Events and training from our network
Organic Food Growing Course - 6 week practical course
Carshalton Community Allotment, Colston Avenue, Carshalton SM5 3NX
3 May 2025 | Accredited training
If you are just starting out, or would like to get some more detailed knowledge of organic food growing, then this course is for you. Over 6 weeks you will learn everything you need to know to confidently grow your own fruit and veg. including:
Preparing your growing area the organic way
Planning what to grow including crop rotation
Planting techniques
Taking care of your plants without chemicals
Organic techniques and feeding your soil
Harvesting and storing produce
If you are just starting out, or would like to get some more detailed knowledge of organic food growing, then this course is for you. Over 6 weeks you will learn everything you need to know to confidently grow your own fruit and veg. including:
Preparing your growing area the organic way
Planning what to grow including crop rotation
Planting techniques
Taking care of your plants without chemicals
Organic techniques and feeding your soil
Harvesting and storing produce
Book 
Spring Open Day
Agnes Riley Garden, 73 Atkins Road, London
3 May 2025 | Event
Join us for a Spring Community Day at the Agnes Riley Community Garden! There’ll will be gardening activities, free seeds and compost, guided nature walks through the garden and wider park, arts and crafts, and light refreshments!
Join us for a Spring Community Day at the Agnes Riley Community Garden! There’ll will be gardening activities, free seeds and compost, guided nature walks through the garden and wider park, arts and crafts, and light refreshments!
Buddy Volunteer training
FFPG, 2nd Floor Ilford Chambers, 11 Chapel Road, Ilford, IG1 2DR
9 May 2025 | Accredited training | Free training
Becoming a buddy is an opportunity to gain skills and hands-on experience in support work and social and therapeutic gardening. The Buddy training is a free two day training combined with some online learning. Please apply by the 4th May.
Our ecotherapy program supports people with mental health recovery needs such as depression, anxiety and isolation. Buddies help to create a friendly and welcoming environment, enabling everyone to participate fully.
Becoming a buddy is an opportunity to gain skills and hands-on experience in support work and social and therapeutic gardening. The Buddy training is a free two day training combined with some online learning. Please apply by the 4th May.
Our ecotherapy program supports people with mental health recovery needs such as depression, anxiety and isolation. Buddies help to create a friendly and welcoming environment, enabling everyone to participate fully.
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Habitats and Planting for Pollinators
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
11 May 2025 | Accredited training
with Benny Hawksbee
This workshop is designed to help you boost your wildlife gardening skill set - with a focus on wild pollinators.
We will look at bee identification; show you which species are likely to be around your area; where they might be nesting; and ways to get closer to them in general. We’ll also look at ecological gardening practices, with a large focus on insects and solitary bees, explaining how to boost/improve/maintain habitat and the number of species in your space.
with Benny Hawksbee
This workshop is designed to help you boost your wildlife gardening skill set - with a focus on wild pollinators.
We will look at bee identification; show you which species are likely to be around your area; where they might be nesting; and ways to get closer to them in general. We’ll also look at ecological gardening practices, with a large focus on insects and solitary bees, explaining how to boost/improve/maintain habitat and the number of species in your space.
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Growing in Small Spaces
The Vine Road Pavillion, Vine Road Recreation Ground, Vine Road, Barnes
17 May 2025 | Accredited training
The reality of living in an urban area is that many of us do not have access to a large growing space. You might have a balcony, a few containers or even just a windowsill. You might be renting and need to create a garden you can easily dismantle and move. But you can grow something in almost any situation. In this workshop, we will look at tips for growing successfully in these spaces, what plants work well and how you can grow your own food even if you only have a windowsill!
The reality of living in an urban area is that many of us do not have access to a large growing space. You might have a balcony, a few containers or even just a windowsill. You might be renting and need to create a garden you can easily dismantle and move. But you can grow something in almost any situation. In this workshop, we will look at tips for growing successfully in these spaces, what plants work well and how you can grow your own food even if you only have a windowsill!
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Plant Health the organic way - one day workshop
EcoLocal The Lodge, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3NX
31 May 2025 | Accredited training
From mini-beasts to mega-beasts, diseases & nutrient deficiencies, it can feel as though our plants are under constant attack! This information-packed workshop will help you identify friend from foe and bid farewell to chemical interventions. This workshop gives you the knowledge you need to navigate your way to a thriving and pest-free plot.
From mini-beasts to mega-beasts, diseases & nutrient deficiencies, it can feel as though our plants are under constant attack! This information-packed workshop will help you identify friend from foe and bid farewell to chemical interventions. This workshop gives you the knowledge you need to navigate your way to a thriving and pest-free plot.
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Introduction to Mushroom Growing
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place, SE173BN
31 May 2025 | Accredited training
Join us in learning about the fascinating world of mushrooms and fungi, and create your own take home oyster mushroom bag.
Local expert Adi will share his experiences as a mushroom forager and grower, and you’ll discover mushrooms’ hidden secrets, explore their vital role in nature, and gain a deep appreciation for their incredible diversity; and leave with the knowledge and skills to begin on your own mushroom cultivation journey.
Join us in learning about the fascinating world of mushrooms and fungi, and create your own take home oyster mushroom bag.
Local expert Adi will share his experiences as a mushroom forager and grower, and you’ll discover mushrooms’ hidden secrets, explore their vital role in nature, and gain a deep appreciation for their incredible diversity; and leave with the knowledge and skills to begin on your own mushroom cultivation journey.
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2 Day Introduction to Gardening
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
7 Jun 2025 | Accredited training
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 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'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 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.
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Gardening for Wildlife
Walworth Garden, 206 Manor Place. SE173BN
15 Jun 2025 | Training
Explore the 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.
Explore the 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.
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Mushroom Cultivation Workshop - from Spore to Mushroom
The Remakery, 51 Lilford Road, London, SE5 9HY
21 Jun 2025 | Accredited training
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
