Events and training from our network
Blythe Hill Fields Community Orchard Planting Day
Blythe Hill Fields, London SE6 Access Via Codrington Hill, Montacute Road, Brockley View or Blythe Hill Lane
31 Jan 2025 | Event
Come and help us plant our 12 new trees on Friday 31st January! Digging, stake driving, mulching, building cages and labelling our whips as they go in at our orchard planting day on January 31st 2025, between 12pm and 2pm.
Support the orchard, food forest and community garden with watering, mulching and weeding as it establishes itself, and join in our Wassail!
Come and help us plant our 12 new trees on Friday 31st January! Digging, stake driving, mulching, building cages and labelling our whips as they go in at our orchard planting day on January 31st 2025, between 12pm and 2pm.
Support the orchard, food forest and community garden with watering, mulching and weeding as it establishes itself, and join in our Wassail!
Book 
Growing for Wellbeing
The Vine Road Pavillion, Vine Road Recreation Ground, Vine Road, Barnes
5 Feb 2025 | Event
At these monthly Sessions, we invite you to improve your wellbeing by taking part in gardening activities, whilst connecting with others from the local community and learning new skills in a safe and welcoming environment. There will also be a chance to spend some mindful time in nature, for example, making herbal teas. We welcome people of all ages and abilities, whether you are a keen gardener or would like to try something new. All activities will take place at a pace that suits you.
At these monthly Sessions, we invite you to improve your wellbeing by taking part in gardening activities, whilst connecting with others from the local community and learning new skills in a safe and welcoming environment. There will also be a chance to spend some mindful time in nature, for example, making herbal teas. We welcome people of all ages and abilities, whether you are a keen gardener or would like to try something new. All activities will take place at a pace that suits you.
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Practical Organic Gardening course (Level 2)
Sydenham Garden, 28a Wynell Road, SE23 2LW
6 Feb 2025 | Accredited training
Practical Organic Gardening is a Level 2 course, designed by Sydenham Garden and accredited by the Open College Network (OCN). The 10-month course runs weekly on Thursdays, from 5th Feb – 11th Dec 2025. It is open to adult learners with some experience in gardening, who would like to develop their understanding of plants, soil and sustainable gardening techniques. Places will be prioritised for those living with a mental and/or physical health issue.
Practical Organic Gardening is a Level 2 course, designed by Sydenham Garden and accredited by the Open College Network (OCN). The 10-month course runs weekly on Thursdays, from 5th Feb – 11th Dec 2025. It is open to adult learners with some experience in gardening, who would like to develop their understanding of plants, soil and sustainable gardening techniques. Places will be prioritised for those living with a mental and/or physical health issue.
Book
Blythe Hill Fields Community Orchard Wassail
Blythe Hill Fields, London SE6 Access Via Codrington Hill, Montacute Road, Brockley View or Blythe Hill Lane
8 Feb 2025 | Event
Come and join in our Wassail for our newly planted fruit trees! bring your singing voice, pots and pans to bang, a cup for mulled cider and apple juice, and join us from 4pm to 5pm
Come and join in our Wassail for our newly planted fruit trees! bring your singing voice, pots and pans to bang, a cup for mulled cider and apple juice, and join us from 4pm to 5pm
Book
LGBTQ+ growing group
The Vine Road Pavillion, Vine Road Recreation Ground, Vine Road, Barnes
15 Feb 2025 | Event
Our LGBTQ+ growing group is a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for members of the LGBTQ+ community to grow together. We welcome anyone - new to gardening or experienced growers! All tools and equipment will be provided, and there is someone on hand to guide the session. The group takes place on the 3rd Saturday of every month. It is free to attend, but please book via Eventbrite.
Our LGBTQ+ growing group is a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for members of the LGBTQ+ community to grow together. We welcome anyone - new to gardening or experienced growers! All tools and equipment will be provided, and there is someone on hand to guide the session. The group takes place on the 3rd Saturday of every month. It is free to attend, but please book via Eventbrite.
Book
Getting Started With Growing
The Vine Road Pavillion, Vine Road Recreation Ground, Vine Road, Barnes
15 Feb 2025 | Accredited training
There is a dizzying array of information available these days about how to grow, and when you’re starting out, it can all feel a bit overwhelming. In this workshop, we will give you a few simple pointers about how to get started. We’ll look at what equipment you’ll need, how to understand the conditions in your growing space and how to make a planting plan. We’ll also give you some useful tips on how to design a space.
There is a dizzying array of information available these days about how to grow, and when you’re starting out, it can all feel a bit overwhelming. In this workshop, we will give you a few simple pointers about how to get started. We’ll look at what equipment you’ll need, how to understand the conditions in your growing space and how to make a planting plan. We’ll also give you some useful tips on how to design a space.
Book
Winter Currant Pruning workshop Saturday 24th February 2024 10am - 3pm
Carshalton Community Allotment, Colston Avenue, Carshalton SM5 3NX
22 Feb 2025 | Accredited training
Currants (including blackcurrants, gooseberries, redcurrants and jostaberries) may be small, but they pack a real nutrition punch. Rarely found in supermarkets, currants are easy to grow and, with the right care, can give excellent yields of fruit over many years. Their bright jewel colours add a zing to many recipes!
Currants (including blackcurrants, gooseberries, redcurrants and jostaberries) may be small, but they pack a real nutrition punch. Rarely found in supermarkets, currants are easy to grow and, with the right care, can give excellent yields of fruit over many years. Their bright jewel colours add a zing to many recipes!
Book 
Growing with Nature
The Vine Road Pavillion, Vine Road Recreation Ground, Vine Road, Barnes
15 Mar 2025 | Accredited training
Permaculture, regenerative growing, agro-ecology; what does it all mean? There are lots of different terms used to describe sustainable growing, and in this workshop, we will attempt to demystify some of these approaches. We will also look at how to work with nature to make the most of your growing space. This will include understanding light levels and terms such as ‘part shade’ and ‘full shade’, how to be ‘water-wise’, and how to create wildlife habitat in your growing area.
Permaculture, regenerative growing, agro-ecology; what does it all mean? There are lots of different terms used to describe sustainable growing, and in this workshop, we will attempt to demystify some of these approaches. We will also look at how to work with nature to make the most of your growing space. This will include understanding light levels and terms such as ‘part shade’ and ‘full shade’, how to be ‘water-wise’, and how to create wildlife habitat in your growing area.
Book
Spring Propagation
EcoLocal The Lodge, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3NX
22 Mar 2025 | Accredited training
The art of plant propagation is as old as civilisation. With techniques learned and adapted from nature, we can save money and have more of our favourite plants, with enough left over to share with friends.
In this one-day beginners’ workshop we will cover a range of techniques that can be undertaken as the days of the new year start to lengthen.
The art of plant propagation is as old as civilisation. With techniques learned and adapted from nature, we can save money and have more of our favourite plants, with enough left over to share with friends.
In this one-day beginners’ workshop we will cover a range of techniques that can be undertaken as the days of the new year start to lengthen.
Book
Plants for Free
The Vine Road Pavillion, Vine Road Recreation Ground, Vine Road, Barnes
19 Apr 2025 | Accredited training
These days, we tend to see plants and seeds as something we buy, rather than something we grow. Seed and plant production has been commercialised, and plants can be costly. However, plants we have raised ourselves, that are adapted to local conditions, are often more successful than those we buy. It’s easy to get lots more plants without spending any money at all! In this workshop, we will cover seed sowing, seed saving, taking cuttings, layering, dividing and more!
These days, we tend to see plants and seeds as something we buy, rather than something we grow. Seed and plant production has been commercialised, and plants can be costly. However, plants we have raised ourselves, that are adapted to local conditions, are often more successful than those we buy. It’s easy to get lots more plants without spending any money at all! In this workshop, we will cover seed sowing, seed saving, taking cuttings, layering, dividing and more!
Book
