Special Events

The Art of Gardening at Great Dixter - One Week Symposium
Saturday 8th September to Saturday 15th September 2012

Christopher Lloyd was one of the most inspired plantsmen and garden writers of the past century. He spent his lifetime practicing and refining his art at Great Dixter, his family’s rambling Sussex Manor House in Southeast England. We are offering an intensive, hands-on course from the 8th to 15th September conducted by Fergus Garrett, Lloyd’s talented head gardener and friend.

This is a rare opportunity for 12 gardeners to learn and practice traditional techniques and gardening first-hand in the Great Dixter gardens, to discuss all aspects of border design and maintenance, and to tour nearby world-class gardens with Fergus and the Great Dixter team.

Great Dixter has been running an annual symposium for sixteen years and many participants have returned numerous times. They knew they would receive excellent horticultural tuition but what they didn't realise before their first visit is how inclusive Dixter is and that they would become part of the Dixter family, enjoying the house and garden.

List of Subjects:
These subjects will be demonstrated in the garden and lecture room and may be tailored to meet the interests of the group

• In depth tour of the house

• Introduction lecture by Fergus

• Good planting and designing with plants workshop with Fergus

• A tour of Sissinghurst gardens

• A visit to The Beth Chatto Gardens

• A day at the RHS trial ground Wisley

• Succession planting and extending the season workshop with Fergus

• Nursery propagation, seed sowing and understanding composts

• Meadows and meadow gardening

• Vegetable growing at Great Dixter

• Hedges and topiary

• Pruning master classes

• Exotic gardening workshop

• Staking and tying

• Border soil improvement, digging and composting

• A visit to Dixter’s ancient woodland and a study of coppice management

• Guest lecturers

Details of your stay
We will pick you up and return you to the airport if you fly in from abroad. Lunches and some evening meals will be prepared and served at Dixter by our resident chef. There will also be meals at your hotel and local country inns. The participants will be staying in individual rooms at the Collina House Hotel in Tenterden www.collinahousehotel.co.uk

Fees
The complete cost of symposium is £2,650.00 (flights not included). We require a deposit of £500 (non refundable) on application to secure your place.

Fees include: All lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all transportation to and from hotel, outings, and group meals in front of the fire at Great Dixter.

Booking
The symposium is limited to only 12 participants, places allocated on a first come first served basis by emailing Jude Churchman at groupbookings@greatdixter.co.uk

For more information and to book please contact Jude Churchman groupbookings@greatdixter.co.uk

Christopher Lloyd