Workshop: Rethinking the Lawn: Creating and Managing Meadows
Transform your understanding of traditional lawns and discover the remarkable potential of meadows in this comprehensive workshop. From their ancient origins to their modern relevance in carbon capture and biodiversity, meadows are fantastic ecosystems and can offer a sustainable and beautiful alternative to conventional grass lawns. Join our expert facilitator as they guide you through the fascinating world of meadow creation and management, exploring how these diverse ecosystems can thrive even in the smallest urban spaces. Whether you're looking to replace a tired lawn, enhance biodiversity in your garden, or contribute to carbon sequestration efforts, this workshop will provide you with the knowledge and inspiration to rethink outdoor spaces. Through hands-on exploration and expert guidance, you'll gain practical insights into creating and maintaining meadows that work with nature rather than against it.
Areas that will be considered during this session are:
- The origins and natural history of meadows - understanding their ecological importance
- Meadow management and development - from establishment to long-term care
- Carbon capture potential in soil - how meadows contribute to climate solutions
- Alternatives to traditional lawns - rethinking our relationship with grass
- Creating meadows in small spaces and urban environments - making it work anywhere
- Soil biology and its crucial relevance to meadow ecosystems
- Seed selection and sourcing - including examination of seeds from a 400-year-old meadow
- Practical maintenance techniques for sustainable meadow management
- Seasonal considerations - when and how to intervene in meadow development
The workshop will include the opportunity to examine seeds from a historic 400-year-old meadow and an activity that will enable you to take some home for your own space, gaining hands-on experience with the materials and techniques that make successful meadows possible.
Meet Michael
Michael is a Senior Gardener at Great Dixter, and an experienced outdoorsman and primitive skills practitioner. He has lectured on subjects of Rewilding, Habitat restoration as well as Foraging, and teaches in Wales, Scotland, Norway and Southern UK. Michael is involved in several biodiversity projects including the restoration of wildflower meadows within several communities around East Sussex, UK.
Price: £85/ Free for Southwark residents
Free places are available for Southwark residents aged 19+. Each resident can claim 1 place per academic year (Sept 25- Jul 26). To check whether you are eligible, please click here.
To claim your free place, click ‘Book Here’ below, and enter code ‘SOUTHWARK26’ 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.