Courses and Events at Barnsdale Gardens 2013

Courses and Events at Barnsdale Gardens 2013

Barnsdale Gardens have published their wide variety of courses for 2013  and there are plenty to choose from

It is fantastic to see such a variety of courses offered – not just gardening but also photography, painting, design and even Christmas wreath making! I have listed the courses for 2013 below, taken from the Barnsdale Gardens website http://www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk/courses-events/barnsdale-courses. All courses can be booked online at that link or by calling Barnsdale Gardens on 01572 813200.

If you travelling to the area to visit Barnsdale Gardens and are looking for self-catering accommodation then why not consider a stay at Puddle Cottage? Puddle Cottage is situated on the south shore of Rutland Water  and is just a short walk from the banks of the reservoir and the Rutland Sailing Club and Rutland Water Fishing Lodge, and is only 6 miles away from Barnsdale Gardens. The historic market towns of Stamford, Oakham and Uppingham are within 8 miles of the cottage too making it the perfect base to discover the area. The cottage is a recently refurbished one bedroomed character cottage – the bedroom can be presented as having one super king-sized bed or two full sized single beds. The cottage was built in 1849 and whilst keeping all the characteristics of an old cottage, such as exposed brickwork and timber as well as an open fire, it also has all the modern facilities you would expect such as a large flat screen TV with Freeview and DVD player, as well as a washing machine, dishwasher, tumbledryer and free WIFI access. We are also very proud that Puddle Cottage has been awarded its 4 star accreditation by the Quality in Tourism Board  for self –catering accommodation and also holds the ‘Walkers Welcome’ and ‘Cyclists Welcome’ Awards. The cottage also welcomes well behaved dogs and there are  fantastic walks locally.

If you are looking for 4 star self catering accommodation in Rutland, close to Barnsdale Gardens and for accommodation near Rutland Water,  please e/mail enquiries@puddle-cottage.co.uk or contact Anna on 07734175291. We would be delighted to welcome you to the area.

JANUARY
Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Normanton Church’ 17 January, 10.30am-4pm
Join talented local artist Sandra Peck to recreate an enchanting view from nearby Rutland Water with its partly submerged old stone church and beautiful reflections. Her step-by-step demonstrations are perfect for seasoned artists and novices alike and, together with a lovely lunch in the Barrnsdale Gardens Tea Room, make for a wonderfully relaxing day. Price £69, including lunch.
Winter at Barnsdale: A Guided Walk 23 January, 10.30am-12.30pm
Take a very special tour of the Gardens with Barnsdale’s owner Nick Hamilton, looking at the highlights of this magical time of year. Discover why and how individual gardens were created and find out which plants and trees are at their prime during winter, and the best place to put them in YOUR garden. Price £32.
FEBRUARY
Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Garden Views Simplified’ 21 February, 10.30am-4pm
Learn to capture beautiful scenes, such as the daisies in the Artisan’s Garden at Barnsdale, with minimum drawing and a simple wet-into-wet colour wash. Local artist Sandra Peck’s relaxing painting days combine simple step-by-step demonstrations with a lovely lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room and everyone is welcome, from the more experienced artist to the absolute beginner. Price £69, including lunch.
MARCH
Basics of Vegetable Growing* 1 March, 10.30am-12.30pm
Nick Hamilton explains the mysteries of soil preparation, seed sowing, plant raising, crop requirements and planting in this morning of top tips for beginners. Price £32.
Growing in Raised Beds* 1 March, 2pm-4pm
Nick Hamilton takes a look at the benefits of growing in raised beds and the vegetables that are particularly suited to this environment. Learn all about the best materials to use, bed construction, soils and soil mixes and cultivation for your most productive season ever! Price £32.
*Basics of Vegetable Growing and Growing in Raised Beds on 1 March: SPECIAL PRICE! 
Book a place on both these courses and get them for the special combined price of only £55.
The Illustrated Garden Journal: ‘Starting Out’ 5 March, 10am-12.30pm
Talented local artist and wildlife enthusiast Val Littlewood leads the first in our series of monthly art workshops on the theme of keeping an illustrated garden notebook. The classes will cover a wide variety of sketching and drawing styles plus simple printmaking and writing on the flora and fauna to be found in Barnsdale’s- and your own- garden. Classes can be taken individually or as a 10 week course and will build up over the months to produce a beautiful record of a year in nature. Price £32 per workshop- book three or more together and get a 25% discount. Basic materials available to buy on the day.
Rose Pruning 6 March, 10.30am-12.30pm
Roses are notorious for being tricky to trim so if you’re petrified of pruning, join Barnsdale’s Head Gardener Jon Brocklebank for a morning of simple step-by-step demonstrations and learn exactly how and when to tackle each different type. Price £32.
Introduction to Organic Vegetable Growing 7 March, 10.30pm-3.30pm
Led by Nick Hamilton, this course is aimed at both gardening novices and those who want to find out more about growing and ‘pest-proofing’ their vegetables the natural way. You’ll learn all about organic principles, soil types, organic fertilisers, pest and disease problems and how to cope with them organically, and ways to rotate your crops to get the best from your plot. The course includes classroom learning with practical, ‘on the allotment’ discussions, lunch in the Barnsdale Tea Room and a full set of printed notes to take home. Price £74, including lunch.
RHS Course: Vegetables All the Year Round 13 March, 10am-3.30pm
This practical course is run by Nick Hamilton especially for the RHS and is aimed at both experienced and novice growers who want to learn how to extend their productive season. Including propagation methods, growing in beds, storage and the importance of catch crops, by the end of the day you’ll be able to plan a planting programme to give you home-grown vegetables on the dinner table every day of the year. Price: RHS members, £44, non-members, £55.
RHS Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Sunlit Poppies’ 14 March, 10.30am-4pm
Detailed demonstrations by local artist Sandra Peck combine with a beautiful setting and a lovely lunch to make a very special day, capturing the translucent beauty of poppies in a soft-focus meadow. Everyone is welcome, from the more experienced artist to the absolute beginner and concessions apply to RHS members. Price, including lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room: RHS members, £55, non-members, £69.
Garden Design with Adam Frost* 16 March, 9.30am-4pm
Chelsea gold medal winning garden designer Adam Frost leads this interactive and informal course that promises to be a lot of fun; This is a popular and enjoyable course aimed at gardeners of all levels and provides an overview of all aspects of garden design. Price £120, including refreshments and lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room. To book, call Adam Frost Design on 01572 812186 or email info@adamfrost.co.uk
Planting Design with Adam Frost* 17 March, 9.30am-4pm
For many people, the most important part of a garden is the planting. Whether it is a romantic, dreamy, cottage-garden style combination, or a more minimalist, restrained plant selection, this one-day course can help you achieve your aim by using planting, colour combinations, foliage and texture – and inspire you to get the most from your plants. Price £120, including refreshments and lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room. To book, call Adam Frost Design on 01572 812186 or email info@adamfrost.co.uk
*Garden Design and Planting Design on 16 & 17 March: SPECIAL PRICE! 
Book a place on both these courses and get them for the special combined price of only £220.
Spring at Barnsdale: A Guided Walk 20 March, 10.30am-12.30pm
Take a special guided tour of BarnsdaleGardens with owner Nick Hamilton at this inspirational time of year. Taking in each individual garden, Nick will explain their history and share his favourites, highlighting the plants and trees that are in their prime in the spring. Price £32.
Plant Propagation 22 March, 10.30am-12.30pm
Learn all about stem, root and leaf cuttings, division and layering; Nick Hamilton’s in- and outdoor practical demonstrations include a wide range of plants and at the end the course, you should be able to propagate almost any plant in your garden. Price £32.
APRIL
The Illustrated Garden Journal: ‘Recording Spring’  2 April, 10am-12.30pm
Talented local artist and nature enthusiast Val Littlewood leads the second in our series of monthly art workshops on the theme of keeping an illustrated garden notebook, with a morning spent drawing and painting the emerging flowers and wildlife in Barnsdale’s beautiful gardens. Classes can be taken individually or as a 10 week course and will build up over the months to produce a beautiful record of a year in nature. Price £32 per workshop- book three or more together and get a 25% discount. Basic materials available to buy on the day.
Composting 8 April, 10.30am-12.30pm
Being able to compost all that free material that we generate at home and in the garden is an exciting thought. This course will show you how! Nick Hamilton takes a look at what can and cannot be composted, the requirements of a compost heap, activators, turning a heap and the pros and cons of each type of compost bin. Price £32.
Vegetables All the Year Round 11 April, 10am-3.30pm
Aimed at both experienced and novice growers, Nick Hamilton’s course will show you the many ways you can extend your growing season; learn all about different vegetable varieties, propagation by seed, growing in beds, storage, and the importance of catch crops. Lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room is included and by the end of the day you’ll be able to plan your own planting programme to give you home-grown vegetables on the dinner table all year round. Price £74, including lunch.
Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Tulips in Soft Focus’ 16 April, 10.30am-4pm
Join talented local artist Sandra Peck for a most enjoyable day, discovering surprisingly easy and effective ways to use your watercolours; you’ll learn how to drop paint on to wet paper to create a colourful soft-focus background and try lifting and glazing techniques to add flowers in the foreground. Lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room is included and everyone is welcome, from the more experienced artist to the absolute beginner. Price £69, including lunch.
Pruning Shrubs 17 April, 10.30am-12.30pm
If the thought of pruning your shrubs brings you out in a cold sweat, then this is the course for you! Join Barnsdale’s Head Gardener Jon Brocklebank as he tackles plants in the various pruning groups in two hours of easy-to-follow practical demonstrations. Price £32.
MAY
The Illustrated Garden Journal: ‘Birds, Beasts and Bugs’  7 May, 10am-12.30pm
Talented local artist and wildlife enthusiast Val Littlewood leads the third in our series of monthly art workshops on the theme of keeping an illustrated garden notebook, with a morning exploring the importance and beauty of wildlife in the garden. Classes can be taken individually or as a 10 week course and will build up over the months to produce a beautiful record of a year in nature. Price £32 per workshop- book three or more together and get a 25% discount. Basic materials available to buy on the day.
Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Watercolour Cards’ 23 May, 10.30am-4pm
Join talented local artist Sandra Peck for a relaxing day’s painting at beautiful BarnsdaleGardens. Try out new techniques, following her detailed demonstrations and choosing from several different floral subjects to use on your own special cards for friends and family.  Lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room is included in the price and everyone is welcome, from the more experienced artist to the absolute beginner. Price £69, including lunch.
Growing Under Glass 31 May, 10.30am-12.30pm
Nick Hamilton shows you how to get the most from a productive greenhouse or tunnel in this easy-to-follow course. There are different types of structure suited to every pocket, so come and find out what you can grow, how to propagate your plants, what to do about pests and diseases, all about maintenance and, finally, how to achieve a bumper harvest! Price £32.
JUNE
Flower Photography Workshop 1 June, 9.30am-4.30pm
Learn how to record the fragile beauty of flowers in close-up with award-winning botanical and garden photographer Hemant Jariwala. This inspiring course covers the use of light, composition and colour and includes lots of useful tips and new techniques which will change the way you see the plants in YOUR garden. Lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room is included and both occasional and enthusiast photographers are welcome. Price £69, including lunch.
The Illustrated Garden Journal: ‘The Botanical Art of Flowers’  4 June, 10am-12.30pm
Talented local artist and nature enthusiast Val Littlewood leads the fourth in our series of monthly art workshops on the theme of keeping an illustrated garden notebook, with a morning devoted to botanical illustration and learning how flowers work. Classes can be taken individually or as a 10 week course and will build up over the months to produce a beautiful record of a year in nature. Price £32 per workshop- book three or more together and get a 25% discount. Basic materials available to buy on the day.
Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Rose Garden’ 20 June, 10.30am-4pm
Detailed demonstrations by local artist Sandra Peck combine with a beautiful setting and a delicious lunch to make a most enjoyable day. You’ll learn to paint a gorgeous summer scene from the garden with minimum fuss and lots of drippy paint, while picking up lots of useful techniques along the way and everyone is welcome, from the more experienced artist to the absolute beginner. Price £69, including lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room
JULY
The Illustrated Garden Journal: ‘Recording Summer’  2 July, 10am-12.30pm
Talented local artist and nature enthusiast Val Littlewood leads the fifth in our series of monthly art workshops on the theme of keeping an illustrated garden notebook, with a morning spent drawing and painting in Barnsdale’s beautiful summer gardens. Classes can be taken individually or as a 10 week course and will build up over the months to produce a beautiful record of a year in nature. Price £32 per workshop- book three or more together and get a 25% discount. Basic materials available to buy on the day.
Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Flowerpots’ 25 July, 10.30am-4pm
There is something charming and characterful about old pots of different shapes and sizes full of summer flowers, and it’s not as difficult as you might think to capture them with lots of delicious wet-into-wet watercolour. Join talented local artist Sandra Peck for a relaxing day of easy-to-follow demonstrations where everyone is welcome, from the more experienced artist to the absolute beginner, and a lovely lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room is included in the price. Price £69, including lunch.
AUGUST
Garden Photography Workshop 3 August, 9.30am-4.30pm
Learn how to really capture the essence of your favourite special places with award-winning botanical and garden photographer Hemant Jariwala. This inspiring course offers a full exploration of garden design and how to express this as a photographic composition, with lots of useful tips and new techniques along the way. Lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room is included and both occasional and enthusiast photographers are welcome. Price £69, including lunch.
The Illustrated Garden Journal: ‘Sun Prints’  Tuesday 6 August, 10am-12.30pm
Talented local artist and nature enthusiast Val Littlewood leads the sixth in our series of monthly art workshops on the theme of keeping an illustrated garden notebook, with a morning capturing the beauty of plants using an simple photographic technique. Classes can be taken individually or as a 10 week course and will build up over the months to produce a beautiful record of a year in nature. Price £32 per workshop- book three or more together and get a 25% discount. Basic materials available to buy on the day.
Gardening in Shade 20 August, 10.30am-12.30pm
Discover a range of plants that are perfect for the shady areas in your garden and clever ways to improve growing conditions and broaden your scope for planting. Nick Hamilton’s morning course combines indoor tuition with an outdoor exploration of Barnsdale’s beautiful Gardens in search of some of the shade-loving plants that grow there. Price £32.
Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Waterlilies’ 22 August, 10.30am-4pm
Detailed demonstrations combine with a beautiful setting and a delicious lunch to make a most enjoyable day. Follow Sandra Peck’s step-by-step demonstrations to paint these gorgeous flowers, complete with reflections and water droplets on the lily pads, in this relaxing course where everyone is welcome, from the more experienced artist to the absolute beginner. Price £69, including lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room.
SEPTEMBER
The Illustrated Garden Journal: ‘Preserve, Press and Print’ 3 September, 10am-12.30pm 
Talented local artist and nature enthusiast Val Littlewood leads the seventh in our series of monthly art workshops on the theme of keeping an illustrated garden notebook, with an exploration of the different ways you can make art from found natural objects. Classes can be taken individually or as a 10 week course and will build up over the months to produce a beautiful record of a year in nature. Price £32 per workshop- book three or more together and get a 25% discount. Basic materials available to buy on the day.
Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Misty Lavender’ 10 September, 10.30am-4pm
Fragrant lavender and an old stone urn provide an exquisitely romantic subject in Sandra Peck’s workshop for artists at all levels. Follow her detailed demonstrations to try out a variety of watercolour techniques and enjoy a delicious lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room. Price £69, including lunch.
Composting 25 September, 10.30am-12.30pm
Being able to compost all that free material that we generate at home and in the garden is an exciting thought. This course will show you how! Nick Hamilton takes a look at what can and cannot be composted, the requirements of a compost heap, activators, turning a heap and the pros and cons of each type of compost bin. Price £32.
Preparing Your Garden For Winter 26 September, 10am-12.30pm
In these days of global warming and changing weather patterns, the term “putting your garden to bed for winter” no longer really applies, but there are still plenty of jobs that need to be carried out before the cold weather really kicks in. Nick Hamilton leads this morning course covering all the necessary tasks needed to see your garden and accessories through a ‘normal’ British winter, whatever that may be! Price £32.
OCTOBER
The Illustrated Garden Journal: ‘Recording Autumn’  1 October, 10am-12.30pm
Talented local artist and nature enthusiast Val Littlewood leads the eighth in our series of monthly art workshops on the theme of keeping an illustrated garden notebook, with a morning spent drawing and painting in Barnsdale’s glorious autumn gardens. Classes can be taken individually or as a 10 week course and will build up over the months to produce a beautiful record of a year in nature. Price £32 per workshop- book three or more together and get a 25% discount. Basic materials available to buy on the day.
RHS Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Hollyhocks’ 1 October, 10.30am-4pm
Join local artist Sandra Peck to learn quick and colourful ways to capture these appealing old garden favourites with a loose, wet-into-wet, misty cottage garden backdrop. Everyone is welcome, from the more experienced artist to the absolute beginner and concessions apply to RHS members. Price, including lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room: RHS members, £55, non-members, £69.
Rose Pruning 2 October, 10.30am-12.30pm or 2pm-4pm
Roses are notorious for being tricky to trim so if you’re petrified of pruning, we’ve got just the course for you! In this easy-to-follow, practical session, Barnsdale’s Head Gardener Jon Brocklebank will show you exactly how and when each type of rose should be pruned, using simple step-by-step demonstrations. Price £32.
Introduction to Organic Vegetable Growing 7 October, 10.30pm-3.30pm
Led by Nick Hamilton, this course is aimed at both gardening novices and those who want to find out more about growing and ‘pest-proofing’ their vegetables the natural way. You’ll learn all about organic principles, soil types, organic fertilisers, pest and disease problems and how to cope with them organically, and ways to rotate your crops to get the best from your plot. The course includes classroom learning with practical, ‘on the allotment’ discussions, lunch in the Barnsdale Tea Room and a full set of printed notes to take home. Price £74, including lunch.
Simple Garden Design 9 October, 7pm-9pm
This course will give beginners the knowledge and confidence to carry out some basic garden design for their own outdoor spaces. Our tutor is Adam Frost, a Chelsea Gold Medal winning garden designer who is also an expert landscape gardener, which makes him one of the very best in his field. Price £32.
Growing Soft Fruit 10 October, 10.30am-12.30pm
Nothing tastes like a home-grown strawberry or raspberry and in this morning of top tips Nick Hamilton will show you how, covering a wide range of soft fruit, plus soil requirements, aspects, growing conditions, training and pruning. Price £32.
Autumn at Barnsdale: A Guided Walk 15 October, 10.30am-12.30pm
Take a special guided tour around the Gardens with Nick Hamilton at this colourful time of year. Nick will consider all the individual Gardens and adjoining borders and will point out some of his favourite specimens, as well as the plants and trees that are the stars of this time of year. Price £32.
Pruning Shrubs 16 October, 10.30am-12.30pm
Barnsdale’s Head Gardener Jon Brocklebank demonstrates this most feared of gardening tasks in a practical two-hour session- learn how to tackle each of the various pruning groups and you’ll soon be shearing the shrubs in your own garden with confidence. Price £32.
Vegetables All the Year Round 23 October, 10am-3.30pm
Aimed at both experienced and novice growers, Nick Hamilton’s course will show you the many ways you can extend your growing season; learn all about different vegetable varieties, propagation by seed, growing in beds, storage, and the importance of catch crops. Lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room is included and by the end of the day you’ll be able to plan your own planting programme to give you home-grown vegetables on the dinner table all year round. Price £74, including lunch.
RHS Course: Vegetables All the Year Round 24 October, 10am-3.30pm
This practical course is run by Nick Hamilton especially for the RHS and is aimed at both experienced and novice growers who want to learn how to extend their productive season. Including propagation methods, growing in beds, storage and the importance of catch crops, by the end of the day you’ll be able to plan a planting programme to give you home-grown vegetables on the dinner table every day of the year.
Price: RHS members, £44, non-members, £55.
NOVEMBER
The Illustrated Garden Journal: ‘Prints From the Garden’ 5 November, 10am-12.30pm
Talented local artist and nature enthusiast Val Littlewood leads the ninth in our series of monthly art workshops on the theme of keeping an illustrated garden notebook, with a morning spent exploring different printing techniques using natural media. Classes can be taken individually or as a 10 week course and will build up over the months to produce a beautiful record of a year in nature. Price £32 per workshop- book three or more together and get a 25% discount. Basic materials available to buy on the day.
Plant Propagation 6 November, 10.30am-12.30pm
Get new plants for free by learning the different forms of vegetative plant propagation; stem, root and leaf cuttings, division and layering. Our in- and outdoor practical demonstrations include a wide range of plants and at the end the session, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to propagate almost any plant in your garden. Price £32.
Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Stained Glass Window’ 7 November, 10.30am-4pm
Join talented local artist Sandra Peck for a really relaxing day, painting a scene of glowing light through coloured glass and falling snow. It’s a stunning subject and Sandra’s simple step-by-step demonstrations make it achievable for everyone, from the more experienced artist to the absolute beginner.   Price £69, including lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room.
Pruning Fruit Trees 13 November, 10.30am-12.30pm or 2pm-4pm
If you’ve got fruit trees in need of a haircut but no idea how to begin, then we have just the course for you! An easy-to-follow tutorial accompanied by practical demonstrations will give you the basic knowledge and confidence you need to train and prune a wide range of fruiting trees, whether they be the usual apples, pears, plums and cherries, or even peaches, apricots, nectarines and figs. Price £32.
Christmas Wreath-Making Workshop  24 November, 10.30am-12.30pm
Talented flower artist Sue Jarvis shows you how to make a beautiful natural wreath to take home, using evergreen leaves, fruits and seedheads gathered from Barnsdale and her own garden. This relaxed and friendly morning course includes detailed demonstrations, festive refreshments and all materials – a lovely way to start the holiday season. Price £40.
DECEMBER
The Illustrated Garden Journal: ‘Recording Winter’  3 December, 10am-12.30pm
Talented local artist and nature enthusiast Val Littlewood completes her series of monthly art workshops on the theme of keeping an illustrated garden notebook, with a morning spent drawing and painting the flora and fauna in Barnsdale’s magical winter gardens. Classes can be taken individually, or as a 10 week course to produce a beautiful record of a year in nature. Price £32 per workshop- book three or more together and get a 25% discount. Basic materials available to buy on the day.
Watercolour Painting Day: ‘Simple Cards’ 5 December, 10.30am-4pm
Learn lovely ways to paint frosty trees, with lots of techniques and colour suggestions for capturing snow in watercolour. Sandra Peck’s pre-Christmas painting day is ideal if you want to create your own unique cards and everyone is welcome, from the more experienced artist to the absolute beginner. Price £69, including lunch in the Barnsdale Gardens Tea Room.