9.30am to 4.30pm each day

£170  inc tasty home made lunch, fresh coffee, and cream tea.
Material Charges: £5 to cover soil testing kits etc to Shelagh on the day

"Learn to design your own garden… just the way you want it" with leading Cumbrian Garden Designer, Lecturer and Plantswoman, Shelagh Todd. 

Shelagh is widely known and highly respected throughout Cumbria's gardening fraternity. She has been both the familiar face - and  'lead' - of Horticulture at Newton Rigg College for well over 30 years, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our 2025 Quirky programme. She brings a wealth of gardening expertise and teaching experience, which over the years will have gently inspired literally thousands of 'would-be gardeners’ to create and nurture their own individual outdoor spaces. This two-day course is an ideal starting point for beginners, garden enthusiasts and anyone who wants to re-design their garden space.

Day 1 will cover the design process, including surveying, analysing & soil testing your site. Using your own design brief, you will learn to create a functional layout plan that you can apply to your garden, including consideration for hard landscaping materials as required. We can explore both the established and newer areas of the garden at Quirky Workshops which is maintained on a largely organic basis with wildlife at its heart.

Day 2 Shelagh will show you how to design the planting for your garden to achieve colour, interest and atmosphere; how to choose and combine the right plants for your soil conditions, and for best effect. You can decide on the style of planting and the types of plants you wish to grow, and we’ll discuss the pros and cons of different plants, what to look for when you are buying plants and how to source good plants locally.

*In advance of the workshop we'll send you an 'easy to follow' guide on how to measure up your garden. This means you can arrive on the first day of the course with a plan of your plot ready to begin the design process. With illustrated talks & drawing exercises, by the end of the 2 days you will have completed some planting schemes and have the skills to continue designing at home.

Dates for this course - see the table below to book:

Thu 24 & Fri 25 April  2025   or   Sat 16 & Sun 17 August 2025

Please bring: Your £5 materials charge, a plan of your garden plot* as per instructons sent in advance of the course. Any other items required will be detailed in your joining email. Typically this course runs with approx 8-10 students.

About the Artist Shelagh has over 40 years experience in the horticultural industry. Her most recent role was as Head of Horticulture and Garden Design at the School of Horticulture based at Lowther Castle and Gardens (established July 2021). Prior to this she was Head of Horticulture, Forestry & Floristry and a horticultural & garden design lecturer at Newton Rigg College, Penrith, Cumbria. Her career has seen her working in gardens all over the UK from Achamore Gardens on the Isle of Gigha in Argyllshire, Scotland to Merrist Wood College in Surrey. A highlight in her career was being a member of the teams that won gold and silver medals at the Chelsea Flower Show. She also won the ‘Cumbrian Lecturer of the Year’ in the Golden Apple Awards in 2010. Shelagh had the great honour of being The President of the Lakeland Horticultural Society based at Holehird Gardens near Windermere.

Shelagh feels her greatest achievement and inspiration has always been to teach people of all ages and abilities to learn practical skills and grow a knowledge and love of plants.