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.
Introduction to plant identification 21st July
This 3 hour course is suitable for beginners and covers basic plant identification skills with an emphasis on the identification of common ornamental plants using botanical names. On this course you will cover some basic botany that helps with plant identification and an understanding of the system of taxonomy and naming of plants. We can also help you to identify unknown plants in your garden and surroundings.
This taster session is also a good start for coming along to more advanced botany and plant identification sessions during the year. Look out for forthcoming posts with details.
The course will run on Saturday 21st July from 2-5pm and costs 20 Euros per person. The first part will focus on theory of plant identification and look at the plant anatomy that can help us to identify plants. The second part will be practical plant identification covering a range of plants, shrubs and trees.
To book onto this course use the buy now button below. We will send you confirmation and further information once we have received your payment. The payment is via a secure Paypall transaction but you do not need a Paypall account to use it. If you prefer to pay by cheque then please use the enquiries form below to check availability and request a booking form.
If you have any questions please use the contact form below:
You will learn the basics of using 
willow as a media for sculpture, create a ‘life-size’ Heron or chicken to take home with you as a quirky garden decoration.
Learn the basics of sculpture using chicken wire to create a lifelike chicken sculpture for your garden. A good basic beginners course which can lead onto building on these skills to create more complex sculptures later in the year. 
This basic course in plant propagation will look at the basics of propagating from seed and from softwood cuttings. You will learn a little botany that will help you to be more successful in rooting cuttings and understanding the different types of seeds.
This half day introductory course is running on Thursday 28th June from 1.00-4.00pm and cots 20€ per person.
Come along and learn how to create unique and funky prints on fabric using natural mordants, rusty objects and plant based colours.
Come and see us at Oradour-Sur-Vayres on Sunday 
We have found it difficult to purchase good quality potting compost with a fine texture that is suitable for seed sowing as well as potting and bedding in the local outlets so we have ordered in bulk from a professional horticultural suppliers. Our potting and bedding mix comes in 70 litre sacks, is a fine blend of responsibly managed peat, fine grade wood waste to reduce the peat content and give a good balance of air and water retention and milled clay for stability, nutrient retention and improved re-wetting.
Make a willow plant support: make a decorative wigwam obelisk out of willow and birch to take home and display in your garden. A good beginners course for anyone who would like to start developing weaving skills and learning the basic techniques.
Le Jardin Creatif 