Adult Learning Programme
Adult education courses at Great Dixter include study days, week-long Symposia, courses, lectures, and workshops.
Run by Head Gardener Fergus Garrett, as well as other Dixter staff and friends with an intimate knowledge of the garden, they will help people understand the ethos, methods, and plants that are used.
Week-Long Symposia
Started by Christopher Lloyd, Great Dixter has been running Symposia for over twenty years and owing to the excellent horticultural tuition, many participants return year after year.
Symposia span one week at Great Dixter and offer a rare opportunity for gardeners to learn first-hand with our Head Gardener, Fergus Garrett, and his team. All gardeners and levels of expertise are welcome.
There are 4 Symposia scheduled for 2026 as follows:
Saturday 7 February to Saturday 14 February 2026 – a practical Pruning Symposium
Saturday 9 May to Saturday 16 May 2026 – a theory based, General Symposium
Saturday 5 September to Saturday 12 September 2026 – a practical General Symposium
Saturday 7 November to Saturday 14 November 2026 – a practical Bulb, border design editing and management Symposium
See below for full details of these courses. Booking will go live on Friday 21 November at 16.00 (4pm) UK time.
In this section:
Plant choice and combinations: a Dixter perspective. An online symposium led by Fergus Garrett
Plant choice and combinations: a Dixter perspective This 12-part, month-by-month online series beginning in mid January 2026 sees us going back to our roots and focussing on plants, the aim being to highlight a wide range of plants, their qualities and how we choose, use and combine them here in the gardens at Great Dixter. Each
15 January 2026 5:00 pm – 2 December 2026 5:00 pmOnline
The Art and Craft of Gardening at Great Dixter- Fully booked
This course is now fully booked. To find out about next year’s course or find out about cancellations please join the waiting list. This course will be led by Edward Flint, Coralie Thomas and experienced members of the Dixter Garden and nursery teams including Fergus Garrett, Michael Wachter, Luke Senior and Michael Morphy. It will help attendees
4 February 2026 9:00 am – 6 January 2027 4:00 pmGreat Dixter House and Gardens, Northiam, TN31 6PH
Practical Pruning Symposium-February 2026
Pruning Symposium – Saturday 7 February to Saturday 14 February 2026 This is a week-long, practical, hands-on symposium with a maximum of 10 attendees. 80% of the time will be outside in the garden and 20% indoors. Accommodation, meals, as well as transport to and from the hotel every day are included within the price of
7 February 2026 12:30 pm – 14 February 2026 8:00 amGreat Dixter House and Gardens, TN31 6PH
Green woodworking workshop
Join us for a day of green woodworking in the Medieval Great Barn and learn how to make a miniature Sussex gate hurdle with our skilled craftspeople. This day will take you through all the stages of making a hurdle starting by using a froe and cleaving brake to split sweet chestnut poles which have been
20 February 2026 10:00 am – 4:00 pmGreat Dixter House and Gardens, TN316PH
Wilder ways of living
Michael Wachter, is an experienced outdoorsman and primitive skills practitioner whose teachings come from nature. His style is process rather than goal orientated. He has lectured to an international audience on the subjects of rewilding, habitat restoration and foraging. During this course you will embark on a journey which will bring you closer to the natural
28 February 2026 10:00 am – 16 May 2026 5:30 pmGreat Dixter House and Gardens, TN316PH
Succession planting in the mixed border
Head Gardener Fergus Garrett will lead this Study Day held at Great Dixter House and Gardens. Refreshments and lunch are included and we are offering a 10% discount on plant sales for attendees in the nursery on the day. Fergus will use the garden at Great Dixter to illustrate how you can create a long-season
2 March 2026 10:00 am – 4:00 pmGreat Dixter House and Gardens, TN316PH