Cultivating edible ecosystems: a practical approach – garden lecture with Sid Hill

Ref: SGL35702

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About this course

In this garden lecture, Sid will discuss how to design, create and manage edible ecosystems. You will also learn how to sensitively tend the land and rediscover ways of introducing edible plants into your own gardens and landscapes.

Course Description

Edible ecosystems have existed for thousands of years, created and managed by indigenous people growing food and other useful plants in forests and grasslands. Much of Sid’s work is inspired by these ancient practices and how we can bring some of this knowledge into our own gardens and landscapes in a practical way. His passion is to create landscapes and plantings that echo wild plant communities, meadows, woodlands and wetlands, whilst producing food, restoring environments and improving people’s lives.

The day will begin by exploring Sid’s work and approach in designing, creating and managing edible and biodiverse gardens. He will discuss his research and projects with edible forest gardens and edible meadows, their ethnobotanical history and principles in designed plant communities.

He will explain how you can practically implement these ideas in your own garden or the gardens of your clients, exploring how to prepare the ground for planting and how to create edible meadows and edible forest gardens. He will also discuss mulches, groundcover, layering edible plantings, as well as how these edible and biodiverse gardens influence our health.

This garden lecture is suitable for home gardeners and professionals alike.

Please note, this course will take place in The Old Library, at West Dean College, so please use the College car park. Please arrive between 9.30-9.45am. The course starts at 10am and ends at 3pm. Lunch is included.

Course Materials

What students need to bring

A notebook and pen

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Timetable

Garden Lecture Timetable

Students shuold arrive by 9.30am for registration
Teaching starts - 10am
Teaching finishes - 3pm
Lunch is included

General Information

Tutors

Sid Hill

Sids passion is to create landscapes and plantings that echo wild plant communities, meadows, woodlands and wetlands, whilst producing resources, restoring environments and improving people's lives. He is passionate about working with plants to solve contemporary issues and regenerate landscapes. 

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.