Get out and about for these seminars, shows and courses
The RHS Flower Show Cardiff returns in April with an eclectic range of garden designs. Teaming up with horticultural charity Perennial, presenter of the Sodshow gardening podcast Peter Donegan will create a small private garden with an outdoor kitchen, offering space to relax and entertain, and designer Anthea Guthrie returns with a show garden inspired by the book Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. The Regeneration Gardens category features affordable spaces that use unexpected, everyday materials - Brent Purtell’s ‘The Urban Gallery’ will recreate a small public park in the heart of a city, while ‘Nature’s Take Over’ by Diego Carrillo will show how a low-maintenance garden can attract wildlife. The show runs 12-14 April at Bute Park. www.rhs.org.uk/cardiff
Pre-Registered SGD Member Jo Manfredi-Hamer is creating one of seven show gardens at this year’s Harrogate Spring Flower Show, hoping to add another medal to the silver she won in 2017. This year, she is designing the Mental Health Garden, supported by Leeds Mind. It aims to reflect mental health suffering and recovery. The planting will be calm, restful and primarily green. From 25-28 April. www.flowershow.org.uk
Other events this month include:
4-5 APRIL
CONFERENCE: GREY TO GREEN, CANADA
Toronto hosts this conference on the economic impact of climate change. greytogreenconference.org
6-7 APRIL
SPRING FLOWER SHOW, CORNWALL
Buy spring plants from the best local nurseries. cornwallgardensociety.org.uk
7 APRIL
LECTURE: SCIENCE IS BEAUTIFUL, SCOTLAND
Join author Colin Salter and botanist Dr Louis Ronse De Craene at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. rbge.org.uk
8 APRIL
RHS SPRING LAUNCH & ORCHID SHOW, LONDON
Find top-notch nurseries, floral displays and spring plants for sale. rhs.org.uk
10 APRIL
STUDY DAY: LUTON HOO, BEDFORDSHIRE
Learn about the impact of WW1 on this famous estate. lutonhooestate.co.uk
13-14 APRIL
OPEN GARDEN, SUSSEX
The garden of Rosemary Alexander FSGD will open under the National Garden Scheme.ngs.org.uk; rosemaryalexander.co.uk
26 APRIL
WALK AT KNOLL GARDENS, DORSET
Neil Lucas will take the first of a series of walks through the gardens to celebrate the changing seasons. knollgardens.co.uk
27-28 APRIL
SPRING PLANT FAIR, ESSEX
Enjoy a weekend all about plants at RHS Garden Hyde Hall. rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall
29 APRIL-5 MAY
NATIONAL GARDENING WEEK, NATIONWIDE
The country’s biggest celebration of gardening offers activities and events to inspire and help gardeners. nationalgardeningweek.org.uk