Gardening Talks Friday 2nd September

12 noon - Jo Thompson "Garden Design"

After a career in teaching, Jo started her second career in garden design in 2005, with immediate early recognition of her unique planting design skills acknowledged by the Garden Design Journal and The Independent.

Jo designs a wide range of gardens from tiny rooftop spaces to residential gardens, public spaces and country estates,  both in the UK and overseas. Jo's therapeutic 'Demelza' garden, designed for a children's hospice in Kent, won a silver-gilt medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2009. Current projects include the design of the existing and proposed outside spaces at Great Ormond Street Hospital. 

Jo has been invited by the committee of the National Gardening Show to curate her own exhibition entitled ‘Bright Green Shoots’, where she will bring together a group of exhibitors practising innovative techniques in gardening.

1.30pm - Mark Diacono "Less Usual Plants"

Mark Diacono is the creator of Otter Farm, the UK’s only climate change farm. The farm in Devon is home to orchards of pecans, peaches, almonds, szechuan peppers, apricots and a vineyard. Mark’s objective is to revolutionise the British larder by sustainably growing delicious food normally sourced from overseas. Author of a number of award–winning books, Mark also leads the Garden Team at River Cottage, appearing in the TV series and running courses and events at River Cottage. Mark will be bringing seeds and plants of many of the varieties of edibles he grows at Otter Farm and River Cottage to the Show.

 

3pm - Charles Dowding "Growing Vegetables without Digging"

For three decades, Charles has grown organic vegetables for sale, without soil cultivation. He currently crops two acres!!!, principally for salad leaves which are sold in local shops and restaurants, and also a wide range of vegetables. He has written three books on vegetable growing, gives talks and runs day courses at the farm and other venues.

For more information visit www.charlesdowding.co.uk