Planning & Design - The Basics - Tuesday 14th April 2026
Planning & Design - The Basics & The Best Plant Combinations
This workshop will explain and illustrate the key aspects of successfully planning and designing garden beds and borders including understanding and making the most of your site, grouping plants, utilising plant features for maximum impact and succession planting methods. There will be tips and advice on applying techniques learnt to problem sites and how to improve existing borders that lack impact. In addition, the day will include focus on themed borders, including colour, herbaceous, mixed borders and seasonal. There will be lots of practical advice on making the most of perennials, annuals and bulbs in a border for long term interest and star plants for different sites and seasons. There will be an illustration of the best plant combinations and how to implement them in you own garden. Marguerite will explain and illustrate techniques such as focal points, harmony, flow, repetition and structure and how to use this to best effect when planning beds and borders.
The last 30 minutes of the session will allow for summary round up and Q & A.
All you need to bring with you on the day is a notebook and pen. You will be given handouts relevant to the workshop to take home. There will be lots of opportunities during the day to handle materials referred to during the session. The workshop is very interactive and at any point during the day you can ask questions relating to your own gardens.
The details
This workshop will take place on our Terrace (to the right of The Garden Cafe) in our marquee. It is heated on cooler days, but please wear suitable clothing.
Your ticket price includes tea, coffee, lunch, and a sweet treat.
Seating in the Marquee consists of wooden chairs, so you may wish to bring a cushion for added comfort.
Please advise of dietary requirements when booking.
Enjoy 10% off on the day
When buying online, your tickets will be emailed to you. You don't need to print the ticket as we will have your booking when we check you in. On arrival at the workshop, you will be given a 10% discount voucher valid for the day of your workshop. So don’t forget to make the most of some shopping time before or after your workshop!
Please note the voucher cannot be used against Garden Furniture, in The Garden Cafe, or The Food Hall.
You can call us on 015395 63630 if you’d prefer to book with us on the telephone. We will email your ticket within 7 days of booking.
Tickets are non-refundable. Dogs are not permitted at any workshops.