HANDS ON: From winter rose pruning to willow weaving, keen gardeners will be inspired by these workshops (Image: RHS/PA)
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What do you gift the gardener who has everything – a pair of gloves? A new fork and trowel, or perhaps a charming kneeler?
If you’re lacking inspiration, perhaps a workshop or course in the New Year will provide you with something to look forward to, as well as a valuable learning experience. There’s a plethora of courses available, from a wide array of gardening for beginners to rose pruning, willow weaving and other horticultural crafts.
There are ample opportunities for online or hands-on learning, regardless of your loved one’s skill level. Here are just a few to whet your appetite.
MORE FOR GARDENERSIn-person learning with expertsNo dig day course with Charles Dowding
Charles Dowding, the trailblazer of no-dig gardening, offers in-person courses at his garden in Somerset. You could reserve a spot for your loved one on a day course, which delves into the principles of no-dig growing and how it saves so much time for harvests as good as, if not better than, those from dug/tilled soil.
GREEN FINGERS: Learn the art of no-dig gardening with Charles Dowding (Image: Nicola Smith/PA)
Dowding demonstrates how to cultivate a productive garden and how to manage weeds, including couch and bindweed. Seasoned gardeners will learn time-saving methods to boost the growth and health of their plants.
Where: Homeacres, Somerset
Price: £215 per person, including a home-cooked lunch made with produce from the garden. The 2026 dates will be announced in mid-to-late December.
A Year Full of Pots with Sarah Raven
Anyone seeking inspiration for container planting will adore this course based on gardener, teacher and cook Sarah Raven’s book, A Year Full of Pots. The day centres on container gardening at Perch Hill, where more than 380 pots undergo testing annually.
POT PERFECTION: Sarah Raven will guide you through planting up pots (Image: Jonathan Buckley/PA)
Working alongside head gardener Josie Lewis, Raven reveals a decade of experiments and examines colour schemes, structure and year-round planting formulas. The day encompasses lectures, slides and hands-on demonstrations covering colour theory, planting ‘recipes’ throughout the seasons, and concepts for any space, large or small, in sun or shade.
Also featuring afternoon demonstrations on propagation, pest and disease control, and staking, plus a Q&A session with Raven.
Where: Perch Hill Farm, East Sussex
When: March 10, 2026
Price: £250 per person, including a two-course lunch
Make a Terrarium Workshop
Indoor plant enthusiasts can join an RHS Garden specialist to construct their very own terrarium in this two-hour workshop packed with expert advice and plenty of conversation about the advantages of plants and gardening for well-being. Participants will discover a range of houseplants and then use them to craft their own terrariums to take home.
GLASS HOUSES: Create your own micro world with the help of the RHS (Image: Getty)
Where: RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
When: February 12, 2026
Price: £40 per person
Introduction to Botanical Painting
This beginner’s course is perfect for those keen to learn the specific painting techniques and skills of botanical illustration. You’ll discuss and practice the techniques of botanical painting using some of the beautiful plant material from the garden.
Where: Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
When: Weekly afternoons on Tuesdays from February 24 to March 17, 2026 or Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8, 2026
Price: £120 per person or £140 per person for the weekend option
Seed Sowing for Spring Workshop
In this two-hour workshop, a horticulturist from RHS Garden Bridgewater will offer expert advice on starting seed sowing at home. Participating in propagation in the glasshouse, the workshop will guide you through various types of seeds and how to achieve optimal results with each.
You’ll get hands-on planting experience and learn the secrets of what to do once your seeds germinate and how to care for your baby plants.
Where: RHS Garden Bridgewater, Salford, Greater Manchester
When: February 27, 2026
Price: £35 per person
Botanical Casting Spring Bulbs course
In this fresh workshop, attendees will be introduced to the art of botanical casting, crafting their own stunning piece of botanical plaster artwork to take home. Spend a few hours with the tutor who will guide you through the entire process, including a stroll around parts of the garden to learn about the best plants to use and then cast them into plaster for a keepsake.
SET IN PLASTER: Immortalise your favourite flower in this casting class (Image: Becky Meo/PA)
No prior experience is needed. All equipment and plants are provided, but if you have a particular flower you’d like to try, feel free to bring it along.
Where: Beth Chatto Plants and Gardens, near Colchester, Essex
When: April 18, 2026
Price: £75 per person
Premium Horticulture Experience
Plant lovers eager to get their hands dirty can work side by side with Eden Project horticulturists in the Mediterranean Biome in a practical six-hour experience. This includes a private tour of the Mediterranean Biome, where participants can uncover more about unusual plants from across the globe and learn propagation techniques, biocontrol methods, garden design and insider gardening tips.
DOME DAYS: get your hands dirty working in one of the project’s biomes (Image: Eden Project/PA)
Where: Eden Project, Cornwall
When: Purchase it as a gift to use within 12 months, to book on the date of the recipient’s choice
Price: £195 per person, inclusive of lunch and refreshments, priority parking and fast track entry, complimentary gifts including a free Eden-grown plant and gardening gloves and a one-year unlimited pass to the Eden Project.
Winter Rose Pruning Workshop
Rose enthusiasts will be thrilled with this interactive morning workshop gift, which includes guidance from the head gardener and a tour of the roses. This is followed by a hands-on demonstration where you can try your hand at rose pruning, all rounded off with refreshments.
Where: Easton Walled Gardens, Lincolnshire
When: January 28, 2026
Price: £45 per person. An additional day will be offered on January 29 once the first day is full
Online learningSeasonal Guide to Wild Gardening with Poppy Okotcha (Create Academy)
In her debut course, horticulturist and forager Poppy Okotcha teaches you how to draw inspiration from nature to create an environmentally friendly and sustainable garden.
Through comprehensive, practical pre-recorded online lessons, you’ll learn how to work in harmony with nature, receiving expert advice on how a low-intervention and mindful approach to gardening can lead to healthier soil, fewer pests and less time spent weeding. You’ll also learn to forage, prepare and preserve wild and homegrown produce – including making apple cider vinegar, camomile infusions and brewing nettle beer.
Price: £97 for lifetime access to Poppy’s video course, 30 bite-size video lessons, four hours
Willow Weaving Course and Kit Combo (My Own 2 Hands)
Master the art of willow weaving with this new willow bird feeder course and kit combo, where all the materials are delivered straight to your door. Plus, you’ll get lifetime access to a three-hour online course to guide you in creating a stunning willow bird feeder. Get your mates involved and you might even bag a discount.
Price: £69, including materials and online course
Prices correct at time of publicationREAD NEXT
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