As well as enjoying the beautiful Hospice gardens, you can also attend a number of talks from guest speakers and demos in the main marquee which are free to attend, listen to live music, attend workshops and join garden tours with head gardener Anneke. There will also be delicious homemade cream teas, stalls to browse, and kid's activities to keep the whole family amused.
Workshops
These are ticketed events that you need to book onto in advance while registering to attend, or you can join on the day if tickets are still available.
Teacup flower arranging workshop with Shirley, volunteer florist
Make a small floral arrangement in a recycled china teacup and saucer from one of our shops to create a charming keepsake in this hands‑on workshop led by Shirley, one of our experienced volunteer florists. Wherever possible, we’ll use seasonal flowers and foliage freshly gathered from the Hospice garden. This creative workshop is perfect for beginners.
This workshop will take place at 11.30 - 12.30, and 3 - 4pm. Tickets cost £15 and include all materials, flowers and the china teacup. Please book onto the workshop when registering for the event.
Brushstrokes in Bloom workshop with David, volunteer art tutor
This relaxed watercolour workshop introduces simple techniques to capture vibrant blooms and peaceful garden scenes with an experienced art tutor in a truly inspiring setting. Let the beautiful gardens be your muse and spark your creativity.
This workshop will take place at 10.15 - 11.15am, and 1.30 - 2.30pm. Tickets cost £15 and include all materials and a hot drink, and a frame for your masterpiece can be purchased at an extra cost on the day. Please book onto the workshop when registering for the event.
Guest speakers
Take a seat in the marquee and get ready to be inspired on a range of interesting topics:
Bumblebee Safari with Jean Vernon
Jean is an award-winning garden writer and author of The Secret Lives of Garden Bees. Fascinated by bees since a youngster, she is championing bees, pollinators and wildlife of all sorts to unravel, demystify and explain the intricate balance of nature in your garden. She will give a short talk to introduce you to the familiar and unfamiliar bees and pollinators that live, breed and breathe within the garden habitat, before heading out on a bumblebee safari to witness it first hand and close up. Find out more about Jean at www.thegreenjeanie.com
Creating a climate resilient garden with Sally Morgan
Sally is an experienced organic and no-dig gardener who is passionate about creating a growing space that is not just healthy and productive, but has a rich biodiversity. Sally has been looking at how to make her garden more resilient in face of the changes that climate change may bring. For example, how it can cope with extreme weather events, such as long periods of drought and severe storms that bring torrential rain. Her garden was featured on Gardener's World in September 2025, and she is a published author of works such as The Resilient Garden and Allotment (Chelsea Green 2023) and The Healthy Vegetable Garden (Chelsea Green 2019). Find out more about Sally at www.climatechangegarden.uk
Perfect Peat Free Planting with Kate Turner
Explore the challenges and get messy with a hands on demo of peat-free composting. For many home gardeners the switch from peat to peat- free bagged compost has been an easy one, but for those of us who have been gardening with peat for years, the change hasn’t always rosy! Kate is a highly qualified horticulturist and garden consultant of over 25 years. Her deep understanding of plant care, sustainable gardening, and peat-free composts allows her to offer informed, practical, and effective planting solutions. Find out more about Kate's work at www.gardenerguru.co.uk
