Workshop: Composting at Home

Kitchen ‘waste’ doesn’t need to be wasted - as organic gardeners, we instead consider it a wonderful resource. When food is sent to landfill, not only does it release methane (a greenhouse gas negatively impacting the environment), but it also sacrifices nutrient value that can be put to much better use.

In this session you’ll learn how you can turn old kitchen scraps and waste into various forms of plant and garden feed, closing a waste loop and benefiting your garden, and biodiversity.

We will be looking at the merits of composting, wormeries, and bokashi, and how you can incorporate them into your own home and garden, depending on your individual needs - even in small urban homes with little to no outdoor space.

Composting beginners - and plenty of questions - welcome!

We’ll cover how to get started in creating your compost heap or bin using found or recycled materials, and how to be more self sufficient and regenerative to improve your soil and biodiversity. We’ll also get to know the ratios of greens and browns, meet the microbes, worms and other critters that will assist you in building healthy soil, and:

• Take a dive into the compost heap

• Share our tips and tricks to demystify the microbe rich life of compost

• Learn about the differences in aerobic and anaerobic composting

• How to source waste streams to enhance your compost bin

Meet Jack

Jack is a Garden Education Officer at Walworth Garden, teaching students on our Level 2 Work-Based Horticulture Diploma courses.He lives in South London and volunteers on a variety of community growing initiatives as well as experimenting and developing new regenerative growing methods, closing waste stream loops and building healthy soil.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Already done this workshop and want to learn more? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Bonsai on a Budget

The ancient art of bonsai - growing trees in miniature - can be frustrating for first-timers and expensive for enthusiasts.

In this workshop, you'll learn how to keep a bonsai alive, healthy and attractive. We will identify cheap alternatives to some expensive traditional tools and materials, and help you seek out trees suitable for the beginner on a budget.

Together we will explore:

• The history and aesthetics of bonsai: what characteristics are prized by enthusiasts and why.

• How to find and select suitable trees and pots for use as bonsai starter material.

• How to keep a bonsai alive, and why this is so much harder than for a typical pot plant.

• Going beyond survival: the support a tree needs to thrive as a bonsai.

The workshop will provide you with hands-on experience of key bonsai activities such as repotting, wiring and pruning. You will go away with your very own beginner's bonsai... perhaps the first of your future collection!

This course is suitable for all levels of horticultural experience; no gardening experience required. Basic material will be provided, including appropriate seedlings, but participants are also welcome to bring their own.

If bringing a tree, please email us its species, approximate dimensions, and whether it has previously been treated as a bonsai after booking.

Meet Alex

Alex developed a bonsai addiction shortly before the pandemic, just in time to fill in for actual face-to-face contact. When not training under his instructor, the bonsai expert Mark d'Cruz, Alex favours an iterative scientific approach to horticultural learning - and, having consequently killed more trees than Bolsonaro, is keen to share his accumulated knowledge of What Not To Do.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the waiting list please complete the form below:

Already tried this workshop and want to learn something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Botanical Perfume Making

Plants have been used in many forms since antiquity in devotional rituals and celebrations, to fragrance the air, anoint, cleanse, heal, beautify and to stir the senses. Discover these origins and the remarkable role of aromatic plants in this immersive workshop, where you will enjoy a hands-on, interactive time embracing the theory and creative art of botanical perfumery. With this new knowledge, plus sampling and discussion, you will be guided on basic perfumery composition and blending in order to create your personal 10ml natural perfume rollerball blend to take home.

We’ll be covering:

• The origins and history of perfume

• Understand perfume vocabulary – the art of smelling and training the nose

• Perfume structure – Top, Middle, Base notes

• Difference between oil and perfume alcohol based fragrance blending

• Fragrance classifications

• Secrets of blending & dilutions

• Safety and storage

Meet Tanya

Tanya (TIDHA, MIFPA) trained as a Clinical Aromatherapist, which led to further studies in natural perfumery. She now combines her clinical work with delivering events and workshops in blending, botanical skincare and perfumery; and provides conceptual fragrance ideas for events, museums and public spaces. She has a passion for unusual ingredients, botanical history and use of plants in folklore. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @perfumemistress and find out more about her work on her website here.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full

This workshop is fully booked, if you would like to join the waiting list for this course then please complete the form below:

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Botanical Body Care

This practical, creative, hands-on workshop is designed to show you how to create simple, effective yet luxurious bath and body products using botanical materials and fragrant, therapeutic essential oils, that you can tailor for yourself and others.

Learn how to combine simple ingredients to make three effective, eco-friendly yet luxurious bath and body treats to take home, with further suggestions on ingredients, blending and adapting recipes at home to continue your sustainable self-care skills. We will look at how to combine ingredients safely and for personalised effects, understand good basic knowledge of key essential oils, herbs and other botanical extracts. This session is ideal for anyone who is interested in eco-friendly skincare, natural products and wishes to deepen their connection to plant based ingredients, and those looking for homemade gift inspiration!

Together we will explore:

• The benefits and uses of natural, botanical ingredients and essential oils

• How to create effective, simple bath soaks, scrubs and handcream to maintain healthy skin and boost wellbeing

• How to combine essential oils safely for cosmetic, therapeutic and fragrant effect

• How to adapt recipes and blends and further develop creativity at home to make effective skincare for personal use and gifts.

You will leave this session with increased confidence and understanding of how simple natural ingredients can be used in your daily wellbeing and skincare regime, plus create 3 skin and bath-care products to take home, in addition to comprehensive notes with further suggestions on experimenting.

Meet Tanya

Tanya (TIDHA, MIFPA) trained as a Clinical Aromatherapist, which led to further studies in natural perfumery. She now combines her clinical work with delivering events and workshops in blending, botanical skincare and perfumery; and provides conceptual fragrance ideas for events, museums and public spaces. She has a passion for unusual ingredients, botanical history and use of plants in folklore. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @perfumemistress and find out more about her work on her website here.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the waiting list, please complete the form below:

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Gardening for Wildlife

This forward-thinking workshop is an opportunity to rethink our approaches to garden design, planting, and all traditional gardening practices. As gardeners and allotmenteers, we often forget we act as custodians not only of the land but also of its inhabitants.  While traditional gardening encourages us to 'sanitise' our spaces by removing a range of ‘threats’, this works to alienate our wildlife and contribute to its decline.

This workshop explores what role gardeners can play in enhancing the miraculous relationship between the plants and animals in our spaces. During the session you will gain insight into simple, achievable actions that can help you to encourage wildlife in your garden and learn to adopt a more relaxed attitude to the way you manage your space. Alongside practical demonstrations of our own radical ‘nature-first’  approach, we aim to discuss current trends in sustainable gardening, with a critical approach to their impact. The session will leave you confident in moving beyond simply ‘organic’ or ‘chemical free’, into embracing the wild, without sacrificing what is most valuable to you in your space.

• ‘If something is not eating your plants, then your garden is not part of the ecosystem’: alternative approaches to pest and disease management

• Creating habitats, forage, and water

• Introduction to some projects for the wildlife gardener: ponds, bee banks, wildflower meadows

• Holistic garden practices: dead-hedging, composting and mess!

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Workshop: Pruning Skills

This practical workshop is designed to clarify the technical skills for those wishing to prune their own plants at home. One of the more technical tasks at the turn of the gardening year, pruning can sometimes intimidate those new to gardening. In this Pruning Skills workshop, you’ll learn why pruning is such an integral part of managing a garden, as well as demystifying the skills and techniques required to succeed. Together we will examine, through examples, the basic approaches to pruning a range of different types of plant for different reasons, working with the plants in our beautiful South London garden. In this workshop, we will cover:

• Why prune? The benefits to plants, animal life, and gardeners!

• Safe use of tools and equipment, and their basic maintenance

• Practical pruning of herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees

• Pruning with purpose: flowers, fruit, health, and structure

• Integration into other garden practices: dead-hedging, composting and garden structures

Meet Jack

Jack is a Garden Education Officer at Walworth Garden, teaching students on our Level 2 Work-Based Horticulture Diploma courses.He lives in South London and volunteers on a variety of community growing initiatives as well as experimenting and developing new regenerative growing methods, closing waste stream loops and building healthy soil.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Already done this workshop and want to learn more? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Incense Making

Since the days of ancient Egypt and Rome, incense has been used for purification, ceremony, devotion and pure pleasure. Today, with 5,000 years of tradition and aesthetic refinement at its core, the use of incense is reaching new levels of popularity.

Join us for a unique one-day session exploring the ancient, devotional art of incense. This creative, practical workshop focuses on using premium fragrant materials, such as resins, herbs; fruits; flowers seeds; spices and essential oils selected for their historic, therapeutic, fragrant and magical resonance.

You will be introduced, via smell and touch, to a variety of plant botanicals including essential oils, understand their history, their uses and how to select and blend them to create your own beautiful and unique incense.

We will then make two sets of incense: the first will be a batch of incense cones made together as a group, and this will be followed by guidance through making of a set of loose incense individually, where you will be able to select your own choice of ingredients with which to make this bespoke.

We will also explore:

• History of incense and types of incense

• Fragrant botanical ingredients, essential oils and binders and how to work with them

• Safe preparation and creative blending guidelines

• Troubleshooting, tips and tricks to ensure your cones burn evenly and smell great

• Safety, dilutions, storage, creating a formula and record keeping

This session is ideal for anyone who is fascinated by incense, enjoys experimenting with plants and fragrance and who wishes to make clean, therapeutic and bespoke incense for their personal use or as gifts.

**Please note the cones will need approx. 24 - 36 hours to fully dry out at home** - please bring a shallow lunch box or similar container, to store and transport your cones home safely!

Meet Tanya

Tanya (TIDHA, MIFPA) trained as a Clinical Aromatherapist, which led to further studies in natural perfumery. She now combines her clinical work with delivering events and workshops in blending, botanical skincare and perfumery; and provides conceptual fragrance ideas for events, museums and public spaces. She has a passion for unusual ingredients, botanical history and use of plants in folklore. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @perfumemistress and find out more about her work on her website here.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Introduction to Gardening

One of our most popular workshops, Introduction to Gardening guides you through the approaches and essential knowledge that will help you to become a successful gardener. This is the first session we recommend to all with little or no gardening experience, and especially those hoping to begin gardening at home in their houses, balconies, or gardens. Join us in our award-winning and sumptuously-planted garden for this primary insight into the fundamentals of sustainable and future-facing gardening. We also allow (and encourage!) plenty of time for questions, and welcome discussion in shaping the session. This session will cover:

• Growing media, compost and soil

• The basics of propagation

• What to grow that's easy

• Gardening with nature

• Pruning

• Pests and diseases - avoidance tactics that are kind to the ecosystem

• Right plant, right place and aspect - considerations for planning

Please note that for those interested in learning to grow food, we have another course called ‘Introduction to Food Growing’.

Meet Charlie

Charlie is a Peckham local who is passionate about both the community and the environment. With a background in health and social care management, he is invested in promoting community involvement and environmental issues through organic gardening. Charlie is an expert in landscape and planting design within urban environments, and is currently teaching the next generation of horticulturalists as a Garden Education Officer here at Walworth Garden.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the waiting list, please enter your details below:

Can’t make this date? We are running this workshop again on the dates below! Click through to find out more.

Already attended this workshop? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Container Gardening

Almost any container can be a planter - this workshop is designed to share the methods to growing within their confines, and transforming these everyday items into scaled down gardens. We will decipher some of the skills, knowledge, and terminology to help you compose successful, long-lasting container gardens, from window boxes to small outdoor balconies and gardens.

This workshop will also be valuable to those who do have larger gardens to work with - one of the joys of pots and containers is that they can be moved! In bigger spaces, they can be brought into the fore to be celebrated, and then moved into the background while dormant, and we’ll also be covering how to manage this.

The session will explore:

• Types of containers, choosing plants that will work well in them, and grouping plants together

• High rise balconies and dealing with the exposure they might create for plants; artificial landscapes and how to deal with them for best effect

• Growing media - avoiding peat, what is available, what you can mix yourself, and what suits your plant choices

• Drainage, feeding, and other maintenance tasks to ensure ongoing success

Meet Alice

Alice is an experienced London gardener who can often be found growing food and planting for pollinators on London’s rooftops, including at the Coutts Skyline Garden. She is passionate about ‘organic by default’ and wildlife gardening, and currently shares her skills as a Garden Education Officer teaching Level 2 qualifications here at Walworth Garden.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the waitlist, please complete the form below:

Already tried this workshop and want to try something more? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Planning your Kitchen Garden

Homegrown produce is not only tastier but, when your plot is well and truly thriving, it can even reduce your grocery bills. The ability to harvest new potatoes while they are still expensive in the shops, harvest difficult-to-buy delicacies like sprout tops, or have a constant supply of salads and herbs through the summer, is a satisfaction that comes from growing your own. Join our organic kitchen garden expert Sarah to learn how to start a beautiful and productive plot in four easy steps: designing your space, preparing your soil, maximising yield, and planning ongoing maintenance of your garden. We will give you guidance to create your own individualised design for your new kitchen garden and provide lots of ideas and practical tips on how to make this happen - please bring along photographs and/or diagrams of your plot to help create your new design!

This session is ideal for anyone who is keen to start growing their own vegetables and fruit and want to explore how to design their available space for both beauty and functionality. Together we will explore:

• Design principles and how they relate to fruit and vegetable growing

• Identifying your soil type and how to improve it where needed and look after it well

• Choosing crops to grow that are right for you and your space

• Looking after your kitchen garden to keep it beautiful and productive

You will leave this session with a personalised plan of your new kitchen garden layout and lots of ideas for what to grow and how to maintain it.

Working with a small space or balcony? This session is aimed at those planning a small plot of land so why not try our Intro to Food Growing or Herbs and Edible Flowers instead?

Meet Sarah

Sarah began her gardening journey in 2005, working with disabled people helping them to overcome ongoing mental ill-health by accessing gardening. She went on to run gardening projects and sessional tutoring for Age UK Merton and EcoLocal teaching, before completing the RHS Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture, and working as a Senior Tutor, delivering horticultural training to disabled adults, and teaching City and Guilds Practical Horticulture Courses to Level 2.

Sarah has recently completed her RHS Master of Horticulture degree course with distinction and was the recipient of the RHS Chittenden award this year for coming top of her year group, she continues to pass on knowledge by teaching at EcoLocal, Sutton Parks Department, and Walworth Garden.

In her spare time, Sarah looks after her own garden and allotment and enjoys cooking, sewing and yoga.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Already done this workshop and want to learn something else? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Radical Herbal Histories

Join community herbalist Rasheeqa on a journey through the cycle of history. This unique, discussion-based session will explore how societal processes and narratives from the last thousand years have led us directly to how and where we live now in our relationships with the earth, healthcare, and plant medicine. Unearthing the origins and roots of herbal medicine, the stories of women healers in history, and the violence of patriarchal; colonial; and capitalist destruction, this workshop will consider how we can respond to the histories we are born from, and how we might move into healthier relations and futures. The session will also include:

• Herb tasting and collective medicine making to honour and continue the ancient intelligence and care of ancestors

• Majority world wisdoms and resilient traditions

• The sharing of experiences, knowledge and perspectives

• Resources for future explorations

Research and consideration on this history informs Rasheeqa’s work with the daily experiences of healthcare injustice and neglect that she holds space for in her clinical and community practice, and informs her approach to her work in supporting the health of people, in collaborating with others, and in responding to imbalances in our power dynamics that generate systemic illness. 

Meet Rasheeqa

Rasheeqa is a community medical herbalist based in east London with 5 years’ experience of facilitating group learning and teaching short and long courses in many aspects of herbal medicine. She is passionate about collaborative and participatory herbalism in the community, with a focus on sharing and exchanging healing traditions between the diverse cultures and knowledge of London. She is currently initiating a community apothecary project in Walthamstow - Community Herbal Hands - which seeks to develop networks of medicinal plant cultivation, harvesting, preparing, knowledge-sharing and use for health and well being support in our neighbourhoods.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This workshop is now fully booked, please complete the form below if you would like to be added to the waitlist:

Can’t make this date? We are running this workshop again on the date below! Click through to find out more.

Workshop: Botanical Perfume Making

Plants have been used in many forms since antiquity in devotional rituals and celebrations, to fragrance the air, anoint, cleanse, heal, beautify and to stir the senses. Discover these origins and the remarkable role of aromatic plants in this immersive workshop, where you will enjoy a hands-on, interactive time embracing the theory and creative art of botanical perfumery. With this new knowledge, plus sampling and discussion, you will be guided on basic perfumery composition and blending in order to create your personal 10ml natural perfume rollerball blend to take home.

We’ll be covering:

• The origins and history of perfume

• Understand perfume vocabulary – the art of smelling and training the nose

• Perfume structure – Top, Middle, Base notes

• Difference between oil and perfume alcohol based fragrance blending

• Fragrance classifications

• Secrets of blending & dilutions

• Safety and storage

Meet Tanya

Tanya (TIDHA, MIFPA) trained as a Clinical Aromatherapist, which led to further studies in natural perfumery. She now combines her clinical work with delivering events and workshops in blending, botanical skincare and perfumery; and provides conceptual fragrance ideas for events, museums and public spaces. She has a passion for unusual ingredients, botanical history and use of plants in folklore. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @perfumemistress and find out more about her work on her website here.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full

This workshop is now fully booked, to be put on the wait list please enter your details below:

Can’t make this date? We are running this workshop again on the date below! Click through to find out more.

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: The Basics of Fundraising for Community Gardening Groups

Join our in-house fundraiser to discover the many pots of money your group could be eligible to receive, and how to access them. Focusing on self-directed fundraising from trusts and foundations for project-based work (and what all this jargon means!), this session is ideal for those with little to no experience in fundraising, and anyone who volunteers or works with community groups (particularly gardening groups) and would like to begin supporting them further by bringing in funding.

We will be demystifying grant process in its full cycle, and covering:

• Searching for appropriate funds

• Selecting what to apply for

• Completing a successful application

• Common hurdles and pitfalls,

• What to do when you win a grant (and when you don’t!)

• Reporting back to the grant maker

We’ll be focusing mostly on gardening spaces and the people that work within them, but the general tips and tricks will be widely applicable, so this session with also be of interest to anyone who might like to explore a career in fundraising and/or the wider charity sector, but would like to know more about what this field entails.

You’ll leave with some helpful resources to move you forward, and ready to complete your first grant application. Handouts will be provided but you may want to bring a notebook and pen.

Meet Francesca

Francesca has been working in communications for arts and non-profit organisations for nearly 10 years, and made the jump into fundraising 2 years ago when becoming the Fundraising and Engagement Officer at Walworth Garden. She is passionate about accessibility and inclusion within the sector and especially when it comes to diverting funds to small charities.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Already done this workshop and want to learn more? Why not try the below?

This dynamic, interactive workshop is designed to empower participants with the knowledge and skills to create personalised hair care boosts, using botanical ingredients. With plenty of discussion, creativity, and hands-onproduct making, attendees will gain insights into the benefits of plant powders and teas, as well as fresh plant-based oil mixtures, and their positive impact on hair health.

We will be covering:

• An introduction to botanicals

• Understanding the properties and benefits of various powdered plants, oil mixtures, and teas for optimal hair health.

• Hands-on formulation activities guided by practitioner expertise, where participants will have the opportunity to create personalised hair care blends using sustainable and locally sourced ingredients.

• Introduction to a range of techniques that treat hair as a versatile material, and learning to attune to individual hair needs.

• A discussion sustainable activities, exploring the significance of sustainable practices in both personal care routines and their broader environmental impact.

• Eco-friendly alternatives within the beauty industry.

We’ll also be working to foster a sense of community by encouraging knowledge sharing and shared experiences. Participants will leave equipped with the ability to craft customised hair care products tailored to their unique hair type, climate, and lifestyle - and empowered to take control of their hair care routines using natural and sustainable methods.

All materials and equipment will be provided. Participants should wear comfortable clothing that they don’t mind getting dirty, and closed-toe shoes.

Meet Samantha

Samantha, founder of ICI CARE, is a passionate chemist and botanical enthusiast dedicated to sustainable haircare. Her workshops empower individuals to create personalised, eco-friendly hair care solutions using botanicals, build a sense of community, and raise awareness of sustainable beauty practices.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Already done this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Ferns and Spores: Sowing and Cultivating

This practical and theoretical workshop is an opportunity to learn more about the fern life cycle, how they reproduce and how you can grow your own from spore to adult and back again.

We’ll explore:

• The stages of a fern’s life

• What a fern spore is and where to find them

• How to collect and store spores for sowing

• How to sow spores and grow them on

This session is ideal for anyone who has ever been entranced by the subtle beauty of a fern frond but is mystified at the prospect of growing them. This session will prove it’s easier than you think; often all you need is patience.

You will leave with the confidence and skill to start propagating the ferns you find in your world, as well as your own sown pot of spores to take with you to watch them green up and grow.

Meet Richard

Richard is an active member of London’s community gardening movement, facilitating networking and peer-to-peer training with Social Farms & Gardens, and delivering nature engagement and community food growing activities across the city. Previously, he trained as a horticulturist with the RHS, Cambridge Botanic Garden and Kew Gardens. He has been growing ferns for 5 years now, and can often be found anxiously peering and poking into pots of spores, willing the unfolding of ferny magic to go faster.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Workshop: Birding at Walworth Garden & Beyond

This practical workshop is an opportunity to discover the fantastic birds of Walworth Garden and the surrounding area including House sparrows, Dunnocks, Greater spotted woodpeckers and even Peregrine falcons. Birdwatching is an activity that is open to everybody and you don’t need any special equipment to get started.

We will introduce you to bird ecology, habitats and behaviour with some practical tips on how to identify birds in the field including tricky species.

We’ll also be sharing tips on how you can help birds in London including providing food, nesting and habitat.

Together, we will explore:

• Bird ecology, habitats and behaviour with a particular focus on species in the local area

• Bird identification using sight and sound (including tricky species)

• How to support birds in London including planting, food, nesting and nestboxes etc

• Prepare for the Big Garden Birdwatch (26-28th January 2024)

All are welcome, whether you are new to birding or have some experience and want to connect with others and share your experiences. No binoculars required but if you would like to bring your own, you’re welcome to.

We will be spending a large portion of the day outside (and away from the garden) so please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.

Meet Sarah Lo

Sarah’s foremost interest is in natural history, studying the plants and animals through observation in the field - a pastime that is open to everybody! Sarah enjoys learning how to identify species and develop an understanding of the relationships between organisms within an ecosystem. Sarah has a particular interest in moths and has undertaken close to 100 moth surveys in London and led the Moth Biodiversity project at Walworth Garden in 2022.

Most recently, Sarah has been working as a Warden on lowland heathland during the ground-nesting bird breeding season. Prior to this, she was a Garden and Plant Centre Supervisor at Walworth Garden.

You can find Sarah on Instagram at @creature_films

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Already done this workshop and want to learn more? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Introduction to Gardening

One of our most popular workshops, Introduction to Gardening guides you through the approaches and essential knowledge that will help you to become a successful gardener. This is the first session we recommend to all with little or no gardening experience, and especially those hoping to begin gardening at home in their houses, balconies, or gardens. Join us in our award-winning and sumptuously-planted garden for this primary insight into the fundamentals of sustainable and future-facing gardening. We also allow (and encourage!) plenty of time for questions, and welcome discussion in shaping the session. This session will cover:

• Growing media, compost and soil

• The basics of propagation

• What to grow that's easy

• Gardening with nature

• Pruning

• Pests and diseases - avoidance tactics that are kind to the ecosystem

• Right plant, right place and aspect - considerations for planning

Please note that for those interested in learning to grow food, we have another course called ‘Introduction to Food Growing’.

Meet Charlie

Charlie is a Peckham local who is passionate about both the community and the environment. With a background in health and social care management, he is invested in promoting community involvement and environmental issues through organic gardening. Charlie is an expert in landscape and planting design within urban environments, and is currently teaching the next generation of horticulturalists as a Garden Education Officer here at Walworth Garden.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Can’t make this date? We are running this workshop again on the dates below! Click through to find out more.

Already attended this workshop? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Christmas Centrepieces

Join us for a festive hands-on centrepiece making workshop, led by our resident plant creative expert, Tracy.

You’ll be guided through designing and creating your own large, unique centrepiece to take home and enjoy over the festive period. We’ll be sharing a range of using all natural plants, foliage, fruits and other materials from the Garden, and foraged locally, and a reusable base that you can use your new skills to sustainably fill year after year.

All materials (plus vegan mulled wine and mince pies!) provided on the day.

Tracy’s festive sessions are highly popular with our community year after year, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Meet Tracy

With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and gardening, Tracy gives out wonderful advice to our community as a Walworth Garden Plant Centre Supervisor. She also shares her knowledge within our social and therapeutic programmes in gardening sessions for those with mental health difficulties and/or facing barriers to mental health care. As a former florist, Tracy’s creative skills with foliage are second to none, and her wreath making sessions have a dedicated following!

Price: £65/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK55-23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Can’t make this time? We are running this workshop again in the morning! Click through to find out more.

Workshop: Christmas Centrepieces

Join us for a festive hands-on centrepiece making workshop, led by our resident plant creative expert, Tracy.

You’ll be guided through designing and creating your own large, unique centrepiece to take home and enjoy over the festive period. We’ll be sharing a range of using all natural plants, foliage, fruits and other materials from the Garden, and foraged locally, and a reusable base that you can use your new skills to sustainably fill year after year.

All materials (plus vegan mulled wine and mince pies!) provided on the day.

Tracy’s festive sessions are highly popular with our community year after year, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Meet Tracy

With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and gardening, Tracy gives out wonderful advice to our community as a Walworth Garden Plant Centre Supervisor. She also shares her knowledge within our social and therapeutic programmes in gardening sessions for those with mental health difficulties and/or facing barriers to mental health care. As a former florist, Tracy’s creative skills with foliage are second to none, and her wreath making sessions have a dedicated following!

Price: £65/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK55-23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Can’t make this time? We are running this workshop again in the afternoon! Click through to find out more.

Workshop: Christmas Wreath Making

Join us for a festive hands-on wreath making workshop, led by our resident plant creative expert, Tracy.

You’ll be guided through designing and creating your own large, unique wreath to take home and enjoy over the festive period. We’ll be sharing a range of using all natural plants, foliage, fruits and other materials from the Garden, and foraged locally, and a reusable base that you can use your new skills to sustainably fill year after year.

All materials (plus vegan mulled wine and mince pies!) provided on the day.

Tracy’s festive wreath-making sessions are highly popular with our community year after year, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Meet Tracy

With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and gardening, Tracy gives out wonderful advice to our community as a Walworth Garden Plant Centre Supervisor. She also shares her knowledge within our social and therapeutic programmes in gardening sessions for those with mental health difficulties and/or facing barriers to mental health care. As a former florist, Tracy’s creative skills with foliage are second to none, and her wreath making sessions have a dedicated following!

Price: £65/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK55-23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This Workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the wait list please enter your details below:

Can’t make this date? We are running this workshop again on the dates below! Click through to find out more.

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Christmas Wreath Making

Join us for a festive hands-on wreath making workshop, led by our resident plant creative expert, Tracy.

You’ll be guided through designing and creating your own large, unique wreath to take home and enjoy over the festive period. We’ll be sharing a range of using all natural plants, foliage, fruits and other materials from the Garden, and foraged locally, and a reusable base that you can use your new skills to sustainably fill year after year.

All materials (plus vegan mulled wine and mince pies!) provided on the day.

Tracy’s festive wreath-making sessions are highly popular with our community year after year, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Meet Tracy

With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and gardening, Tracy gives out wonderful advice to our community as a Walworth Garden Plant Centre Supervisor. She also shares her knowledge within our social and therapeutic programmes in gardening sessions for those with mental health difficulties and/or facing barriers to mental health care. As a former florist, Tracy’s creative skills with foliage are second to none, and her wreath making sessions have a dedicated following!

Price: £65/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK55-23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the waitlist please complete the form below:

Can’t make this date? We are running this workshop again on the dates below! Click through to find out more.

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Scents of Christmas: Aromatic Crafts

Join expert practitioner Tanya for a relaxed, hands-on, festive workshop combining clay art and fragrance.  We will be working with a range of materials to create three different festive-inspired products that you can recreate again regardless of the season. We will look at how to get started in working with air-dry clay, creating various shapes and designs and to prepare them for drying at home and further decoration. You will then be introduced to a range of key essentials oils, gaining basic knowledge of their properties, aroma and understanding of how to safely combine them to create a Christmas-inspired neat essential oil blend and a luxurious body scrub. The essential oil blend has many uses, and you will be guided on how to use it in numerous ways, whether added to your body scrub, used to scent your clay decorations, or added to a diffuser to scent a room. We will be sharing ideas for further designs and uses of clay decorations, how to fragrance them and suggestions for creating other essential oil and scrub blends for home practice. This session is ideal for anyone who wants to try something new, enjoys crafts, using essential oils and those looking for homemade gift inspiration!

Together we will cover:

• How to use and store air-dry clay and decorating options

• Safe use and understanding of essential oils

• Explore essential oil safety, dilutions, storage, creating a formula and record keeping

• Create a 5ml master blend of essential oils to use for clay fragrance, diffusing etc

• How to make and personalise a luxurious body scrub

• Tips for developing other clay art and essential oil recipes at home

You will leave with around 5 clay hanging shapes, 1x 5ml bottle of essential oil blend, and 1 pot of luxury body scrub to take home, along with comprehensive notes and additional recipe tips to help your continued experimenting at home.

Please bring along a lunch box (or similar) to take your clay shapes home in, as well as a rolling pin if you have one!

Meet Tanya

Tanya (TIDHA, MIFPA) trained as a Clinical Aromatherapist, which led to further studies in natural perfumery. She now combines her clinical work with delivering events and workshops in blending, botanical skincare and perfumery; and provides conceptual fragrance ideas for events, museums and public spaces. She has a passion for unusual ingredients, botanical history and use of plants in folklore. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @perfumemistress and find out more about her work on her website here.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Christmas Wreath Making

Join us for a festive hands-on wreath making workshop, led by our resident plant creative expert, Tracy.

You’ll be guided through designing and creating your own large, unique wreath to take home and enjoy over the festive period. We’ll be sharing a range of using all natural plants, foliage, fruits and other materials from the Garden, and foraged locally, and a reusable base that you can use your new skills to sustainably fill year after year.

All materials (plus vegan mulled wine and mince pies!) provided on the day.

Tracy’s festive wreath-making sessions are highly popular with our community year after year, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Meet Tracy

With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and gardening, Tracy gives out wonderful advice to our community as a Walworth Garden Plant Centre Supervisor. She also shares her knowledge within our social and therapeutic programmes in gardening sessions for those with mental health difficulties and/or facing barriers to mental health care. As a former florist, Tracy’s creative skills with foliage are second to none, and her wreath making sessions have a dedicated following!

Price: £65/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK55-23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This Workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the wait list please enter your details below:

Can’t make this date? We are running this workshop again on the dates below! Click through to find out more.

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Christmas Wreath Making

Join us for a festive hands-on wreath making workshop, led by our resident plant creative expert, Tracy.

You’ll be guided through designing and creating your own large, unique wreath to take home and enjoy over the festive period. We’ll be sharing a range of using all natural plants, foliage, fruits and other materials from the Garden, and foraged locally, and a reusable base that you can use your new skills to sustainably fill year after year.

All materials (plus vegan mulled wine and mince pies!) provided on the day.

Tracy’s festive wreath-making sessions are highly popular with our community year after year, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Meet Tracy

With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and gardening, Tracy gives out wonderful advice to our community as a Walworth Garden Plant Centre Supervisor. She also shares her knowledge within our social and therapeutic programmes in gardening sessions for those with mental health difficulties and/or facing barriers to mental health care. As a former florist, Tracy’s creative skills with foliage are second to none, and her wreath making sessions have a dedicated following!

Price: £65/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK55-23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This Workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the wait list please enter your details below:

Can’t make this date? We are running this workshop again on the dates below! Click through to find out more.

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Christmas Wreath Making

Join us for a festive hands-on wreath making workshop, led by our resident plant creative expert, Tracy.

You’ll be guided through designing and creating your own large, unique wreath to take home and enjoy over the festive period. We’ll be sharing a range of using all natural plants, foliage, fruits and other materials from the Garden, and foraged locally, and a reusable base that you can use your new skills to sustainably fill year after year.

All materials (plus vegan mulled wine and mince pies!) provided on the day.

Tracy’s festive wreath-making sessions are highly popular with our community year after year, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Meet Tracy

With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and gardening, Tracy gives out wonderful advice to our community as a Walworth Garden Plant Centre Supervisor. She also shares her knowledge within our social and therapeutic programmes in gardening sessions for those with mental health difficulties and/or facing barriers to mental health care. As a former florist, Tracy’s creative skills with foliage are second to none, and her wreath making sessions have a dedicated following!

Price: £65/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK55-23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This Workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the wait list please enter your details below:

Can’t make this date? We are running this workshop again on the dates below! Click through to find out more.

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Botanical Gin Infusions

This relaxed, hands-on workshop is an opportunity to join us for a botanical adventure in exploring and selecting various fruits, herbs, spices and flowers to create your own bespoke infused gin. We will discuss and sample key aromatic botanicals used in popular gins and explore botanical and flavour profiles to develop our understanding of the blending process. We’ll look at a range of botanical materials and flavour pairings, measurements and scaling up if wanting to create larger quantities at home and maximum infusion times. This workshop is ideal for anyone who has an interest in aromatics, plants, culinary crafts and of course, gin! Together we will explore:

• A whistle-stop tour through the history of gin

• Discussion and sampling of key aromatic botanicals used in popular gins

• Understand flavour pairings, botanical profiles and blending

• Develop our personal recipe, select and combine to infuse in our Gin base

• Advice on tonics, mixers and garnishes to further develop your mixology skills.

• Alternative recipe suggestions will also be provided for home experimenting

You will leave this session with your own 200ml bespoke infused gin to take home, an extra sample recipe to use, in addition to the skills and knowledge to continue experimenting at home.

If feeling experimental, you may bring along any interesting herbs, fresh or dried botanicals you might wish to include in your gin blend. Workshop notes are provided, but you may wish to bring along a notebook to write your own notes.

Meet Tanya

Tanya (TIDHA, MIFPA) trained as a Clinical Aromatherapist, which led to further studies in natural perfumery. She now combines her clinical work with delivering events and workshops in blending, botanical skincare and perfumery; and provides conceptual fragrance ideas for events, museums and public spaces. She has a passion for unusual ingredients, botanical history and use of plants in folklore. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @perfumemistress and find out more about her work on her website here.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This workshop is now fully booked, please complete the form below if you would like to be added to the waiting list

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Introduction to Gardening

One of our most popular workshops, Introduction to Gardening guides you through the approaches and essential knowledge that will help you to become a successful gardener. This is the first session we recommend to all with little or no gardening experience, and especially those hoping to begin gardening at home in their houses, balconies, or gardens. Join us in our award-winning and sumptuously-planted garden for this primary insight into the fundamentals of sustainable and future-facing gardening. We also allow (and encourage!) plenty of time for questions, and welcome discussion in shaping the session. This session will cover:

• Growing media, compost and soil

• The basics of propagation

• What to grow that's easy

• Gardening with nature

• Pruning

• Pests and diseases - avoidance tactics that are kind to the ecosystem

• Right plant, right place and aspect - considerations for planning

Please note that for those interested in learning to grow food, we have another course called ‘Introduction to Food Growing’.

Meet Charlie

Charlie is a Peckham local who is passionate about both the community and the environment. With a background in health and social care management, he is invested in promoting community involvement and environmental issues through organic gardening. Charlie is an expert in landscape and planting design within urban environments, and is currently teaching the next generation of horticulturalists as a Garden Education Officer here at Walworth Garden.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.
You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the waitlist please complete the form below:

Can’t make this date? We are running this workshop again on the dates below! Click through to find out more.

Already attended this workshop? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Making Macrame Plant Hangers

Join us for this fun, hands-on session where you’ll get an introduction to macrame, and create your own unique plant hanger. From design to completion, you’ll be guided through the basics of macrame, and prepared with the skills to continue crafting for gift giving and home.

We’ll cover:

• How to start and finish your pieces

• The basic macrame knots

• How to make your projects unique

• Inspiration for future projects

Meet Tracy

With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and gardening, Tracy gives out wonderful advice to our community as a Walworth Garden Plant Centre Supervisor. She also shares her knowledge within our social and therapeutic programmes in gardening sessions for those with mental health difficulties and/or facing barriers to mental health care. As a former florist, Tracy’s creative skills with foliage are second to none, and her wreath making sessions in particular have a dedicated following!

Price: £45/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK35-23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

Can’t make this time? We are running this workshop again in the afternoon! Click through below to find out more.

Already tried this workshop and want to try something new? Why not try the below?

Workshop: Practical Herbal Pharmacy

This practical, interactive and hands on workshop is an opportunity to explore and practice making the range of herbal preparations we can craft at home and in our communities, with seasonal plants that are locally accessible and often growing wild. We will be learning about the methods, appropriate uses, and applications of key remedies including infusions, decoctions, tinctures, vinegars, oxymels, and infused oils and balms. 

We will also cover the connections between the healing plants of our localities and their traditional uses and medicines through history; the seasonality of herbal healthcare; tailoring our remedies to our healthcare and wellbeing needs; the theory and practice of making medicines at home including key materials and equipment; and the making of preparations that you will take home along with the recipes.

November’s Practical Pharmacy day will focus on seasonal healthcare support in the form of warming, protecting and strengthening plant and food remedies for the cold time - we will prepare an immune tonic, a cough syrup and a decoction blend for winter resilience. We’ll share strategies for physical and spiritual vitality through this time of year, and how we can do kitchen medicine, making healing foods and keeping our life fires burning.

Together we will cover/explore:

• Seasonal harvesting of garden and wild medicinal plants for medicine and practices of reciprocal, sustainable relationships with our natural environment

• A range of key herbal preparations that you can make at home with their purposes, methods and rationale, and appropriate usages

• Effective and careful drying of herbs harvested seasonally, for quality herb stores through the year

• Matching preparations to people and healthcare situations e.g. herbal teas versus tinctures, children’s remedies and dosages, and first aid at home

• Kitchen medicine and making home remedies from your cupboards

• Sharing our collective knowledge and experience from our own backgrounds, cultures and healing practices to build a stronger bank of herbal healthcare in the group.

• The potency of medicines made by our hands, with plants we have grown and/or gathered ourselves from our local places, with love and care.

The session will leave you more confident and practiced in making specific herbal preparations, and with a more detailed knowledge of how and why we make them. It will be great for anyone who has already enjoyed our Introduction to Herbal Medicine workshop, or has otherwise begun their journey into herbalism. 

Participants will take home a set of remedies made through the session. If you can, please bring along 4 sterilised glass jars for some of the preparations. You might also want to bring a notebook and pen for taking notes, and/or camera.

Meet Rasheeqa

Rasheeqa is a community medical herbalist based in east London with 5 years’ experience of facilitating group learning and teaching short and long courses in many aspects of herbal medicine. She is passionate about collaborative and participatory herbalism in the community with a focus on sharing and exchanging healing traditions between the diverse cultures and knowledge of London. She is currently initiating a community apothecary project in Walthamstow - Community Herbal Hands - which seeks to develop networks of medicinal plant cultivation, harvesting, preparing, knowledge-sharing and use for health and well being support in our neighbourhoods.

Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents

Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Oct 23- Jul 24). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.

To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK23’ under ‘Redeem Coupon’.

You will then be charged a £10 deposit in order to claim your place, this deposit will be refunded to you after you attend the workshop.

Please note that you will be required to fill in a Southwark Council form, including some personal information, in order to confirm your place on a workshop. Your place will not be confirmed until this has been completed in full.

This workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the waiting list please complete the form below:

Can’t make this date? We are running this workshop again on the date below! Click through to find out more.