Who can resist the heady scent and glorious colours of sweet peas? Chris Wiley is obsessed with them, and in 2022 won the Best New Plant Award at Chelsea, which to his amazement was presented to Queen Elizabeth 11. Chris takes us on his journey developing his variety, explains how to grow and nurture sweet peas, and recounts their history. Chris founded the Sustainable Plant Store to sell eco-friendly alternatives to popular plants, and will bring some to sell.
Timothy Walker is the hugely entertaining and sometimes controversial former Director of Oxford Botanic Garden, who brings a new angle to every subject. For many people pollination begins and ends with bees, but it is in fact carried out by all kinds of creatures, from bats (for night flowering species) to snails (for plants with time on their hands). Timothy looks at the huge variety of pollinators, and explains why knowing about them is so important for gardeners.
Dr. Ian Bedford, entomologist, of the John Innes Centre and resident bug expert on BBC Radios Suffolk and Norfolk. Many plants such as garlic and French marigolds attract or repel bugs. Ian reveals how to use them in our gardens to create a natural balanced eco-system for attracting nature and keeping pests under control. There will be environmentally friendly garden products for sale.
Juliet Sargeant, RHS gold medallist and Gardeners’ Question Time panellist, challenges you to take your soil seriously. She introduces no-dig gardening, Hugelkultur and rain gardens, and growing mediums such as hydroponics and sand gardens. Her book 'Start with Soil' will be for sale.
FREE FOR MEMBERS
NON-MEMBERS - £6 payable on the door
We're very sorry to announce that the talk by our Celebrity Speaker Matthew Biggs on Saturday March 21 has been cancelled due to Matthew's ill health. Everyone who has bought tickets will be contacted to arrange a refund.
Greg Venesse of The Front Gardeners Nursery is dotty about delphiniums, and will explain the difference between the old Elatum varieties and newer examples, how to sow them from seed and take cuttings, and choosing the right delphiniums to suit your garden. Wildlife-friendly plants for sale.
FREE FOR MEMBERS
NON-MEMBERS - £6 payable on the door
Kim O’Brien is a gardener, grower and floral designer at a top Cambridge studio. She hosts floristry workshops for BBC Gardeners' World and is a regular columnist for Amateur Gardening magazine. She grows over 200 varieties of Dahlias and takes the novice and experienced dahlia grower on a journey from tuber to vase, explaining how to achieve the best blooms you will ever grow.
FREE FOR MEMBERS
NON-MEMBERS - £6 payable on the door
Michael Holland, formerly of the Chelsea Physic Garden and a RHS committee member, discloses weird and wonderful facts about important plants that have benefitted mankind and used in everything from toothpaste to car tyres. His book 'I Ate Sunshine for Breakfast' will be on sale.
FREE FOR MEMBERS
NON-MEMBERS - £6 payable on the door