Author: carolinewright201

After being a course leader and lecturer in Horticulture at Nottingham Trent University for nearly 20 years I am now working on a new venture in Limousin, France. In our plant nursery and garden school we aim to carry on sharing our passion for horticulture and natural crafts.
Specialist subjects include plant science, propagation, plant identification, specialist traditional and modern pruning and maintenance techniques. We also teach greenwood crafts, weaving, stained glass art and other crafts using natural materials.

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Due to the continuing spread of Coronavirus we have been putting some sensible measures in place to ensure the health and safety of our customers while they are here.

First and foremost we will be continuing to operate as normal unless nation wide measures prevent this. However, we will be operating a non contact greeting policy i.e. no ‘bisous’ (kissing on arrival and  leaving) and no hand shaking for the time being.

Amongst other heightened hygiene measures we will also temporarily be using paper towels for hand drying which we will dispose of by burning.

If anyone has any questions please ask. We hope to see you all as usual over the spring and summer months for lots of creativity and fun. We have lots of new courses and activities planned – we hope you enjoy them 🙂

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img_2023Come and learn how to use willow as a medium for sculpture and make this wall mounted sculpture of a Highland Cows head.

THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN POSTPONED. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN COMING AT A LATER DATE

Willow is a flexible material that is fun to work with but does take a little strength and dexterity (and a bit of patience!) for making a large sculpture. This Highland cow is suitable for beginners as well as those who have some experience working with willow. Size of sculpture approx 40cm high x 80cm wide including the horns.
To book a place on this workshop you can use the online payment system below. Once we receive notification of your booking we will send you further details by email. If you have any trouble using this system or prefer to pay by cheque then you an use the contact form to check availability and request a booking form:

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Due to the exceptional rain that has fallen over the last couple of days we have taken the decision to open for a limited time tomorrow 7th March.

The water is beginning to subside but the track up to the nursery is still very muddy and slippery in places. As there is sunshine forecast for tomorrow we hope that this will help to dry out the field a little over the morning. Therefore we will open from 1pm-4pm.

We have our range of herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses, herbs and aromatics. (Vegetable plants, patio plants, tender perennials and our new range of perennials will be available from late April)

We have had a new delivery of compost and also sell vermiculite, horticultural fleece, enviromesh, pots and trays, seeds etc.

We hope to see you soon, if you do decide to come along tomorrow then wear wellies!

We hope to be back to normal next weekend.

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We are offering another chance to come and make a dragonfly  out of woven willow to mount onto a wall or display in your garden.

This popular course is suitable for beginners and a good starting point for anyone wanting to learn how to make realistic sculptures out of freestyle woven willow.

The course runs from 10.00-4.30 on Tuesday 23rd June.  We are currently unable to offer our usual lunch and refreshments so please bring a packed lunch, flask/water etc.

Price per person is 55€ – The price includes all materials needed to make a medium sized dragon fly (approx. 80-100cm)

* We will provide disposable gloves and we will have freshly laundered aprons available but please bring your own mask.

Willow is fairly malleable and pleasant to work with but does require a little strength and dexterity, plus a little patience to make a large or complex sculpture. This workshop is suitable for beginners – we will assist anyone who requires a little help to complete their dragonfly.

BOOKINGS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS WORKSHOP, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A WILD BOAR AT A LATER DATE (CONTACT FORM BELOW)
You can book onto this workshop using the online payment system below. Once we receive notification of your booking we will contact you with further information. If you have any trouble using this system or prefer to pay by cheque then you can use the contact form below to get in touch to check availability and request a booking form. You can use this contact form for any other questions.

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Many people are familiar with the common honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)- a climbing woodland plant with fragrant flowers that scent the evening air in early summer. Did you know that the genus Lonicera also contains what are known as the ‘shrubby honeysuckles’? There are several species of honeysuckle that form mounded shrubs, some are evergreen such as Lonicera nitida (a good alternative to box hedging if box blight has been a problem) and Lonicera pileata – a good ground cover plant. These two are grown more for their foliage and habit than their flowers which are much smaller than the classic climbing honeysuckle and with far less fragrance.

My favorite Lonicera if Lonicera x fragrantissima – as the name suggests it is highly fragrant, this semi-evergreen arching shrub produces pairs of scented flowers along the length of its stems from early January until early May. It is a stunning winter flowering plant that provides vital nectar and pollen for bees that get woken from hibernation on those sunny winter days. The sweet fragrance attracts the bees from a wide area and the flowers provides life saving nutrition for them. It is also a superb cut flower – one twig will fragrance a whole room.

Other winter wonders include the Hellebores, Sarcococca, Cornus and Hamamelis. Our nursery opens again  on Saturday 7th March for the 2020 season, we are open every Saturday from 10am-4pm until end October. Come along and enjoy a walk through our ‘winter border’ which is packed with ideas to add interest to the garden in the winter months. We have just a few Lonicera x fragrantissima left on the nursery, plenty of Hellebores, Cornus, Sarcococca, and lots of other winter/spring plants.

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Learn how to make ‘ghost’ sculptures out of chicken wire and make a trio of poppy seed heads on spikes for your garden.

This full day workshop is suitable for beginners and the price covers all materials to make three poppy heads on spikes plus a light lunch and refreshments.

Thursday 9th July 10.00-4.30 – cost per person: 55€

Chicken wire is fairly malleable and easy to shape using pliers but does require a little strength and dexterity, plus a little patience to make a large or complex sculpture. This workshop is suitable for beginners – we will assist anyone who requires a little help to complete their flowers.
You can book onto this workshop using the online payment system below. Once we receive notification of your booking we will contact you with further information. If you have any trouble using this system or prefer to pay by cheque then you can use the contact form below to get in touch to check availability and request a booking form. You can use this contact form for any other questions.

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Learn how to make ‘hyper tufa’ (an artificial tufa rock) and create a small planting trough/container for your garden.

This half day workshop is suitable for beginners and the price includes all materials to make a small trough (up to around 40cm in diameter – so that you are able to carry it home!) You will learn the principles of making and using the material so that you can make more at home. Hypertufa is very versatile and we feel sure that you will be inspired to make more!

Monday 27th April 1-4pm 40€ per person (NOW FULLY BOOKED SEE BELOW TO REQUEST AN EXTRA DATE)

**You will make your trough (it will look a bit like a mud pie!) and we will discuss the ‘aftercare’ and drying/curing process. We recommend that you leave your trough here with us for at least a week to allow drying time before moving it, however if you are too far away to call back for it and/or wish to take it home with you on the day you will need a sturdy plastic crate or wooden board or tray large enough and sturdy enough to carry it back in your car without it moving too much. (you will be able to do minor repairs for several hours before the mix starts to harden)

THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULLY BOOKED, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH USING THE CONTACT FORM BELOW TO REQUEST EXTRA DATES 
You can book onto this workshop using the online payment system below. Once we receive notification of your booking we will contact you with further information. If you have any trouble using this system or prefer to pay by cheque then you can use the contact form below to get in touch to check availability and request a booking form. You can use this contact form for any other questions.


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We will be offering another chance to make chicken wire Allium flowers on this popular workshop.

This half day workshop teaches you some basic chicken wire sculpture skills and you will make 3 Allium flowers on spikes to decorate your garden. They flower all year round!!

The workshop will run from 1-4pm on Saturday 16th May

35€ per person. Light refreshments are included as well as all materials  to make 3 flower heads on spikes.

 


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Learn how to make flower sculptures from wire and make a trio of ‘Calla Lilies’ on spikes for your garden.

This half day workshop is suitable for beginners and includes all materials needed to make 3 flowers on spikes, (spray colour is extra)

Thursday 2nd July 1.00-4.30pm – cost per person: 38€

For the time being we are unable to offer refreshments so please bring your own water or flask etc. You will need a pair of light gardening gloves for working with chicken wire and please bring your own mask.

Chicken wire is fairly malleable and easy to bend using pliers but does require a little strength and dexterity.
You can book onto this workshop using the online payment system below. Once we receive notification of your booking we will contact you with further information. If you have any trouble using this system or prefer to pay by cheque then you can use the contact form below to get in touch to check availability and request a booking form. You can use this contact form for any other questions.

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Learn how to create flower garden sculptures out of chicken wire.  These beautiful harebell (or maybe Dierama flowers) are made over a full day workshop that includes 20200203_171947the materials to make three flowers on a spike and also includes a light lunch and refreshments.

Tuesday 30th June 10.00-4.30 – cost; 55€ per person.

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Chicken wire is fairly malleable and easy to bend using pliers but does require a little strength and dexterity, plus a little patience to make a large or complex sculpture. This workshop is suitable for beginners – we will assist anyone who requires a little help to complete their flowers.
You can book onto this workshop using the online payment system below. Once we receive notification of your booking we will contact you with further information. If you have any trouble using this system or prefer to pay by cheque then you can use the contact form below to get in touch to check availability and request a booking form. You can use this contact form for any other questions.

Buy now with PayPal

 

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Thank you for your response. ✨