Tutor: Janie Pirie
Date: Tuesday 03 March 2026 - Thursday 05 March 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £110
Location: Online

This course is designed for those who wish to improve their coloured pencil technique in a supportive, online setting. Working from a supplied image of crab apples, you will learn how to capture shape, colour, and texture with confidence. Step-by-step guidance and individual feedback will help you refine your skills, making this an ideal course for anyone who enjoys drawing but prefers a structured subject to work from.

Tutor: Lizzie Harper
Date: Tuesday 24 March 2026 - Thursday 26 March 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom


This three-day workshop offers an in-depth exploration of pen and ink drawing, using plants from the Botanic Garden as inspiration. You will begin with exercises in observing shadows and tonal differences, then experiment with stippling – the intricate technique of creating tone and depth through thousands of tiny dots. Although time-intensive, stippling produces striking results. We will also touch on how a light wash of watercolour can add subtle colour to these traditionally monochrome works. Along the way, you will learn how to care for your hands and eyes during long sessions of detailed work. The course is suitable for all levels and provides the chance to focus deeply on this meditative and rewarding art form.

Tutor: Janie Pirie
Date: Tuesday 07 April 2026 - Thursday 09 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom


In this course we will shift the focus from flowers to leaves, giving them the attention they deserve in botanical illustration. Using coloured pencils, you will learn how to observe and record the fine details of a wide variety of leaves. Through demonstrations and individual guidance, you will discover what details to include or leave out, how to choose and blend colours effectively, and how to achieve a striking three-dimensional appearance on paper. This course is suitable for all levels and will enhance your skills in botanical drawing by building confidence in rendering leaves with care and accuracy.

Tutor: Lizzie Harper
Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026 – Thursday 21 May 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom

In this two-day workshop, you will explore the beauty of blue and purple flowers in bloom at the Botanic Garden in late spring. We will begin with drawing exercises and tonal studies before moving on to colour mixing, learning how to create a wide range of blues, purples, and fresh leaf greens in watercolour. With guidance, you will then illustrate one or more flowers, choosing from irises, lupins, flax, brunnera, bugle, catmint, forget-me-nots, cranesbill, and more. The course includes both classroom study and time outdoors in the Garden. Suitable for all levels, this is an inspiring introduction to capturing the subtleties of botanical colour and form in watercolour.

Tutor: Janie Pirie
Date: Tuesday 09 June 2026 - Thursday 11 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom

Often overlooked, there are many beautiful wildflowers, mostly passed by on a daily basis. This course will give botanical artists the opportunity to take a closer look at the complexities of these little plants and illustrate several in a mixed study, using coloured pencils to complete them. Corncockle, campion, buttercups, wild garlic - the list is endless. Group demonstrations and individual tuition will be given throughout.

Tutor: Lizzie Harper
Date: Tuesday 07 July 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Spend the day with botanical illustrator Lizzie Harper, creating pen and ink or pencil line drawings of beautiful, and often overlooked, grasses. Lizzie will be joined by Dr Raphaella Hull, Acting Head of Learning at CUBG, to learn more about the structure and variety of grasses, showcasing examples in the Botanic Garden. All levels welcome.

Tutor: Reinhild Raistrick
Date: Tuesday 11 August 2026 - Thursday 13 August 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom

On this three day course you will have the time to create a beautiful portrait from a selection of some of the spectacular flowers that grace the Garden at this time of year. There might be a choice of lilies, late roses and some of the varied daisy family, such as Helianthus, Heleniums and Echinaceas.

Reinhild will help you to choose and arrange the stems on the page to create a colourful and exciting composition. This will be done by planning the outlay in pencil in your sketch book or cartridge paper. A detailed drawing can be done and then transferred onto the watercolour paper, using a light box which in the classroom. Or some might prefer to draw straight onto the watercolour paper ready for painting.

You will be guided in the use of watercolours, using wet-in-wet techniques or some dry brush work. Reinhild will use a combination of group demonstrations, but in particular individual tuition, to help you improve your drawing and painting techniques.

Tutor: Penny Price
Date: Wednesday 16 September 2026 - Friday 18 September 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom


In this three-day course, you’ll create a delicate flower painting - no larger than A4 - set within an elegant drawn border filled with a gold gilded background. Working from real flowers, you’ll explore how to observe, sketch, and compose a harmonious design featuring one or more blooms of your choice.

You’ll begin by studying your chosen flowers through detailed sketches, refining your composition before transferring it to smooth watercolour paper. Step by step, you’ll learn techniques for accurate drawing, controlled watercolour painting, and applying gold to achieve a radiant finish.

All materials and full instructions will be provided. This course is suitable for all skill levels - from complete beginners to experienced artists - offering both group demonstrations and individual guidance throughout.

Tutor: Janie Pirie
Date: Tuesday 06 October 2026 - Thursday 08 October 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom


Capture the beauty of autumn in this three-day course with botanical artist Janie Pirie. Crisp autumn leaves - rich in shades of yellow, orange, amber, red, brown and copper - offer wonderful opportunities to explore colour, form, and texture. You’ll study and draw dried leaves in detail, using coloured pencil to bring them to life. By the end of the course, you’ll have created a beautiful page of autumn leaves.

All abilities welcome. Group demonstrations and individual tuition will be provided throughout.

Tutor: Vicky Hallam
Date: Thursday 19 November 2026 - Friday 20 November 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom


On this two-day course, we will be working from life to illustrate the wonderful colours and textures found on fruits in coloured pencil. The course will begin with a drawing exercise where you will have the opportunity to learn how to create textures, such as shine on a pomegranate, bloom on a blueberry, the waxy textured skin on an avocado and the juicy interior of a citrus fruit.

Following on from our exploratory morning you will have the opportunity to choose your subject matter to work on for the remainder of the course. With Vicky’s guidance, you will learn about composition and practice your observational drawing skills. Technical colour pencil techniques will be taught so you can create a realistic depiction of your fruit.

This course will have a relaxed learning environment where everyone is welcome from beginner to those with more advanced experience.

Tutor: Maike Dring
Date: Thursday 29 January 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £45
Location: Classroom


Discover how you can use aromatherapy essential oils to support your health and wellbeing during the winter months. We explore the use of essential oils to counteract colds, coughs, poor circulation, challenges to our skin and more caused by the colder season. Learn how to prepare essential oils to use safely in the home setting on your skin, in the bath, for compresses, inhalations and more. This is very much a practical course giving you demonstrations of how to blend essential oils ready to use. A demonstration and guided hand massage addressing some cold symptoms is included. Course notes and materials provided. Participants take home an aromatherapy blend to help with cold symptoms.

No previous experience necessary.

Tutor: Anna Martin
Date: Tuesday 12 May 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Discover the joy of decorating cakes with beautiful flowers in this one-day course. Learn buttercream piping techniques and how to craft delicate fondant flowers, then use your creations - along with edible seasonal blooms - to decorate cupcakes (pre-baked by Anna) to take home. The day also includes a walk in the Garden to explore edible flowers and plants that can be used in baking and decoration.

All materials are included. Suitable for all abilities.

Tutor: Rebecca Rix-Meo
Date: Friday 04 December 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Discover the gentle and inspiring art of botanical plaster casting in this one-day course. Becky, your tutor, will guide you through the importance of plant selection - considering each plant’s form in relation to drought resilience, pest evasion, and habitat adaptations - while focusing on its shape, substance, and structure.

You’ll then create a plaster cast using a selection of plants to form a beautiful composition that highlights their natural detail and character. After a break while the plaster sets, you’ll reveal and refine your finished piece, ready to take home and display.

All materials are included. No prior experience required.

Tutor: Paula Edgington
Date: Tuesday 16 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £75
Location: Classroom

Celebrate British Flowers Week by learning how to create a beautiful, foam-free floral table centrepiece using seasonal British blooms. Each participant will make their own arrangement to take home, before joining together to style a stunning tablescape down the centre of the room.

With guidance throughout, you’ll combine your creations with provided props - candles, bud vases, table runners, and more - to design and photograph a cohesive, elegant display.

All materials are included. Suitable for all abilities.

Tutor: Nick Gosman
Date: Wednesday 29 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £95
Location: Classroom


Have you dabbled with greenwood spoon carving and are keen to take your skills to the next level? Then this might be the course for you! We are offering a one-day course in end-grain handled greenwood tankard carving for up to eight people. We will teach you how to make a tankard, as seen on House of the Dragon. We will take you from basic wood preparation, carving the tankard with an axe, auger and gouge work and finishing of the tankard that you can take away with you. We will provide you with all the tools you need including chopping, auger and gouge blocks.

Please note this course will take place outside and requires a reasonable level of physical strength.

Tutor: Nick Gosman
Date: Tuesday 28 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £95
Location: Classroom

Have you dabbled with greenwood spoon carving and are keen to take your skills to the next level? Then this might be the course for you! We are offering a one-day course in greenwood bowl carving for up to eight people. We will teach you how to make a simple Kuksa bowl similar to those that are made by the Sámi nomads in Finland. We will take you from basic wood preparation, carving the bowl with an axe, gouge work and finishing to make a bowl that you can take away with you. We will provide you with all the tools you need including chopping and gouge blocks.

Please note this course will take place outside and requires a reasonable level of physical strength.

Tutor: Charlie Allen
Date: Tuesday 13 October 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom

Enjoy a relaxed and creative introduction to modern calligraphy in this autumn-themed workshop. Learn how to use a dip pen and ink; form elegant letters, words and phrases; and develop your own unique style—no artistic experience or neat handwriting required!

You’ll receive a complete calligraphy kit to take home (nib & holder, workbook, glass bottle of ink, stationery), along with plenty of personal guidance and inspiring project ideas, from handmade cards to seasonal artwork inspired by autumn’s colours and botanicals.

All materials are included. Suitable for complete beginners.

Tutor: Charlie Allen
Date: Monday 13 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Enjoy a relaxed and creative introduction to modern calligraphy in this autumn-themed workshop. Learn how to use a dip pen and ink; form elegant letters, words and phrases; and develop your own unique style—no artistic experience or neat handwriting required!

You’ll receive a complete calligraphy kit to take home (nib & holder, workbook, glass bottle of ink, stationery), along with plenty of personal guidance and inspiring project ideas, from handmade cards to seasonal artwork inspired by autumn’s colours and botanicals.

All materials are included. Suitable for complete beginners.

Tutor: Meg Lowder
Date: Tuesday 10 March 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom

In this one day workshop, Meg will teach you how to turn crepe paper and wire into these stunning life like paper roses. Each participant will learn how to make two open roses, a rose bud, and some leaves to create a little spray of wild rose flowers that look like they have come straight from the garden. You will be able to choose the colour of your roses from hand dyed papers and Meg will show you how to add details that make the flowers come to life. Each little spray can be displayed in a vase or pinned above a mirror for example. All materials are provided, with further kits available to purchase on the day to create a larger bunch of wild roses.

Suitable for all skill levels

Tutor: Maike Dring
Date: Thursday 19 February 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £90
Location: Classroom


Transform your skin care with plant power! Discover how to use ordinary plant-based ingredients to enhance your daily beauty routine and create sample masks straight from the kitchen larder to soothe, nourish and rejuvenate your skin. During this class we’ll also make our own nourishing, healing and luxurious lip balms, a facial moisturiser with added precious essential oils to nourish the skin, and a gentle skin cleanser. These will all be made from plant-based ingredients (plus a little beeswax) and packaged in eco-friendly tins. There will be information on how to care for your skin and plenty of fun and laughter guaranteed - a great way to spend a day with like-minded friends. You’ll take home a lip balm, a cleansing cream and a moisturiser.
No previous experience necessary.

Tutor: Kathryn Parsons
Date: Monday 17 August 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Join Kathryn for a relaxing, gentle creative morning working with soft porcelain clay. You’ll learn how to make miniature porcelain plaques inspired by plants growing at CUBG. Starting with a ball of porcelain you’ll be guided through simple steps to make your plaques. You'll imprint the clay using flowers and leaves collected from the Garden, then use simple tools to shape, texture and add small pieces to build up your botanical design.

After the workshop your work will be taken away to be fired in Kathryn’s kiln. You’ll be able to collect your fired porcelain miniatures from CUBG four weeks later. A long-lasting reminder of a very special place, they look beautiful hung in a window, framed or standing on a shelf. This workshop is aimed at beginners through to those with experience of other types of clay. The small group size means you'll get plenty of help and attention.

No previous experience is necessary, just a love for working at a small scale. It involves fine motor skills and reasonable eyesight, or good glasses, as the elements are small (the size of a small pea, or smaller if you wish).

Tutor: Catherine Tregaskes
Date: Thursday 22 October 2026 - Friday 23 October 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £185
Location: Classroom


In this course, we will use a variety of willows to make a round or oval basket. Beginners would be able to make a round basket with a traditional or contemporary handle. Improvers can make a round basket and try different weaves or make an oval basket if they are confident in the steps required to make a round basket. No qualifications are required; however, you do need reasonable dexterity and strength in your hands to be able to manipulate the willow.

All materials and equipment will be supplied. Numbers on this course are limited to ensure 1:1 guidance from Catherine.

Tutor: Catherine Tregaskes
Date: Monday 30 March 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £45
Location: Classroom

Learn to create beautiful plant support wigwams using natural willow.

The wigwams are perfect for supporting annual climbers like sweet peas or beans in your garden; drying the wigwams and storing them over winter ensures they will last for many years to come. All materials, including some sourced from the Botanic Garden, and equipment are provided — just wear older clothes and be ready to get creative!

No prior experience is necessary, but you will need good hand strength and dexterity, as well as the ability to stand for a few hours.

Tutor: Catherine Tregaskes
Date: Tuesday 31 March 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £45
Location: Classroom

Learn to create beautiful plant support wigwams using natural willow.

The wigwams are perfect for supporting annual climbers like sweet peas or beans in your garden; drying the wigwams and storing them over winter ensures they will last for many years to come. All materials, including some sourced from the Botanic Garden, and equipment are provided — just wear older clothes and be ready to get creative!

No prior experience is necessary, but you will need good hand strength and dexterity, as well as the ability to stand for a few hours.

Tutor: Catherine Tregaskes
Date: Thursday 10 December 2026
Time: 10 am - 1pm
Cost: £45
Location: Classroom


We will use different varieties of willow as a material to make a range of Christmas themed decorations including reindeer, angels and trees. This course is suitable for all abilities, however, you do need reasonable dexterity and strength in your hands to be able to manipulate the willow. All materials and equipment will be supplied. Numbers on this course are limited to ensure 1:1 guidance from Catherine.

Willow is a natural material and has been stored in a garage and soaked in an outdoor tank. Please wear older clothes (e.g., gardening clothes) to the course or bring an apron. You must wear solid shoes – open toes and sandals are not suitable in case of dropped tools and off cuts of willow which can be sharp. Wash hands before eating after handling the willow.

Tutor: Catherine Tregaskes
Date: Friday 11 December 2026
Time: 10 am - 1pm
Cost: £45
Location: Classroom


We will use different varieties of willow as a material to make a range of Christmas themed decorations including reindeer, angels and trees. This course is suitable for all abilities, however, you do need reasonable dexterity and strength in your hands to be able to manipulate the willow. All materials and equipment will be supplied. Numbers on this course are limited to ensure 1:1 guidance from Catherine.

Willow is a natural material and has been stored in a garage and soaked in an outdoor tank. Please wear older clothes (e.g., gardening clothes) to the course or bring an apron. You must wear solid shoes – open toes and sandals are not suitable in case of dropped tools and off cuts of willow which can be sharp. Wash hands before eating after handling the willow.

Tutor: Caroline Henricksen
Date: Thursday 03 December 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £45
Location: Classroom


Taking winter inspiration from the Garden, come and join Caroline Henricksen for a fun, relaxing and creative morning collaging botanical cards. Caroline will take you through the process she uses to create her botanical collage pieces, starting with you creating your own collage surfaces using paints, foliage, vintage paper, magazines, old books, wallpaper and even toothbrush and paint rollers. Just about anything can be used to collage. Playing with patterns and textures can produce some really interesting and beautiful results. You are welcome to bring in your own additional materials to work with (for example old prints, poems, books) but everything is provided on the day. Just turn up and create!

This workshop is aimed at beginners through to more accomplished artists who want to try something new. Caroline will be on hand throughout to give lots of one-to-one tuition.

Tutor: Paula Edgington
Date: Monday 07 December 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £75
Location: Classroom


Join florist Paula Edgington to start your festive season and make your own garden-inspired festive wreath. No previous experience is needed as you will be taken through the process step-by-step. The wreath will be made from scratch and will have a moss-based ring. You will then cover it in a selection of festive evergreen foliage and berries which have been gathered from the Botanic Garden, followed by a choice of decorations from natural pinecones, cinnamon bundles, dried fruit and more, and finally a ribbon to hang it up. Come and have fun, learn a new skill, be creative and leave with your very own handmade festive wreath for your front door. This course is suitable for all levels and everything you need is provided.

Tutor: Paula Edgington
Date: Tuesday 08 December 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £75
Location: Classroom


Join florist Paula Edgington to start your festive season and make your own garden-inspired festive wreath. No previous experience is needed as you will be taken through the process step-by-step. The wreath will be made from scratch and will have a moss-based ring. You will then cover it in a selection of festive evergreen foliage and berries which have been gathered from the Botanic Garden, followed by a choice of decorations from natural pinecones, cinnamon bundles, dried fruit and more, and finally a ribbon to hang it up. Come and have fun, learn a new skill, be creative and leave with your very own handmade festive wreath for your front door. This course is suitable for all levels and everything you need is provided.

Tutor: Maike Dring
Date: Tuesday 10 November 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £70
Location: Classroom


Get into the festive spirit with this hands-on workshop exploring the many ways essential oils can enhance your Christmas season. Create aromatic bath salts, a bespoke perfume pulse oil—perfect as a gift or personal treat—and a special festive blend to take home and fill your space with the scents of Christmas.
All materials are provided. Spaces are limited to allow plenty of individual guidance.

Tutor: Laura Mayer
Date: Wednesday 26th November 2025
Time: 18:30 - 20:30
Cost: £30
Location: Online

Humphry Repton (1752–1818) ambitiously styled himself as Capability Brown’s successor: the century’s next great improver of landed property. Developing a new aesthetic, which he termed ‘Ornamental Gardening’, his landscapes were laced with flowers and crammed with exotic features. Immortalized in Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park, Repton turned his hand to everything from ghoulish garden mausoleums to George IV’s seaside palace, Brighton Pavilion. His famous Red Books – illustrated to help his clients visualize the potential of their properties – did much to encourage an appreciation of landscape aesthetics during the Regency period. This course will trace his career from its picturesque beginnings to the progressive Gardenesque style, which both made his name and changed England’s relationship with nature forever.

Tutor: Paul Herrington
Date: Tuesday 14 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom


Right plant, right place… we’ve all heard that before, right? But what does it mean and how can we achieve it in our own gardens? Join Paul Herrington for an informal, relaxed course covering the basics of garden design. You’ll go away with a greater understanding and appreciation of micro-climates, soil types, plant choices and planting styles. Importantly, you will develop a clear framework for how to apply all of this to your garden borders, whatever their size and wherever they may be.

Tutor: Ian Limmer
Date: Wednesday 28 October 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom


This one-day course led by rosarian expert Ian Limmer from Peter Beales Roses Ltd will help you to get the most from your roses. During the course, Ian will aim to cover planting bare root and container roses, transplanting mature roses, growing roses in pots, and pruning modern, shrub, procumbent, climbing, and rambling roses. There will also be the opportunity for questions and answers. No special equipment is required but you may like to bring a notebook and pen. Teaching will take place both in the Classroom and outside so please wear suitable clothing and footwear.

Tutor: Pete Wrapson
Date: Saturday 21 March 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom


This day-long course on vegetable gardening will cover seed sowing, raising seedlings, planting, plant care and harvesting, addressing the requirements of different vegetable crops. It will highlight seasonal tasks and will include a discussion about soil health and plant nutrition, helping you to plan your planting strategy and make the most of your growing space. Part of the afternoon will be spent in the nursery glasshouse and the Schools’ Garden practising some of the horticultural techniques discussed.

Tutor: Katie Sarll
Date: Saturday 14 February 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom


Would you like to understand how plants grow and reproduce in the enticing world of succulents? Then come and join our beginner’s course! Learn how to propagate and grow succulents from cuttings and explore the substrates in which to grow them. Learn propagation methods: stem, seed, leaf, rosette cuttings and plantlets. Delve into cacti propagation: globular, columnar or flat stem cuttings, as well as grafting and division. The course will include both practical and theoretical elements, including a tour of the succulent and cacti collection at the Botanic Garden.

Tutor: Kathryn Bray
Date: Saturday 28 February 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom

Tired of overwatering and underwatering? Want to create an indoor oasis where your houseplants thrive and flourish? Join Glasshouse Senior Horticulturist Kathryn Bray on this one-day course, covering a diversity of house plant topics. From watering to pruning, repotting to pest control, this course will inform you how to grow plants indoors. Drawing inspiration from the display glasshouses at Cambridge University Botanic Garden, participants will tour a variety of growing conditions, exploring concepts covered in an introductory classroom session. Practical skills will be developed behind the scenes through repotting and propagation exercises. This will be a fun and interactive course covering tropical plants, orchids, succulents and cacti.

Tutor: Paul Herrington
Dates:
Monday 18 May 2026
Monday 01 June 2026
Monday 15 June 2026
Monday 29 June 2026
Monday 13 July 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £375
Location: Classroom


Across five sessions you will explore design principles, ideas and inspiration, simple surveying and scale drawing, planning for the right plant in the right place as well as developing a layout plan for your own garden and how to ensure year-round structure and interest. Numbers on this course are limited to ensure plenty of opportunities for support and discussion with the tutor and fellow participants.

The price is for all five sessions which cannot be booked individually.

Tutor: Paul Herrington
Dates:
Monday 21 September 2026
Monday 5 October 2026
Monday 19 October 2026
Monday 2 November 2026
Monday 16 November 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £150
Location: Online


Across five online sessions, you will explore design principles, ideas and inspiration, simple surveying and scale drawing, planning for the right plant in the right place, as well as developing a layout plan for your own garden and learning how to ensure year-round structure and interest. There will be plenty of opportunities for support and discussion with the tutor and fellow participants.

The price is for all five sessions which cannot be booked individually.

Tutor: Zoe Ansari
Date: Thursday 26 February 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


In this one-day course you will learn all the processes involved in designing, carving and printing a lino block. We will start the day by making some quick and simple observational drawings from plants at the Botanic Garden and then develop these to create a design to transfer onto the lino block. You will learn how to use the tools safely and print without the use of a press using hand burnishing. We will be using water-based inks, traditional hessian backed lino and strong lightweight Japanese paper. You will be able to take home your prints and block, which you can continue printing with at home. All materials will be provided. It is suggested that you wear old clothes and or an apron as it can get quite messy.

The course is aimed at beginners and those with little and some experience of lino printing.

Tutor: John Wiltshire
Date: 23 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


On this beginners’ course, you will explore watercolour techniques and make an observational painting in the Botanic Garden. You will be guided through the basics of watercolour technique with simple and effective demonstrations to experience and learn how it works with professional painter, John Wiltshire. By the end of the day, you may surprise yourself with what you can achieve with the right materials and some practical tips to boost your confidence with watercolour. Materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring any materials that you would prefer to use.

Suitable for complete beginners

Tutor: Susie Turner
Date: Thursday 02 July 2026 - Friday 03 July 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £170
Location: Classroom


Discover the historic photographic process of cyanotype printing in this two-day workshop. You’ll learn how to create striking blue-and-white prints using your own photographs, drawings, and pressed plant material. Guidance on preparing artwork in advance will be provided. On the first day, you’ll create test prints to understand timing and exposure with both sunlight and UV light. You will learn how to mix the cyanotype sensitiser solution and to individually coat suitable paper before producing your own unique botanical compositions.

Day two will build on these foundations, introducing creative techniques such as masking and double exposures. We will be looking at the cyanotypes of Anna Atkins as inspiration; a rare copy of her book ‘Sun Gardens’ will be available to look through. On the second day, there will also be an opportunity to make cyanotypes on supplied blueprint fabric pieces. Cyanotype is a simple, accessible, and rewarding process. Some standing and movement between indoor and outdoor areas is involved. Aprons and household gloves are recommended, as the sensitiser solution may stain clothing.

No previous experience is required

Tutor: Grace Hailstone
Date: Friday 19 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £45
Location: Classroom


Make unique monoprints exploring silhouettes of leaves and ‘ghost prints’ using a miniature etching press. Working with positive and negative shapes, spacing and texture, we will create unique original prints on cotton-based paper using real leaves and materials. Participants can bring collected organic materials to print with, but materials will also be provided. We will begin with making simple silhouettes, then expand to create multi-layered images full of organic shapes and textures. Image sizes will be a maximum of 10 cm.

Suitable for complete beginners

Tutors: Studio 84
Date: Thursday 16 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £90
Location: Classroom


Drypoint etching is a centuries-old intaglio printmaking process. Environmentally safe and without the use of any chemicals, the image is scratched into the surface of the plate using a drypoint needle.
Gathering inspiration from the wealth of flora in the Botanic Garden, you will collect, sketch or photograph leaves and flowers to create a botanical image. You will transform this into a drypoint etching and learn how to ink and print your image on a small, table-top press. Developing your work throughout the day you will create multiple, varied prints using a seasonal colour palette. The beauty of this technique is that you do not need any drawing skills or prior knowledge to create a beautiful print. All printing materials will be provided and etching needles will be available to use. Gloves and cleaning materials will be supplied but you will need to bring an apron or similar.

The course is suitable for complete beginners as well as those with some experience.

Tutor: John Wiltshire
Date: Wednesday 26 August 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


This course is designed to build on your existing experience with watercolour and provide you with tools which will help you continue to grow as a watercolour painter. Over the session, you will be introduced to various approaches and methods to apply your own painterly vision to your practice. We will look at the Botanic Garden and how to approach this exciting and vibrant subject for yourself ‘en plein air’. You will be briefly revisiting the basics of watercolour technique and introduced to practical applications of a limited palette technique. Materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring any materials that you would prefer to use.

Suitable for those with some experience of watercolour

Tutor: Karin Eklund
Date: Tuesday 21 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Keeping a sketchbook is the best habit an artist can have. The more you draw from reality the easier it will be to develop your own style and compositions. Using the Garden and Glasshouse Range as your starting points, Karin will give creative prompts to introduce new materials and techniques throughout the course: looking carefully at plants, drawing from observation and gradually introducing elements of imagination, memory and found materials. The day will start with a short introductory talk introducing examples of botanical drawings from art history and by contemporary artists. Through these examples, we will gain inspiration and be given a focus and theme for the session before heading out in the Garden. It is up to you how you interpret and develop your ideas. You can expect a joyful, creative and explorative approach set in a friendly and informative atmosphere. Mostly we will be working in our sketchbooks, and a suggested material list will be supplied a few weeks before the start of the course

Suitable for all abilities

Tutor: Emma James
Date: Thursday 12 November 2026 - Friday 13 November 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £170
Location: Classroom


Capture the Garden’s rich textures and seasonal colours in this creative two-day printmaking workshop. You will begin by exploring the Garden to gather photographs and sketches. Back in the Classroom, you will transform your images into a linocut design — carving, inking, and printing your work in a single colour. You’ll then learn how to combine printmaking with watercolour painting and tissue paper chine collé to add colour and new shapes to your print.
Materials and some tools will be available to use, but you will need your own set of lino cutting tools, as well as a box or folder to take away your prints.

The course is suitable for beginners as well as those with some experience of linocut techniques. The course requires fine motor skills, including the ability to use a lino tool and craft knife to cut lino.

Tutor: Dan Mold
Date: Thursday 07 May 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Discover the magic of macro photography and unlock a whole new world of hidden details - usually invisible to the naked eye. This course is aimed at photographers of all levels from those just starting out to advanced enthusiasts and will help you understand the equipment needed and techniques you’ll need to master to get cracking close-ups you can be proud of and print on the wall or enter into photography competitions. Using the beautiful flora and fauna of the Botanic Garden to hone in on, Dan will demonstrate how to get pin-sharp shots of delicate flower details and the tiny eyes of insects with both professional and budget-friendly kit as well as explain how to light your subjects and using accessories such as reversing rings, extension tubes, LED panels, reflectors, tripods and plamps. Ideally bring either a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a dedicated macro lens, but Dan will bring a variety of equipment for demonstration. This course is not suitable for mobile phone cameras.

Suitable for all abilities.

Tutor: Ian Olsson
Date: Tuesday 08 September 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Move from a quick snap in fully auto mode to creating beautiful photos you would love to print and hang on the wall! Join Cambridge-based professional photographer Ian Olsson for a fun, interactive workshop to learn all about phone photography and editing. Including a walk around the Garden to take your own photos, which you can then edit during the session.

Suitable for Android and iPhone.

Tutor: Susie Turner
Date: Wednesday 04 November 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


This one-day workshop will introduce you to the simple technique of monoprinting with leaves. Using collected and pressed leaves from the Botanic Garden, you will learn how to make unique, colourful handmade prints using non-porous plates, a small etching press and artist quality printing inks. There will be opportunities to print onto both pre-dampened printing paper and samples of fabric.

The technique is very easy to learn and no previous experience is necessary.

Tutor: John Wiltshire
Date: Tuesday 02 June 2026 - Wednesday 03 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom


On this two-day course in oil painting technique, professional artist John Wiltshire will demonstrate techniques and approaches to oil painting in the open air. With enough time to create your own painting this is a rare opportunity to work in the beautiful, historic setting of the Botanic Garden and explore oil painting over an extended period. Use the techniques of ‘il primatura’ and ‘a la prima’ painting and expect to learn some of the ‘tricks of the trade’ that will enhance and accelerate your own painting so that you will come away with practical insight into how to develop as a painter. Materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring any materials that you would prefer to use.

This course is suitable for beginners or those looking to improve their painting technique.

Tutor: Patsy Rathbone
Date: Thursday 14 May 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £90
Location: Classroom


Taking the natural environment of the Botanic Garden as inspiration, you will create original intaglio prints by using repurposed packaging as a printing plate. You will scratch, cut and peel away the surface to add texture, marks and lines. Utilising the character inherent in the recycled materials, you will be encouraged to use the folds and shapes found in the packaging, as an integral part of the print. You will learn how to ink and print your image on a small, table-top press. Developing your work throughout the day using a limited colour palette to create multiple, varied prints. All printing materials will be provided and tools will be available to use. Gloves and cleaning materials will be supplied but please wear old clothes or bring an apron. Feel free to bring your own packaging to try.

The course is suitable for complete beginners as well as those with some experience

Tutor: Emma James
Date: Tuesday 29 September 2026 - Wednesday 30 September 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £170
Location: Classroom


Celebrate the beauty of autumn in this two-day printmaking workshop inspired by the colours and textures of the season. Begin by exploring the Garden to sketch and photograph autumnal scenes, gathering inspiration for your own linocut design. Guided by the tutor, you’ll plan, carve, and print a three-layer reduction linocut, capturing the rich tones of your chosen scene. Materials and some tools will be available to use, but you will need to bring your own set of lino cutting tools, as well as a box or folder to take away your prints.

The course is suitable for beginners as well as those with some experience of linocut techniques. Fine motor skills are required, along with the ability to safely use a lino tool and craft knife to cut lino.

Tutor: Karin Eklund
Date: Saturday 16 May 2026 - Sunday 17 May 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom


Join illustrator Karin Eklund for an immersive weekend exploring drawing techniques, tailored for all levels. Both sessions will start with time in the Garden, where we'll engage in short observational drawing sessions, followed by time in our on-site Classroom where we will delve into various aspects of illustration, including composition, character design and creating captivating environments. Karin will offer creative prompts and share a selection of picture books to inspire your artistic endeavours and encourage you to mix your imagination and memories to create visual stories with the Garden as your backdrop. By the end of the weekend, you will have developed multiple sketches and a few finalised illustrations and might even come away with the seeds of a new book idea. It is up to you how you interpret and develop your ideas. You can expect a joyful, creative and explorative approach set in a friendly and informative atmosphere.

This course is suitable for all abilities

Tutor: Karen van Oostrum
Date: Monday 26 January 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom


Curious about botany, but scared to give it a go? This new, 1-day course could be for you! Join Karen van Oostrum for a lively, interactive taster session, introducing you to the world of plants. Making use of the glasshouse collections, you will learn about the different groups of land plants and find out when they evolved; you will understand how plants are adapted to different environments, and see some plants of socio-economic importance. Back in the classroom there will be a variety of plant material to investigate, allowing you to get to grips with all the different parts of flowering plants. By the end of the day you will have discovered how fruits develop from flowers, and you will fully understand what ‘Native’ and ‘Non-native’ species are. So come along, and immerse yourself in a warming day of botanical discovery in the depths of winter!

Tutor: Margeaux Apple
Date: Wednesday 11 February 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £40
Location: Classroom


Identifying trees in winter often means that the traditional identification features such as leaves and flowers are not visible. We will look at the features which can be used to identify trees in winter and throughout the year. With the Botanic Garden’s wonderful tree collection as our backdrop, we will focus mainly on broad-leaved deciduous landscape trees, as well as looking at some evergreen conifers. We will discuss some basic concepts, tree anatomy and spend time around the Garden identifying trees and comparing features. This course will take place indoors and outdoors, so do check the forecast and dress appropriately.

Tutor: Sam Brockington & Nabil Ali
Date: Wednesday 25 February 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom

This hands-on workshop brings together science and creativity to explore the world of natural dyes - co-taught between the Curator, who specialises in the science of plant pigments and our artist in residence. Participants will work with plants collected from the botanic garden and investigate the chemistry behind their colours, focusing on key pigment groups such as flavonoids, which contribute brilliance and UV protection; betalains, known for deep reds and purples; indigoids, responsible for classic blue tones; and carotenoids, which offer vivid yellows and oranges. Guided step by step, attendees will learn how to process these plants into dyes, inks, and paints, drawing on traditional techniques and recipes inspired by historical manuscripts and cultural practices. By the close of the session, participants will leave with beautifully coloured samples and a deeper understanding of the relationship between nature, chemistry and artistic expression.

Tutor: Raphaella Hull
Date: Saturday 25 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £40
Location: Classroom


A hidden network of fungi supports the plants around us, connecting their roots to the soil. These remarkable symbiotic fungi live inside plant roots, exchanging nutrients in partnerships that have persisted for hundreds of millions of years. Plant-fungi interactions are not only essential for plant growth – they also help build rich, dynamic soils, sequester carbon and have shaped the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems. In this half-day course, you’ll explore the secret world of plant-fungi relationships. Through a mix of lecture, a guided Garden tour and a hands-on microscope session, you’ll see this intimate partnership up close and learn how symbiotic fungi influence the plants and landscapes around us. Ideal for anyone curious about nature, gardening or the hidden fungal networks beneath our feet.

Tutor: Karen van Oostrum
Date: Thursday 30 April 2026 - Friday 01 May 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom


This lively, informative, hands-on course offers complete beginners a relaxed introduction to the world of botany. With plenty of plant material to look at in the classroom, we will investigate the vegetative (leaves, stems and roots) and reproductive (flowers, fruits and seeds) parts of flowering plants, and start to understand the roles that they perform. Outside in the Garden we can visit the Rising Path to consider the domination of the angiosperms (flowering plants) in the broader context of the whole plant kingdom, and we will make use of the plant collections to explore plant adaptations and the variety of flower forms. There will be time to explore how to use a field guide, with the opportunity to practice and develop your own plant identification skills.

Tutor: Raphaella Hull
Date: Saturday 30 May 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom


This one-day, beginner-friendly course offers an accessible introduction to the wild plants of Britain, looking at the botany and folklore of British native flora. The morning will cover the basics of botany and an overview of British flora – how to look closely at plants, recognise key features and understand their place in the landscape. In the afternoon, we’ll explore two native habitats represented in the Garden: fenland and chalk grassland. These contrasting environments provide a living classroom for discovering how plants adapt to different conditions. The day will finish with a look at the traditional uses and folklore of British natives, exploring the context in which these traditions and tales originated.

No prior knowledge of botany is required. The course builds on material covered in the 2025 Wild Garden series of guided walks and would be a perfect next step to develop your botanical knowledge.

Tutor: Ros Bennett
Date: Thursday 04 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom


Trees make up one of the most impressive and beautiful features of our landscape - undoubtedly one of the most important aspects of our natural heritage. The different seasons are reflected dramatically in their changing appearance throughout the year. Late May is a great time for looking at broad-leaved trees as their leaves are fully formed and some will still be flowering. This course is concerned with their identification. We will explore the natural history of our native trees and look at how to recognise individual species. The main emphasis will be on trees that are native to Britain, but we will also pay attention to well-established, introduced species. We will practise working with different keys to identification. Part of each day will be spent in the classroom, sorting through specimens, and getting to grips with the terminology of the different shapes of leaves and the different floral designs of those that are still in flower. We shall also spend plenty of time exploring the Botanic Garden for our native trees to put into practice what we have learned.

Suitable for beginners

Tutor: Ros Bennett
Date: Thursday 25 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom

The grass family is one of huge ecological and economic importance. Grasses play a dominant role in the landscape and provide food for a vast variety and number of animals including humankind. Their role in evolution and throughout history cannot be overestimated. The course is designed to give the beginner a sound foundation in identifying our native grasses. By mid-June many will be flowering when they are at their most attractive. We shall not be hunting for rarities or clocking up a long list of species, but rather we shall spend time consolidating an understanding and developing confidence to tackle their identification independently by learning to use keys and hand lenses. Spending plenty of time in the Garden, we will concentrate on the commoner species and focus particularly on their floral, rather than vegetative, features.

Suitable for beginners

Tutor: Ros Bennett
Date: Monday 06 July 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom


By July many of our finest native plants have finished flowering, with the notable exception of glorious shows of thistles, ragworts, dandelions and mayweeds. The Asteraceae is the biggest flowering plant family in the world and is also the family that is most strongly represented in the British Isles. It therefore seems appropriate for anyone seriously interested in our native flora to feel confident in identifying them. Despite the apparent confusion between hawkweeds and hawkbits, mayweeds and chamomiles, this is not in fact a difficult task to do! Much of the course will be devoted to helping participants increase their confidence and competence in using scientific keys to identify the look-alikes that are such a notorious feature of this family. The Botanic Garden harbours a rich selection of members of this family, and studying garden species often helps to put our native species into better perspective.

This course is suitable for those who have previously shied away from these notorious look-alikes.

Tutor: Peter Wrapson
Date: Thursday 20 August 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £40
Location: Classroom


Latin has long been the shared language of botany, used to describe, classify and communicate about plants across the world. This half-day beginner-friendly course offers an accessible introduction to the fascinating language that underpins plant names and scientific classification. We’ll start with a brief history of botanical Latin and an exploration of how the binomial naming system developed to bring order to the plant kingdom. You’ll learn the basic grammar behind plant names, explore how these words reveal clues about a plant’s features and origins and cover the major Latin and Latin-derived terms used to describe plant morphology. The session will finish with a guided tour of the Garden, where you’ll put your new knowledge to the test by collectively interpreting plant labels and discussing the stories behind their names.

No prior knowledge of Latin or botany is required, though some familiarity with simple grammatical terms is desirable.

Tutor: Gwenda Kyd
Date: Tuesday 01 September 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £40
Location: Classroom


We have used plants in every part of our lives throughout history and wherever we are in the world. From a source of materials for building and making things to providing us with food and medicines, we have found ways to utilise our plant neighbours. Today, we understand much more about how and why plants have proved so useful. This workshop will explore some of these beneficial plants looking at why and how we’ve used them and also look forward at the prospects for their further uses. Weather permitting, we’ll visit a few of the plants growing in the Garden.

Tutor: Nathan Smith
Date: Thursday 24 September – Friday 25 September 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom


Covering fungal biology and ecology, the course will also examine the wider cultural impact of fungi in art, music and religion. Participants will be taught what makes a fungus, the fundamentals of fungal identification and introduced to some of the key debates in mycology today. Nathan will also direct participants to available resources and local groups should they wish to continue their fungal adventures.

Suitable for beginners

Tutor: Ángela Cano
Date: Friday 30 October 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom



A herbarium is like a time capsule made of plants – thousands of pressed and preserved specimens that tell the story of our planet’s plant life. The University of Cambridge curates one of the most significant of these, known to scientists as the University Herbarium (CGE). Among its more than one million specimens are plants collected by the man who transformed our understanding of life itself: Charles Darwin. But herbaria aren’t just about the past. They’re living, growing resources that support some of today’s most exciting research across many scientific fields. How are these plants collected, pressed and preserved to last for centuries? What botanical skills are needed to create scientifically valuable specimens?

Your tutor has travelled the world studying the great herbaria and collecting some of nature’s most challenging plants – from spiny giants to tough, long-lived succulents. She’ll show you how to read a plant to collect and press the perfect specimen and how to record the details and images that bring it to life. You’ll also follow the full journey of a herbarium specimen during a visit to the wonderful CGE – seeing how samples are mounted, digitised and added to the collection. And, of course, you’ll encounter historic specimens that form the very foundation upon which modern plant sciences stands.

Tutor: Matthew Jeffery
Date: Wednesday 18 November 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £40
Location: Classroom


In this half-day course, you will learn about the stages of seed collecting and storage that are important to consider from the perspective of a gardener, from assessing ripeness and determining quality to successfully storing seed at home using everyday equipment. You will get hands-on experience in the Botanic Garden with plants, fruits and seeds, as well as behind the scenes access to the Garden's seed processing and storage facilities. By the end of the session, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to collect, clean and store seed successfully for use in your own garden, as well as an understanding of how the Botanic Garden conserves plant diversity through its seed collections and research.

Tutor: Ros Bennett
Date: Wednesday 25 November 2026 - Thursday 26 November 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom


In winter, when there are very few flowers around and most of our native plants have lost their leaves, it is a wonderful opportunity to focus our attention on the conifers – most of which are evergreen and still bear cones. The British flora is remarkably poor in diversity of native conifers, but many introduced species form a major feature in our landscape. And here in the Botanic Gardens at Cambridge we are fortunate to have the opportunity to study a fine collection of this magnificent group of trees. This course is suitable for beginners, including more experienced botanists who have not yet tackled conifers (or tried and failed!) and all those who love trees.

No previous knowledge is assumed.

Tutor: Angie Cano
Date: Tuesday 01 December – Wednesday 02 December 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom


Join our Deputy Curator, Dr Ángela Cano, on this two-day introduction to tropical botany. Travelling back in time, you will learn about the dynamic borders of the tropical region, with a focus on the fossil record. You will then study current patterns of geographic distribution of plant diversity on Earth, discovering that it is not homogeneous, but dramatically different between continents. You will fly over the tropical belt to understand which regions have the highest species richness, known as “biodiversity hotspots”, and face the strongest threats. Ángela will then discuss the main factors that threaten this biodiversity and the local and ex situ efforts that are in place to counteract their effects. The second part of the course will focus on plant systematics – understanding how plants have evolved and how taxonomists have classified them. You will focus on different tropical plant groups, starting with non-flowering plants, such as mosses, ferns and conifers and then briefly cover the most representative tropical angiosperm families.

Tutor: Twigs Way
Date: Friday 27 March 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £40
Location: Classroom


As the ‘wild garden’ gained popularity outside, textiles and fashion reflected looser more ‘natural’ fashions inside. Flowers decorated hats and house parties, whilst sports for all dictated both clothing and landscapes, as tennis courts and croquet invaded the country house landscape. ‘Allotment fashion’ appears on postcards and down the plot, and women in bloomers bicycled to Tea Gardens laid out in fashionable rustic style.

The third and final part in our chronological monthly series examining the interplay of textiles, fashion, culture, and garden design will include the influence of sport and leisure on landscapes and fashions. Each session is sold separately.

Tutor: Twigs Way
Date: Friday 30 January 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £40
Location: Classroom

Muslins and cottons, prints and sprigs, influences from India and the growth of merchants. We will explore links between parks and parades of spa towns, Reptonian gardenesque for the newly monied classes, aviaries and exotics for the Regent. Portraits and conversation pieces give us insights into clothing and landscape, as polite society dictate fashion inside and out as literature joins the cultural milieu.

First part in a monthly series examining the interplay of textiles, fashion, culture, and garden design. Each session is sold separately.

Tutor: Twigs Way
Date: Friday 27 February 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £40
Location: Classroom

Packed with colour and pattern, interior designs vie with brightly coloured bedding schemes, and artificial flowers inside reflect artifice outside. Rich fashion fabrics are resolutely plain, but do the corsets and constrictions, bustles and flounces mirror the contrivances and deceptions in the garden where topiary and carpet bedding entertain? Inside and out are brought together in the middle-class home where ‘taste’ rules all.

Second part in a monthly series examining the interplay of textiles, fashion, culture, and garden design. Each session is sold separately.

Tutor: Charlot King
Date: Tuesday 22 September 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £40
Location: Classroom


Plants have featured heavily in fiction, whether celebrating their beauty or being used to poison in murder mysteries! This course will celebrate murderous plants in a selection of stories. From Shakespeare’s plays to Colin Dexter’s Morse, and in between, we will explore deadly plants featured, as well as some storytelling skills.

Tutor: Nic Wilson
Date: Wednesday 22 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom


Are you inspired by gardens and plants? Do you enjoy reading about how others engage with these external domestic spaces and how they relate to our lives, our pasts, our futures? Perhaps you want to write about your own experiences in a garden or discuss the ways that plants feature in different styles of garden writing. Led by an experienced writer and teacher, this course involves exploring short pieces connected to plants and gardens. You’ll have the opportunity to experiment with some of the themes and linguistic techniques identified and to use plants in the Botanic Garden as inspiration for your own creative pieces.

Tutor: Alley Marie Jordan
Date: Thursday 12 March 2026
Time: 6 - 8:30 pm
Cost: £30
Location: Online

This course will cover classicism in eighteenth-century gardens as Enlightenment thinkers sought to bring Antiquity into their landscapes. This lecture-based course will look at historic gardens from the classical perspective in order to better recognise the ancient gods in the garden and to more fully understand why certain plants were selected, why artificial mounds were built, and why grottoes were so popular. Classical trends in philosophy, art and horticulture will be explored so that you can consider eighteenth-century gardens via the historical lenses through which they were meant to be viewed. We will examine classical features in gardens and to discern their meaning, from mythology to references to Roman politics. For many gardens, like Rousham in Oxfordshire, visitors were meant to move through the garden as you would read a Roman poem, each new classical feature revealing a new classical meaning. Thus, such landscapes were infused with a classical intimacy not immediately visible to today’s visitors.

Tutor: Gwenda Kyd
Date: Thursday 23 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £40
Location: Classroom


Samuel Hahnemann harnessed the healing effects of animals, vegetables and minerals. This course will focus on his plants, looking at what we know about their beneficial properties today. Some of the plants are commonly used in medicine but others are so poisonous that they have found only limited use. And the toxicity of a few has led to their misuse to harm people rather than heal them. Weather permitting, we’ll visit some of Hahnemann’s herbs which grow in the Garden.

Tutor: Laura Mayer
Date: Friday 12 June 2026
Time: 6 - 8:30 pm
Cost: £30
Location: Online


During the first part of the eighteenth century, the garden underwent a gradual transformation from geometric formalism to pastoral Arcadian idyll. This shift in landscaping style mirrored the political, intellectual and stylistic revolutions of the century, as authoritarianism was rejected in favour of something looser and more natural. Yet this complex and fascinating period of British garden history is frequently raced through, in a bid to reach the perceived apex of the style, and the minimal designs of Lancelot Brown and his contemporaries. This lecture focuses on the early informal landscape, and considers the fledgling ‘rural gardening’ style and ferme ornée promoted by men like Philip Southcote and Alexander Pope. It highlights the ingenuity of Stephen Switzer, who believed that the extortionate upkeep of geometric, axial designs could be solved simply by laying the whole country open to view. This notion ultimately transformed the way landscape was viewed forever, and encouraged every designer from Batty Langley to William Kent to embrace informality and build increasingly less structured gardens.

Tutor: Laura Mayer
Date: Monday 14 December 2026
Time: 6 - 8:30 pm
Cost: £30
Location: Online


The aesthetic category known as the Picturesque developed in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Defined by the artist and travel writer William Gilpin as ‘that peculiar kind of beauty which is agreeable in a picture’, it was equally applicable to art, architecture and even music. In the case of British landscape, the Picturesque aesthetes championed a Romantic appreciation for rugged and sublime topography. Through their writings, Sir Uvedale Price and Richard Payne Knight harnessed a growing disdain for the minimal landscapes of Brown and his contemporaries, instead encouraging Picturesque values of irregularity and wildness. This lecture grapples with the paradoxes inherent in a movement which championed unbridled naturalism through the artificial lens of taste, whilst recognising the early role of the Picturesque writers in championing wilderness preservation.

Tutor: Nic Wilson
Date: Thursday 19 March 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom


Would you like to write about your life in the garden, with plants or in the local landscape? Or perhaps you’re partway through a memoir, but need some help with structuring or developing it? This course will explore the narrative structure and style of garden and nature life writing, using published memoirs to inspire our own creativity. The morning session will focus on analysing and discussing life writing extracts and short writing exercises. In the afternoon, there’ll be more time to write and discuss any questions, concerns, aspirations and ongoing projects individually with the tutor. The final part of the course will focus on writing non-fiction proposals for agents and publishers, which also helps develop narrative structure, even if you’re not writing for publication.

Tutor: Twigs Way
Date: Saturday 27 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £80
Location: Classroom


Taking the ‘long view’ on the garden’s relationship with nature this one-day course will reach back into garden history, before turning to examine the present-day contexts and future issues within which we garden. Encompassing discussion of the cross-over between visions of historic landscape and gardens within movements of ‘romanticism’, ‘picturesque’, and ‘wild’, we will go on to examine understanding and usage of modern terms including ‘wildlife friendly’, ‘re-wilding’ and, crossing to land management, ‘regenerative’. We will also consider the impact of changing climate and disease patterns, and managing the balance between past, present and future visions of heritage gardens, landscapes and current design.