Courses at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Spring Summer 2018 1
Welcome to our Spring/Summer courses programme for adults at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Adult learning For course information, bookings and enquiries please contact us: Tel: (020) 8332 5641 (020) 8332 5626 01444 894310 Email: adulted@kew.org Visit our website at: www.kew.org All profit from these courses and events contributes to the vital work of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Wakehurst. Gift vouchers If you would like to give a place on one of our courses as a gift we are more than happy to arrange for a special card to be sent, whatever the occasion. Birthday, anniversary or just to say thank you just leave the arrangements to us! Please contact us for more details. 2018 The Board of Trustees of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2
Monthly planner 2018 February Page 26 9 March Intermediate Botanical Illustration K 18 March 20 Photo Walk: Plant Patterns and Designs K 13 April 5 Vegetable Gardening for Novices K 3 7 Spring Photography Masterclass K 14 12 Photo Walk: Kew in Spring K 15 18 Introduction to Botany K 9 19 Introduction to Botany K 9 May 1 Tai Chi K 29 14 Kingfisher and Badger Watching Evening W 27 17 Kingfisher and Badger Watching Evening W 27 22 24 Creating a Botanical Sketchbook K 19 June 11 A Midsummer s evening in Kew Gardens K 16 13 Plant Identification K 10 14 Plant Identification K 10 26 Right Plant, Right Place K 3 28 Small Gardens Day K 7 July 7 Planning a Herb Garden K 4 12 Designing a summer border K 5 14 15 Botany for Botanical Illustrators K 11 24 26 Watercolour Workshop: Sweet peas K 20 August 14 16 Introduction to Painting with Acrylics K 21 September 6 Gardening for Beginners K 5 10 Kew Certificate in Botanical Illustration K 22 10 14 Botanical Illustration for Beginners K 22 11 Mindfulness K 29 22 23 Painting on Vellum K 23 26 Drawing Trees K 24 27 Drawing Trees K 24 October 2 4 Watercolour Workshop: Autumn Fruits K 25 11 Designing your own personal garden K 7 13 Autumn Photography Masterclass K 16 20 21 Pen and Ink: Fungi K 25 November Location Kew Gardens K Wakehurst W 29 Oct 9 Nov Intermediate Botanical Illustration K 18 1
2 Horticulture
Vegetable Growing for Novices Thursday 5 April Time: 10.30am 4.30pm Tutor: Christine Lavelle Have you just acquired an allotment or vegetable patch and want to boost your vegetable growing skills? This one-day workshop, run by Christine Lavelle, will introduce you to the most commonly grown vegetable crops and show you how best to cultivate them. You ll also learn about pests and diseases, crop rotation, fertilisers, green manures and composting giving you the confidence to get the most from your plot. Course fee: 70 ( 60 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 25 places) Right Plant, Right Place Tuesday 26 June Time: 10.30am 4.30pm Tutor: Christine Lavelle Plant selection for the garden can be difficult. This course aims to give you lots of ideas for plants that will thrive in their correct situation and soil conditions, either in sun or shade. Plus inspiration for using different planting combinations. Learn how to match your garden environment to the plants own needs to ensure a successful, healthy planting scheme. Course fee: 70 ( 60 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 25 places) 3
Planning and Tending a Herb Garden Saturday 7 July Time: 10.30am 4.30pm Tutor: Christina Stapley If you ve ever dreamt of having your own herb garden why not come on this popular one day introductory course and explore the medieval ideals of beauty, usefulness and pleasing aromas in the garden. Take the opportunity to learn what might work in your own space from both the point of view of design and harvesting. Examples of growing both decorative and useful herbs for small urban settings or larger country gardens will offer inspiration for planting schemes. Explore use of colour, form, foliage texture, perfume and usefulness to gain the best effect. Whether your aim is a wildflower garden having a natural appearance, an ordered knot garden or a selection of potted herbs to brighten and transform a balcony or patio, there will be something for everyone. Getting to know the herbs involved will be through images, herbarium samples and an all-important walk to the Queen s Garden in Kew to see the plants growing and literally smell the roses! Course Fee: 70 ( 60 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 15 places) 4
Designing a Summer Border Thursday 12 July Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Richard Wilford From the beginning of June to the end of September, the summer garden can be a riot of colour but when starting to plan a summer border, knowing what to plant where can be daunting, This course is run by the designer of the magnificent Great Broad Walk Borders in Kew Gardens, Richard Wilford, and will introduce basic concepts of planting design to help you create your own beautiful summer border. Focussing on planting styles, structure, form and of course, the huge range of colourful, summer-flowering herbaceous perennials, there will be plenty to inspire you. The course will include a walking tour around parts of Kew, including the Great Broad Walk Borders. Course fee: 80 ( 70 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 20 places) Gardening for Beginners Thursday 6 September Time: 10.30am 4.30pm Tutor: Christine Lavelle A gardening course aimed at keen amateurs who wish to improve their knowledge of planting and maintaining plants in their garden. You ll begin learning about the essential conditions to ensure good growth, followed by a lecture and demonstration on soil preparation before planting. You ll be given hints and tips on selecting plants, and how and when to plant trees, shrubs and herbaceous species. The second part of the course will cover maintaining established plants in the garden including elements such as pruning, feeding and identifying pest and diseases. Course Fee: 70 ( 60 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 25 places) 5
6 Garden Design
Small Gardens Day Thursday 28 June Time: 10.30am 4.30pm Tutor: London School of Garden Design With considered design and thoughtful planting, the smallest of gardens can deliver maximum impact and still meet all your requirements. This course aims to explore these techniques and tricks of the trade for making a small space make a big impression. The one day programme allows students to explore ideas for their own gardens as well as discover new ideas for design and planting. The course is run in collaboration with the London College of Garden Design the leading training college for professional garden design Course Fee: 100 ( 80 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 20 places) Designing your Own Personal Garden Thursday s 11 and 18 October Wednesday s 7 and 14 November Time: 10.30am 4.30pm Tutor: London School of Garden Design The aim of this 4 day course is to help you on the first steps to designing your own garden. We ll look at how you can get to know the particular constraints of your own space, to develop ideas and an outline plan. We ll then look at how you put that plan into action with practical sessions on how to approach construction and of course developing a planting design. This course is aimed at amateur gardeners who are keen to develop their own gardens. It will be classroom based and provide useful design tools and approaches for the amateur gardener. Some knowledge of garden plants will be useful but not essential. The course is run in collaboration with the London College of Garden Design the leading training college for professional garden design Course Fee: 480 ( 430 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 20 places) 7
8 Botany
Introduction to Botany Wednesday 18 April OR Thursday 19 April Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Anna Haigh A general introduction to the world of flowering plants, this one-day course is suitable for non-scientists and anyone keen to develop a deeper understanding of this fascinating subject. With embedded practical sessions and a short guided walk through some of the living collections, the course will cover the variety of plant life, flowering plant structure, pollination, adaptation, taxonomy, and classification. By the end of the day you ll have learned how plants are identified by using a botanical key and have a better understanding of the immense diversity of plant life. Course Fee: 80 ( 70 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 12 places) 9
Plant Identification Skills Wednesday 13 June OR Thursday 14 June Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Anna Haigh Suitable for beginners, this one-day course is designed to help you recognise the most commonly encountered UK plant families, whether they re in the wild or in your own garden. The day consists of practical sessions including some fascinating detective work with microscopes a presentation, and a guided walk through Kew s living collections. A highlight of the walk will be the Plant Family Beds, where plants are grouped together according to their relationship with each other. By the end of the day you should be able to recognise a range of plant families, understand which commonly encountered plants are related to each other, and will have an insight into flowering plant structure. Course Fee: 80 ( 70 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 12 places) 10
Botany for Botanical Illustrators Saturday 14 Sunday 15 July Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Anne Bebbington A two-day course for botanical artists who want to know more about their subjects. The practical sessions will demonstrate how the study of a plant can be a fascinating journey of discovery, informing your artwork by helping you to understand its structure and how it works. It can become an integral part of the excitement of producing botanical illustrations. The emphasis in these workshops will be on practical botanical work. There will an opportunity to do some drawing, so please bring sketchbooks and pencils. Course Fee: 150 ( 130 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 15 places) Image Lucy T Smith 11
12 Photography
Plant Patterns and Designs Tuesday 20 March Time: 11am 3.30pm Tutor: Heather Angel Kew Gardens is the perfect place to appreciate plant patterns and shapes that occur as spirals, radial patterns, polygons, abstract patterns, repetitive patterns and mirror images. We ll start with an indoor talk showing how examples of these can be found amongst shoots, leaves, flowers, fruits and bark throughout the year. After lunch, we will venture out into the Gardens to see examples of plant patterns during springtime at Kew. Throughout the walk, there will be opportunities to pause to capture eye-catching images on a camera or a smart phone. Heather will also provide relevant tips about best camera angles, lighting and composition. This day will appeal to photographers and artists as well as anyone who has a passion for plants and wants to discover moreabout their fascinating patterns and designs. Course Fee: 100 ( 80 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 12 places) 13
Spring Photography Master Class Saturday 7 April Time: 10.30am 4.30pm Tutor: Clive Nichols Be part of a small group on this course devoted to outdoor practical photography amid the spring delights of Kew Gardens, with instruction and guidance from one of the world s most successful flower and garden photographers. After an introductory lecture, you ll spend the day in the Gardens (and possibly in one of the glasshouses) which presents a wide variety of photographic challenges. The tutor will be drawing your attention to the trees, plants and views making up the spring picture at Kew and sharing hints and tips for the best ways of capturing them. Suitable for pro-active improvers. Sandwich lunch provided. Course Fee: 150 ( 130 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 12 places) 14
Kew in Spring Thursday 12 April Time: 10.30am 1.30pm or 2.30pm 5.30pm Tutor: Marcus Clackson Join us as we celebrate the splendour of spring with a seasonal photo walk devoted to improving your photography and capturing the delights of Kew Gardens at this special time of year. Experienced photographer and tutor, Marcus Clackson will cover a wide range of photographic techniques from macro to landscape. Capture everything from the iconic buildings and glasshouses, the inspirational gardens and landscapes, to the spectacular spring flowers in bloom, all under his expert tuition and guidance. Grow your portfolio and see your photography skills blossom! Suitable for photographers of all abilities looking to improve digital camera technique. Course Fee: 90 ( 70 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (Maximum capacity 12 places) 15
A Midsummer s Evening in Kew Gardens Monday 11 June Time: 5.30pm 9pm Tutor: Robert Canis Don t miss this rare opportunity to accompany award winning nature photographer, Robert Canis, on an evening of plant and flower photography. Let Kew Gardens stimulate your creativity, in all its midsummer beauty with the advantage of low, soft light. Robert is keen to impart his knowledge on photographing the natural world and will advise on things such as composition, lighting, exposure and on how to achieve creative, eye-catching images. Throughout the photo walk Robert will be reviewing your images and giving feedback. Robert is a passionate and enthusiastic communicator and at the end of the evening you will leave full of inspiration. Keen to put into practice the many ideas, hints and tips that he has given you. Course Fee: 100 ( 80 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (Maximum Capacity 10 Places) Autumn Photography Masterclass Saturday 13 October Time: 10.30am 4.30pm Tutor: Clive Nichols Be part of a small group on this course devoted to outdoor practical photography amid the autumn delights of Kew Gardens, with instruction and guidance from one of the world s most successful flower and garden photographers. After an introductory lecture, you ll spend the day in the Gardens (and possibly in one of the glasshouses) which presents a wide variety of photographic challenges. The tutor will be drawing your attention to the trees, plants and views making up the autumn picture at Kew and sharing hints and tips for the best ways of capturing them. Suitable for pro-active improvers. Sandwich lunch provided. Course fee: 150 ( 130 concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 12 places) 16
Arts 17
Image Lucy T Smith Intermediate Botanical Illustration Monday 26 February Friday 9 March OR Monday 29 October Friday 9 November Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Lucy T Smith This 10-day course provides a unique opportunity to learn about the work of botanical illustrators at Kew and the methods and materials they use. Precision is the hallmark of the best botanical illustration and a range of relevant techniques, for example in pen and ink work and watercolour painting using the layered wash and dry brush technique, are demonstrated and practised during the course. The emphasis throughout is on individual tuition and, with participants able to work at their own pace, the course is suitable for beginners and more experienced artists alike. Included in the programme is a tutored visit to Kew s remarkable collections of botanical illustration in the Herbarium and the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. Please note that there is no weekend tuition during this course. Course Fee: 750 ( 695 Concessions, Friends of Kew) Deposit payable on enrolment: 150 (maximum capacity 15 places) 18
Creating a Botanical Sketchbook Tuesday 22 Thursday 24 May Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Lucy T Smith This three-day course will teach you how to keep a botanical sketchbook. A well-kept botanical sketchbook is an invaluable tool to record your plant drawings and field notes, colour studies, and written notes. During class you will practise drawing and sketching from life, both indoors and outdoors, and learn how to capture multiple levels of information to help inform your botanical artwork, all while being inspired by the Gardens at Kew. Course fee: 210 ( 180 concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 15 places) 19
Watercolour Workshop: Sweet Peas Tuesday 24 Thursday 26 July Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Penny Price Sweet peas are lovely subjects to paint and study as well as to smell. By initially drawing and then painting these beautiful flowers on this three-day course we will learn more about their structure and how they grow. Penny will be on hand to guide you with advice on colour mixing and painting techniques to help you achieve the textures and colours of pods, seeds, flowers, leaves and stems. This course is open for beginners as well as those with more experience. Some individual help will be given as well as general teaching of the whole group. Course Fee: 210 ( 180 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 15 places) 20
Introduction to Painting with Acrylics Tuesday 14 Thursday 16 August Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Stuart Simler Come on this new 3 day course and discover the versatility of this easy to use, quick drying, vibrant medium. Learn what acrylic paints are and how to work with them considering composition, line, tone and colour. There will also be an opportunity to explore the different media, materials and painting surfaces that using acrylics presents in the creative process. Course fee: 210 ( 180) Concessions, Friends of Kew (maximum capacity 15 places) 21
Botanical Illustration for Beginners Monday 10 Friday 14 September Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Lucy T Smith Ever wanted to try botanical illustration, but didn t know where to start? This entry-level course introduces you to the range of skills and techniques required for this highly specialised area of illustration. As well as learning about the equipment and materials needed, you will also be able to pick up important tips and technical advice from a professional botanical artist including measured drawing and how to capture the essence of a plant. Course Fee: 350 ( 300 Concessions, Friends of Kew Deposit payable on enrolment: 50 (maximum capacity 15 places) Kew Certificate in Botanical Illustration 2018/19 programme begins September 2018 A variety of short courses in the study and practice of botanical illustration have been successfully established at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew over the last 20 years. We are now proud to include the addition of an annual programme of study, leading to the Kew Certificate in Botanical Illustration. Through course modules taught by professional botanical illustrators and self study course work, the programme gives a deep and comprehensive knowledge of all aspects needed for botanical illustration, botanical art and sketching and observing nature closely while benefiting from the unique and historic surroundings and collections at Kew. To receive details of the September 2018 July 2019 Certificate programme & the full prospectus please contact us. Certificate Fee: 3000 ( 2800 Concessions, Friends of Kew) Deposit payable on enrolment: 500 (maximum capacity 6 places) 22
Watercolour Workshop: Painting on Vellum Saturday 22 Sunday 23 September Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Penny Price Painting on vellum requires different painting methods to working on paper, but is very rewarding, as colours have a different quality to them. We shall use watercolours, preferably Winsor and Newton, otherwise artist/professional quality paints (see materials list for recommendations). The work will be small scale, studying fruits to paint. The vellum will be provided for you. All abilities welcome as some individual help will be given as well as general teaching of the whole group. Course Fee: 170 ( 150 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 15 places) Image Penny Price 23
Drawing Trees Wednesday 26 September OR Thursday 27 September Time: 10.30am 4.30pm Tutor: Stuart Simler This one day course is an introduction to drawing trees with a focus on composition, scale, experimentation, and texture. After an outdoor icebreaker using sketchbooks/paper on board, the morning continues with composition studies using viewfinders to look closely at trees. This focuses on the structure of branches and negative space to create balance within a composition. The day continues with sessions on experimental drawing and working with a range of materials to create marks and texture to communicate the fluidity and organic nature of trees while maintaining traditional elements of drawing from nature. Course fee: 70 ( 60 concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 15 places) 24
Watercolour Workshop: Autumn Fruits Tuesday 2 Thursday 4 October Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Penny Price Using initial drawings and then watercolour this workshop will explore how to paint autumn s harvest of fruits making them look realistic using 3D form and colour techniques. From apples to pears and quinces to pomegranates we will paint the whole fruit and halved ones, revealing the structure and pattern of seeds inside, making an interesting composition on the page. This course is open for beginners as well as those with more experience. Some individual help will be given as well as general teaching of the whole group. Course Fee: 210 ( 180 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 15 places) Pen and Ink Workshop: Fungi Saturday 20 Sunday 21 October Time: 10.30am 4pm Tutor: Penny Price Following an short introductory talk about their forms and structure, we shall study and draw various fungi in ink. Using either dip pens with ink or technical pens. Various methods of shading will be demonstrated and used. This is open to all abilities as some individual help will be given as well as general teaching of the whole group. Course fee: 150 ( 130 Concessions, Friends of Kew) (maximum capacity 15 places) 25
26 Natural History
Kingfisher and Badger watching evenings Monday 14 May and Thursday 17 May Time: 5.30pm 9.30pm Tutor: Steven Robinson Venue: Loder Valley Reserve The Loder Valley Nature Reserve forms part of the Wakehurst estate and offers the valuable combination of woodland, wetland and meadowland habitats that are ideal for wildlife. Managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, it is dedicated to the conservation of the plants and animals of the Sussex Weald. Normally only accessible to visitors by permit, these evening events in the reserve will be led by the warden. Kingfishers breed regularly in this beautiful conservation area and a specially built hide affords magical close up views of their activities. With luck we should be able to observe these beautiful birds in their natural habitat and study their feeding habits and lifestyle. The evening continues with a chance to see the residents of the badger sett before retracing our steps to see what other nocturnal wildlife is out and about in the Reserve. Come with an open mind, though, as natural history inevitably presents an element of surprise! N.B. These evenings will involve a fair amount of walking of a moderately strenuous level which will include some steep inclines on muddy and slippery surfaces. Please note that cameras are not permitted as their use disturbs the wildlife we hope to be observing. Course Fee: 30 Includes light snack midway through the evening. (maximum capacity 12 places) 27
28 Wellbeing
Tai Chi Tuesday s 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 May & 5 June Time: 2pm 3pm Tutor: Fiona Anderson A slow gentle form of non aerobic exercise, Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese art practised by many people around the world, for its health, meditation and mindfulness benefits. Through practising Tai Chi, your joints will become looser, your posture and circulation will improve and you will gradually feel an overall sense of wellbeing. This will be an outdoor class held in a beautiful, quiet and contemplative area of Kew Gardens come along to this new, relaxing six week course and learn a new skill for life. (If you have any health doubts regarding your ability to participate on this course please consult your doctor before enrolling.) Course Fee: 150 ( 120 Concessions, Friends of Kew (maximum capacity 15 places) Mindfulness Wednesday s 11, 18, 25 September and 2, 9 and 16 October Time: 2pm 4.30pm Tutor: Karen Liebenguth Mindfulness is now recognised as a useful life skill to improve focus and clarity, listening and decision-making skills and perhaps most importantly, overall well-being. Practicing mindfulness can help to completely shift how we experience life. It can change how we notice and respond to day to day challenges as well as the good things which happen. Come on this new this new six week course, amid the beauty of Kew Gardens and learn mindful practices from an accredited teacher, in a supportive and enjoyable outdoor setting. Course Fee: 240 ( 210 Concessions, Friends of Kew (maximum capacity 12 places) 29
Terms and conditions Bookings To reserve a place on any of the courses please call 0208 332 5641 or email adulted@kew.org with a contact telephone number and we will call you back during office hours to take your booking. We can also forward our bank details if you prefer to pay via transfer. For one-day courses the full course fee is due at the time of booking. For certain courses, a non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking (see course description for details).the balance of payment is then due 4 weeks before the course begins. No reminder will be sent. The course fee listed already includes admission to the Gardens/Loder Valley Reserve so you can attend your course. Please note the minimum age for course participants is 18. Concessions Concessions on our courses are offered where possible. Senior citizens (60+), students in full-time education, unemployed, and Friends of Kew can claim the concessionary rate listed for each course. Proof of concession is required before your application can be dealt with so this should accompany your booking. Confirmation A confirmation will be sent for each booking on receipt of the course fee/deposit. Course confirmations will normally be sent by email if an address is supplied. Waiting lists All courses are limited in number and will fill up quickly so please book early to avoid disappointment. If course is fully booked, your name will be added to the waiting list. If a place becomes available, we will contact you. Refunds As the booking is made for a specific date and time, it is not possible to issue a refund or exchange once you have confirmed your purchase. Please make certain that you can attend a course before booking a place. Course Materials Please note that course materials are not provided unless stated in the course description. Materials lists will be issued to participants where appropriate. 30
Cancellation of courses Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew reserves the right to cancel any course if it becomes necessary to do so. Students who have booked places will be notified as soon as possible and may then transfer to other courses, dependent on availability, without loss of course fee/deposit. If they prefer to withdraw their bookings, course fees/deposits will be refunded in full. Personal information We respect any personal data you share with us. For more details on how we use your information, see our privacy policy at www.kew.org/privacy Accommodation Courses at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Wakehurst are non-residential. For details of accommodation in the Kew area, please visit www.visitrichmond.co.uk For details of accommodation in the Wakehurst area, please visit www.placestovisitsussex.co.uk Access We want you to enjoy your visit to Kew Gardens or Wakehurst. Please contact the adult learning coordinator, before booking your course, if you are mobility impaired or have any special needs or requirements. Adult education enquiries Email: adulted@kew.org Tel: (020) 8332 5641/5626 Visit our website at: www.kew.org If you would like to give a place on one of our courses as a gift we are more than happy to arrange for a special card to be sent, whatever the occasion. Please contact us for more details. 31
Course locations Kew Awarded World Heritage site status in 2003, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is one of the most beautiful and historic gardens in the country. Its 300 acres contain a wealth of living plant material as well as comprehensive collections of preserved plant specimens, ethnobotanical products and artefacts, botanical paintings and books. It is situated 10 miles from the centre of London and is served by mainline trains from Waterloo or by underground (District Line). The majority of the Kew courses are held in the Education Centre based in Museum No. 1. This grade II listed building, opened to the public after refurbishment in 1998, is superbly equipped for our varying courses and overlooks the magnificent Palm House. LUTON AIRPORT BIRMINGHAM M40 M1 M25 A40 READING M4 J2 J1 A4 LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT KEW GARDENS A316 M3 SOUTHAMPTON M23 GATWICK AIRPORT North Circular A406 N The West M4 M4 Junc. 2 M4 Junc. 1 A4 London A315 Kew Bridge Station Kew Bridge River Thames Ferry Lane Elizabeth Gate Brentford Gate Victoria Gate Kew Gardens Lion Gate A205 South Circular Kew Gardens Station A307 Kew Road Richmond 32
Wakehurst Wakehurst is a beautiful woodland garden owned by the National Trust but leased to and managed by Kew. It is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the rolling High Weald of West Sussex and is also home to the Millennium Seed Bank and the Loder Valley Reserve. Wakehurst is 15 minutes from junction 10 of the M23, just north of Ardingly on the B2028. The nearest train station is Haywards Heath. M4 LONDON M2 M3 M25 Jn7 M20 GATWICK AIRPORT J10 M23 A264 A23 A272 CHANNEL PORTS AND TUNNEL EAST GRINSTEAD B2028 TURNERS HILL WAKEHURST ARDINGLY HAYWARDS HEATH PORTSMOUTH A27 EASTBOURNE HASTINGS BRIGHTON M23 M25 A264 N Junction 10 TURNERS HILL B2028 WAKEHURST ARDINGLY HAYWARDS HEATH 33
The tutors Fiona Anderson is a regular instructor of Tai Chi in Kew Gardens and is registered with the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain. Heather Angel is perhaps best known as a highly versatile nature photographer whose pictures have a strong artistic appeal as well as scientific authenticity. After reading for a zoology degree, she took up photography whilst undertaking research in marine biology. When her first book - Nature Photography: Its Art and Techniques was published in 1972, Heather s photographic career took precedence. She has produced 50 titles on photographic techniques, natural history or gardening topics including Kew A World of Plants, How to Photograph Flowers and Natural Visions. Since 1994 she has been a special Professor within the School of Biology at Nottingham University. Anne L. D. Bebbington PhD gained wide teaching experience in her career as a botanist and ecology tutor for the Field Studies Council. She specialized in wild flower courses for adults, both in Britain and further afield in Europe, Canada and Australia. In retirement as a Natural History Illustrator she works mainly in pen and ink. Over the past four years she has been running a series of very popular botanical workshops for artists. Her Book Understanding the flowering Plants A practical guide for botanical illustrators was published in November 2014. She is a founder member and past President of the Institute for Analytical Plant Illustration. Robert Canis is a professional nature photographer who is represented by three international agencies. For over 20 years Robert has been leading photography workshops and tours both in the UK and overseas and regularly gives illustrated talks to a wide range of groups. He is the recipient of numerous awards including Botanical Britain category winner in the British Wildlife Photography Awards, twice highly commended in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and twice highly commended in the International Garden Photographer of the Year. Marcus Clackson is now based in Twickenham riverside, and with a successful commercial career spanning over 25 years, he is also an Ambassador for Olympus cameras and runs regular workshops and events covering many aspects of photography and photographic technique. Coming from a fine art education, Marcus draws inspiration from many sources, which can be seen in the passion and excitement with which he approaches every project. Anna Haigh has worked at Kew, in the Herbarium since 2002. She specialises in research and web taxonomy of the Araceae (Arum) family and has carried out fieldwork in South America and the Caribbean. 34
Christine Lavelle is a lecturer in horticulture and ecology at Writtle College, Chelmsford, UK, and an external examiner for the School of Horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. She trained at the National Trust for Scotland s Threave School of Practical Gardening and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Christine was assistant Head Gardener at Levens Hall topiary gardens in Kendal and Hardy Ornamentals Team leader at Askham Bryan College in York. Her main areas of work are in organic growing and wildlife gardening. Together, Christine and her husband Michael Lavelle won the Garden Media Guild Practical Book of the Year Award in 2003 and 2008 for their books Organic Gardening and How to Create a Wildlife Garden (both published by Lorenz Books). Karen Liebenguth is an accredited mindfulness teacher and qualified coach. She offers 1:1 mindfulness training and courses to help people better deal with the ups and downs of life, to foster health and wellbeing. Karen specialises in practicing mindfulness in nature and in offering coaching while walking in London s parks and green space tapping into the benefits nature has on our psychological, emotional and physical well-being. She has been practicing mindfulness for ten years and her practice has greatly influenced her life. It is one of her passions to share the benefits of mindfulness with others. Karen follows the Good Practice Guidelines set out by the UK Network for Mindfulness-Based Teacher Training Organisations. Clive Nichols has established a reputation as one of the world s finest flower and garden photographers. His passion for the subject comes across in every image that he makes. Clive has photographed many of the world s best gardens, including HRH The Prince of Wales s own private garden in Scotland, Lord Rothschild s private garden in Corfu and Lord Heseltine s private garden in Oxfordshire. In addition his work has appeared in hundreds of books as well as in countless magazines, calendars and brochures. Over the past 25 years he has amassed a stunning collection of over 60,000 images which are available for reproduction. Clive regularly gives master classes in flower and garden photography for The Royal Horticultural Society and for the past 5 years he has been one of the two main judges for the prestigious International Garden Photographer of the Year awards. Penny Price is a botanical artist, having initially trained as a teacher and then as a professional lettering artist. Having painted all her life she decided to become more specialised in the art of botanical painting, and trained for the Diploma in Botanical Art and Illustration (EGS) gaining a Distinction in 2013, Chelsea. She was awarded a Silver Gilt medal by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2014. She is an artist member of three Florilegium Societies, including one in Sydney, Australia, where she has also exhibited her work. Her mission is to help others achieve pleasure and skills in the art of botanical painting. 35
Steven Robinson grew up in Sussex and from a young age was interested in natural history. He developed his knowledge further by working and living in the countryside and is now warden for the Loder Valley Reserve which forms part of the Wakehurst Place estate. He relishes having a job which gives him opportunity to expand his knowledge and is constantly amazed by the rich natural diversity that Sussex offers. Stuart Simler trained at Leeds University as part of the Fine Art BA (Hons) Course, graduating in 1997. His early experiences as an artist were based around drawing the idea of draftsmanship excited him, in particular its versatility and range of mark making possibilities. From here he has gone on to exhibit both internationally and at roots level in local events and community exhibitions. He maintains his connections with two collectives; Collect Connect and Sunbury Working Artists (SWA). Lucy T Smith is a freelance botanical artist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. She has received many awards for her work, including the 2004 Jill Smythies Award for Botanical Illustration, awarded by the Linnean Society of London. She won first prize in the Margaret Flockton Award for Scientific Illustration, at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney (2017), as well as Highly Commended awards in the 2005, 2006 and 2008 competitions. She has also received two Gold Medals from the Royal Horticultural Society. As well as her freelance work, Lucy also produces paintings for private commissions and exhibitions. Christina Stapley has been growing, studying and using herbs for 40 years. She has a degree in Phytotherapy and as a member of the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy practised as a medical herbalist for many years. She is an RHS lecturer and lectures to a wide variety of groups, guilds and societies on all aspects of growing and using herbs, including in crafts. Richard Wilford has worked at Kew since 1989 and is now the Manager of Garden Design. He designed the Great Broad Walk Borders, which opened in June 2016. He has a diploma in garden design from the London College of Garden Design and over 29 years experience at Kew, where he has worked on the rock garden, alpine house and managed the herbaceous and grass collections. He has also written books on alpines and bulbs and writes regularly for Kew Magazine. He is a member of the RHS Bulb Committee and judges Floral Marquee exhibits at RHS shows. 36
To protect our living collections, plant material supplied for practical classes will be drawn from a variety of sources and may not be from Kew or Wakehurst. We use fresh and dried plants or plant-derived materials on many of our courses. If you think you may have an allergy to any of these please contact your doctor for advice before enrolling on the courses. 37
For course information/enquiries, please contact us: Email: adulted@kew.org Tel: 020 8332 5641 020 8332 5626 www.kew.org 38