Designing vertical gardens with Adam Shepherd

Garden courses

Ref: SWE31646

Location: West Dean
£471
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About this course

In this practical, hands-on course you will learn how to go about designing, producing and maintaining vertical gardens. Through a series of practical demonstrations and practical sessions you will formulate a planting palette from the range of plants supplied, before creating your own vertical hanging 'sphere' garden to take home.

Course Description

This course is aimed at those who would like to learn what is involved in designing, producing and maintaining vertical gardens. The course is very much aimed at learning through doing and will involve a mixture of practical demonstrations and hands-on workshops. You will create your very own vertical garden by firstly formulating a planting palette and designing a planting plan, then finally moving on to producing the vertical garden.

The course will begin on the first evening with a short talk centred around inspirational images of vertical gardens from around the world.

The first full day will start with a short lecture on what is involved in the creation of vertical gardens, from site specific considerations and good plant selection to the process of installation and the importance of ongoing maintenance. You will then formulate a planting palette and develop a simple planting plan. We will then move outside, where you can select your plants from those supplied and start to create your vertical garden.

The second day will be spent developing the planting of your vertical sphere garden and, by the end the day, we can all discuss and admire each other’s finished vertical creations. Your own vertical hanging ‘sphere’ garden, will be around 40cm in diameter and weighing approx. 10kg, to take home, so please consider this at the point of booking.

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

Course Materials

Included

  • The tutor will supply all of the materials, including plants, capillary matting and specialist tools required to create your vertical garden.

What students need to bring

  • Secateurs
  • A pair of sharp scissors (for cutting fabric)
  • Inspirational reference images
  • Notebook or small sketchbook
  • Some drawing equipment – graphite and coloured pencils with a rubber and sharpener are ideal
  • Please wear clothing/apron and covered footwear suitable for outdoors, also bring a pair of gardening gloves

Available to buy

  • Available from shop:
  • Drawing equipment/sketchbooks if required

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes). Possible equipment restrictions in tutor absence.

Tutors

Adam Shepherd

Adam Shepherd is the founder and director of Tapestry Vertical Gardens. He has been creating living walls for over ten years and oversees every aspect of the business, from the initial designs through to the final delivery on site.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

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