Propagation for the Terrified ~ making plants for free! with Shelagh Todd

 

Times: 1.30 - 4.30pm   

£40 inc. fresh coffee/ home made biscuits inc

 

 

Propagation for the Terrified ~ making plants for free'  with Cumbrian based lecturer, garden designer & plants woman, Shelagh Todd.

 

The workshop is designed to help dispel the mystique that often surrounds plant propagation. 

During the workshop Shelagh will

                 -      Explain some of the terminology used in plant propagation

-         Show you some of the essential tools & equipment needed for successful plant propagation. You may be surprised that it doesn’t need  lots of expensive equipment to successfully propagate plants

-         Demonstrate and explain how to successfully propagate plants from seed eg vegetables, glasshouse crops , annuals and  perennials.

-         Cuttings are easy to take from so many plants. Shelagh will demonstrate how to take different types of cuttings from indoor houseplant and a variety of plants from your garden.

-         There is no easier way of propagating than from a method called division. This technique is mainly used for herbaceous perennials & a large range of house plants. You will be amazed at how easy it is!

-          Plant propagation is a lot of fun & the end product is lots of free plants.

 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 for well over 30 years, and we were thrilled to welcome her to the 2025 Quirky programme. last year.  Offering a wider offering for 2027, 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.

 

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

Saturday 13th March 2027    Afternoon session 1.30pm - 4.30pm     

Thursday 8th April   2027      Afternoon session 1.30pm - 4.30pm

Please bring: Footwear and suitable clothes for our walk around the garden, plus a phone or camera for taking photographs and some paper/ pen for taking notes.  Typically this course runs with approx 10 students.

 About the Tutor  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.

Some informal 'post -it' notes feedback from one of Shelagh's previous courses

 What did you enjoy most?

• Everything was wonderful !
• Fantastic!
• Inspirational!
• Passionately taught by Shelagh
• Excellent, Inspirational & Therapeutic
• Built my confidence to design my own garden borders
• The structure of the 2 day course, the location & of course Shelagh!
• Engaging with the gardens around the Quirky Workshop Barn especially the wildlife pond & wildflower meadow
• A wonderful, in depth, thought provoking course and perfectly delivered by Shelagh
• Guided walks around Annies Garden
• Learning about my soil & how to improve it
• Building my confidence on how to select & use plants in my own Cumbrian garden
• Shelagh’s vast wealth of knowledge & experience
• Meeting like-minded people who enjoy talking about gardens & plants & sharing their own experiences
• Annie's quirky & creative garden
• Gathering inspirational ideas & now having the confidence to implement the ideas in my own garden