It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes time to face the garden with spring fast approaching. There is always more to be learned, regardless of whether it’s a windowbox, a balcony, or an allotment you call a “garden”. Even the most skilled gardeners can never stop learning. This is why gardening is so addictive, in any form. You can turn your fear of the unknown into an exciting journey to discovery by taking advantage of the many short courses offered by community organizations and independent businesses throughout the capital. Here are some of my favourites:Hackney Herbal, E9A social enterprise based in East London, Hackney Herbal are running some really useful online workshops for us city dwellers short on space, with workshops on growing your own herbs and food growing on a windowsill.They are also running a community seed swap in readiness for the spring equinox on Saturday 19th March at Trowbridge Gardens, E9 5LD.hackneyherbal.com/workshopsPhilipa Craddock, W1Harry and Meghan’s wedding florist is offering an online mimosa arranging tutorial for GBP38 with all profits donated to the International Rescue Committee’s Ukraine effort.philippacraddock.comSouth London Botanical Institute, SE24Get down with the details and learn more about the botany of plants at the South London Botanical Institute, founded by botanist Allan Octavian Hume over a 100 years ago. A 10-part series will be available online that covers everything from mushrooms and fungi to hotspots in plant biodiversity. There are many opportunities to learn from expert botanists and explore London’s green spaces. slbi.org.uk/events/Calthorpe Community Garden, WC1Minutes from the madness of St Pancras and Kings Cross station, Calthorpe Community Garden on Grays Inn Road runs snappy free (donations welcome) workshops on essential gardening skills including composting, seed sowing, tomato growing and pruning. You can take their three-week course to learn how to grow food or improve your composting skills with their advanced course. calthorpecommunitygarden.org.uk/book-a-coursePhytology, E2Based in the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve on Middleton Street, Phytology are running ‘Rights for Weeds’ a four-part walking workshop on sustainable, urban foraging practices. Learn how to respectfully forage and discover what you can do with the plants around your home. You are allowed to nibble, but you won’t leave with a lunch. However, you will have the skills to forage in your local community. phytology.org.uk/calendar/Walworth Garden, SE17This small but exceptional charity and community garden in South London offers a remarkable range of workshops for gardeners no matter your level of gardening know-how. They offer workshops on urban gardening, gardening for London’s changing climates, building ponds, and a masterclass in organic vegetable growing. Many of their courses are free to residents of Southwark. walworthgarden.org.uk/workshopsWolves Lane Flower Company, N22Based in retro, repurposed ex-council greenhouses in North London (more charming than it sounds, I promise), Wolves Lane Flower Company offers a series of workshops on, you guessed it, flower growing. There are no multicoloured roses. Marianne Mogendorff, founder, and Camila Klich, are passionate about ethical flowers. They are free of pesticides and chemicals, grown seasonally and dripping in fragrance. wolveslaneflowercompany.com/events-workshopsChelsea Physic Garden, SW3Pick up a new skill within the walls of one of London’s oldest gardens this spring. The Chelsea Physic Garden offers courses on a wide range of subjects, including plant propagation for beginners and botanical watercolour classes. READ MOREWhat to Plant Now: The best early flowering plants, last-chance fruit tree species. What to Do in Your Garden in February: This month brings good news to lazy London gardeners. Letta Jones, Gardener and Garden Historian, will help you decode confusing plant labels. Get the whole family involved in making a Japanese Kokedama Moss Ball and learn about the journey of chocolate from bean, to bar. chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visit/whats-on/#eventsForest, SE22If outdoor space is limited or non-existent, don’t worry. There are still many things to learn. Forest teaches classes at their Deptford store, which is painfully cool and filled with plants. London Terrariums has partnered with Forest to teach you how to make a bottle terrarium using a boiling flask. They’ll even provide the plants and everything else you need. Or if you’re stuck when it comes to repotting your houseplants, they run a regular bring-your-own-plant repotting workshop explaining soil pots and everything in between.forest.london/pages/workshops
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