Open Afternoons at the South London Botanical Institute
The South London Botanical Institute 323 Norwood Road London SE24 9AQ
12 Jun 2025 | Grow Urban Festival event, 7–15 June
Drop by every other Thursday to explore our garden and browse the botanical wonders of our historic library. It's a perfect opportunity to unwind and connect with plants, people, and stories rooted in South London’s botanical heritage.
You'll also get a behind the scenes look at our ongoing Herbarium cataloguing project, see how we care for and record centuries of plant specimens, and chat with the team bringing this hidden treasure to life.
No need to book, just pop in and say hello!
Drop by every other Thursday to explore our garden and browse the botanical wonders of our historic library. It's a perfect opportunity to unwind and connect with plants, people, and stories rooted in South London’s botanical heritage.
You'll also get a behind the scenes look at our ongoing Herbarium cataloguing project, see how we care for and record centuries of plant specimens, and chat with the team bringing this hidden treasure to life.
No need to book, just pop in and say hello!
Book 
Bandstand Beds Summer Garden Party
Bandstand Beds, Clapham Common, Windmill Drive, SW4 9DE
14 Jun 2025 | Grow Urban Festival event, 7–15 June
To celebrate Grow Urban Festival we will be holding our own Summer Garden Party at Bandstand Beds – an opportunity to see what’s growing in our community garden, connect with nature, and relax.
Throughout the morning there will be gardening activities for adults and children* followed by lunch and refreshments (for a donation).
Everyone welcome. No need to book.
*Note: Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
To celebrate Grow Urban Festival we will be holding our own Summer Garden Party at Bandstand Beds – an opportunity to see what’s growing in our community garden, connect with nature, and relax.
Throughout the morning there will be gardening activities for adults and children* followed by lunch and refreshments (for a donation).
Everyone welcome. No need to book.
*Note: Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Book
Practical Herbal Pharmacy
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
14 Jun 2025 | Accredited | Grow Urban Festival event, 7–15 June
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 growing in our gardens and in the 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.
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 growing in our gardens and in the 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.
Book 
Introduction to forest gardening
Edible Landscapes London, N4 2NQ
14 Jun 2025 | Accredited | Grow Urban Festival event, 7–15 June
Learn what a forest garden is and the benefits of planting one. Enjoy a tour of the wonderful forest garden at Edible Landscapes and learn more about some of the plants.
This is a relaxed and informal session for people interested in learning more about forest gardens and the plants within them. There will also be a chance to connect with each other over a picnic lunch (please bring your own). 11.30am - 3pm £25. full details in booking link
Learn what a forest garden is and the benefits of planting one. Enjoy a tour of the wonderful forest garden at Edible Landscapes and learn more about some of the plants.
This is a relaxed and informal session for people interested in learning more about forest gardens and the plants within them. There will also be a chance to connect with each other over a picnic lunch (please bring your own). 11.30am - 3pm £25. full details in booking link
Book
Gardening for Wildlife
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
15 Jun 2025 | Grow Urban Festival event, 7–15 June
Explore the role gardeners can play in enhancing the miraculous relationship between the plants and animals in our spaces. You will gain insight into simple, achievable actions that can help you 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. Use code GUF15 for 15% of
Explore the role gardeners can play in enhancing the miraculous relationship between the plants and animals in our spaces. You will gain insight into simple, achievable actions that can help you 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. Use code GUF15 for 15% of
Book
Container Growing
Hackney School of Food, Oswald Street, E5 0BT
15 Jun 2025 | Accredited | Grow Urban Festival event, 7–15 June
We love the versatility of using containers to grow food crops and herbs – they require fewer tools, use space cleverly, yielding great results and far fewer weeds to deal with! Container growing is ideal for anyone without a large outdoor space, whether you’ve got a windowsill, balcony, or patio.
In this workshop, we’ll share our favourite methods, tips, and tricks for successful container growing – so you can still enjoy the magic of homegrown food, no matter what space you're worki
We love the versatility of using containers to grow food crops and herbs – they require fewer tools, use space cleverly, yielding great results and far fewer weeds to deal with! Container growing is ideal for anyone without a large outdoor space, whether you’ve got a windowsill, balcony, or patio.
In this workshop, we’ll share our favourite methods, tips, and tricks for successful container growing – so you can still enjoy the magic of homegrown food, no matter what space you're worki
Book
Mushroom Cultivation Workshop - from Spore to Mushroom
The Remakery, 51 Lilford Road, London, SE5 9HY
21 Jun 2025 | Accredited
Learn how to grow mushrooms from spores with Adi on Saturday, 21st of June from 13:00 - 16:30.
Do you want to learn how to start growing specialty and medicinal mushrooms? Besides engaging with fascinating facts about mushrooms and fungi, you'll have hands-on fun by creating your own grain spawn that you can then take home to grow Oyster mushrooms. You will be able to learn how to work in a mycology lab to create cultures from spores or clones and learn about how to produce grain spawn.
Learn how to grow mushrooms from spores with Adi on Saturday, 21st of June from 13:00 - 16:30.
Do you want to learn how to start growing specialty and medicinal mushrooms? Besides engaging with fascinating facts about mushrooms and fungi, you'll have hands-on fun by creating your own grain spawn that you can then take home to grow Oyster mushrooms. You will be able to learn how to work in a mycology lab to create cultures from spores or clones and learn about how to produce grain spawn.
Book
Summer prune your currants half-day workshop
Carshalton Community Allotment, Colston Avenue, Carshalton SM5 3NX
28 Jun 2025 | Accredited
Summer pruning rewards your efforts with healthier, more productive currant bushes that give better quality fruit without using up too much of the plant’s resources. Mid-summer is the ideal time to do your summer pruning, and our short, practical workshop will give you the skills and confidence you need to tackle your own fruit garden.
Summer pruning rewards your efforts with healthier, more productive currant bushes that give better quality fruit without using up too much of the plant’s resources. Mid-summer is the ideal time to do your summer pruning, and our short, practical workshop will give you the skills and confidence you need to tackle your own fruit garden.
Book 
Botany in a Day
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
29 Jun 2025
New gardeners often ask, what is botany? How is it different from horticulture?
Botany simply refers to the ‘study of’ plants, where horticulture focuses on the ‘practice of’ managing and maintaining plants. In this discussion-based session, we will be exploring the theory and science of plants, and learning ten basic rules of botany which will change not only the way you look at your own plants, but how you view the entire natural world around you. Open to all skill and knowledge level
New gardeners often ask, what is botany? How is it different from horticulture?
Botany simply refers to the ‘study of’ plants, where horticulture focuses on the ‘practice of’ managing and maintaining plants. In this discussion-based session, we will be exploring the theory and science of plants, and learning ten basic rules of botany which will change not only the way you look at your own plants, but how you view the entire natural world around you. Open to all skill and knowledge level
Book
Learning to Bud Graft Fruit Trees
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
5 Jul 2025 | Accredited
Bud-grafting is something that few amateur gardeners seem to attempt, yet the principle is relatively simple. Like many things, it just takes practice and understanding of the theory behind the magic! Learn how to propagate apple and pear fruit trees by bud grafting in this practical workshop and leave with your own bud grafted tree.
Suitable for those who have some basic gardening knowledge and experience.
Bud-grafting is something that few amateur gardeners seem to attempt, yet the principle is relatively simple. Like many things, it just takes practice and understanding of the theory behind the magic! Learn how to propagate apple and pear fruit trees by bud grafting in this practical workshop and leave with your own bud grafted tree.
Suitable for those who have some basic gardening knowledge and experience.
Book
Introduction to Gardening
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
12 Jul 2025
We'll guide 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. 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.
We'll guide 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. 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.
Book
Wildlife Pond Making
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
19 Jul 2025 | Accredited
One of the most effective things you can do for a garden’s ecosystem is create a wildlife pond, and we believe every garden should have one, no matter how small. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, and the rewards are endless. During this session you’ll learn how to create and maintain a wildlife pond for even the smallest of spaces, from something as simple as a bucket, to the benefit of your garden and local wildlife. Use code GUF15 for 15% off.
One of the most effective things you can do for a garden’s ecosystem is create a wildlife pond, and we believe every garden should have one, no matter how small. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, and the rewards are endless. During this session you’ll learn how to create and maintain a wildlife pond for even the smallest of spaces, from something as simple as a bucket, to the benefit of your garden and local wildlife. Use code GUF15 for 15% off.
Book
Sustainable and Resilient Succession Planting
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
27 Jul 2025
Succession planting in garden design is about planning the layout to ensure a continuous display of plants in bloom or something of interest. It involves carefully selecting and positioning plant varieties that will flower or showcase distinctive features at different times. This session will give you an insight into the techniques in how you can create a dynamic display that changes with the seasons by integrating plants with varying flowering periods, foliage textures, and colours.
Succession planting in garden design is about planning the layout to ensure a continuous display of plants in bloom or something of interest. It involves carefully selecting and positioning plant varieties that will flower or showcase distinctive features at different times. This session will give you an insight into the techniques in how you can create a dynamic display that changes with the seasons by integrating plants with varying flowering periods, foliage textures, and colours.
Book
2 Day Workshop: Designing a London Garden
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
9 Aug 2025 | Accredited
Dedicated to growing and gardening in London’s unique micro-climate, this workshop will guide you through making the most of the city’s capabilities, from planning and design to fruition. Working with nature and ever mindful of the impact we have on the environment, this workshop will help you look at your own site through the eyes of a pro, understand its potential, the practical steps you might take to see it take shape, and all the challenges you might encounter. Use code GUF15 for 15% of
Dedicated to growing and gardening in London’s unique micro-climate, this workshop will guide you through making the most of the city’s capabilities, from planning and design to fruition. Working with nature and ever mindful of the impact we have on the environment, this workshop will help you look at your own site through the eyes of a pro, understand its potential, the practical steps you might take to see it take shape, and all the challenges you might encounter. Use code GUF15 for 15% of
Book
Container Gardening
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
17 Aug 2025 | Accredited
This workshop is designed to share the methods to growing within the confines of containers, and transforming them 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 is designed to share the methods to growing within the confines of containers, and transforming them 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.
Book
Autumn/Winter Vegetable Growing
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
31 Aug 2025 | Accredited
While we often think of food growing as a spring and summer pursuit, almost all growing spaces have the capacity to continue growing delicious vegetables all the way through winter.
Learn basic organic food growing principles and techniques and leave ready to keep your vegetable plants feeding you through the year. You’ll discover how to grow healthier, more abundant crops that can have additional benefits to wildlife in London, and help you become more self-sufficient
While we often think of food growing as a spring and summer pursuit, almost all growing spaces have the capacity to continue growing delicious vegetables all the way through winter.
Learn basic organic food growing principles and techniques and leave ready to keep your vegetable plants feeding you through the year. You’ll discover how to grow healthier, more abundant crops that can have additional benefits to wildlife in London, and help you become more self-sufficient
Book
10-week Gardening Fundamentals evening course with EcoLocal
EcoLocal The Lodge, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3NX
4 Sep 2025 | Accredited
We have an exciting new gardening course at EcoLocal. Our RHS qualified and award-winning Horticultural tutor has developed a 10-week classroom-based evening course called ‘Gardening Fundamentals’ that takes you through the full range of gardening activities, from looking after and improving soil to pruning, propagation, design and keeping plants healthy. This new course will run on a Thursday evening between 7 and 9pm for 10 consecutive weeks between 4th September and 6th November 2025.
We have an exciting new gardening course at EcoLocal. Our RHS qualified and award-winning Horticultural tutor has developed a 10-week classroom-based evening course called ‘Gardening Fundamentals’ that takes you through the full range of gardening activities, from looking after and improving soil to pruning, propagation, design and keeping plants healthy. This new course will run on a Thursday evening between 7 and 9pm for 10 consecutive weeks between 4th September and 6th November 2025.
Book
Forest Gardening Course (Level 2 Award)
19-21 Garden Walk, London, EC2A 3EQ
8 Sep 2025 | Accredited
Learn the skills you need to design, create and manage a forest garden with our seven month accredited online course, featuring the videos of Martin Crawford.
Learn from videos, handouts, interactive quizzes and online assessments leading you to qualify for a Level 2 Award in Forest Gardening.
Supporting the online materials are seven interactive online tutorials.
Cost £570 - £800 payment by monthly instalments is available.
Learn the skills you need to design, create and manage a forest garden with our seven month accredited online course, featuring the videos of Martin Crawford.
Learn from videos, handouts, interactive quizzes and online assessments leading you to qualify for a Level 2 Award in Forest Gardening.
Supporting the online materials are seven interactive online tutorials.
Cost £570 - £800 payment by monthly instalments is available.
Book
