Wilder Gardens Workshop: Introduction to Wildlife Gardening

New to gardening or keen to refresh or build on your skills? This workshop introduces how to create a garden that is both beautiful and provides space for nature.

We'll start in our new visitor centre, where our Wilder Gardens team will talk us through the basics of creating a wildlife-friendly garden, including:

• The benefits of a wildlife-friendly garden.
• What plants to choose and how to maintain them with nature in mind.
• Creating wildlife habitats in your outside space.
• Incorporating water into your garden.
• What to do with your lawn/mini-meadow.
• Naturally managing 'pests' in the garden.
• Reducing waste in your garden.

Our Nature Parks & Gardens Development Officer will then take us out into our newly renovated garden to demonstrate the principles we've discussed in action and provide a tour of the garden's seasonal highlights.

This will be followed by a hands-on session in the garden, such as sowing seeds and making a bug hotel.

You'll also have time after the workshop to explore the gardens at your leisure, as well as the wider reserve.

The first part of the workshop will take place indoors, before we head outside for the tour and activity. Please dress appropriately for both, and remember we'll be doing some planting - you may like to bring a pair of gardening gloves if you have them, or let us know if you're a complete beginner and would like to borrow a pair. We'll go ahead in most weathers, but may need to postpone in the case of a severe forecast.