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.