowing techniques and aftercare for successful germination. To include sowing of cutting flowers and vegetables to take home.
Half day six-week Courses
Inspirational plant hunters: A course examining some of the key plant hunters and how they have impacted the horticultural sector.
Plant heroes: The stories of plantsmen and women that have significantly impacted the plant sciences, ethnobotany and horticulture.
Garden history – Britain’s glory days - the Landscape Movement through to the Arts and Crafts: Learn about garden history delving into the Landscape Movement through to the influential Arts and Crafts Movement.