'Gardening for Wildlife and Well-being'         

 with Cumbrian Garden Designer, Lecturer & Plantswoman, Shelagh Todd. 

Do you want to create a wildlife friendly garden or outdoor space that embraces sustainability? If so, this is the course for you.

Tutor Shelagh Todd will explore how the garden surrounding Quirky Workshop’s barns has evolved into a haven for wildlife over the last 25 years.

During the course we will explore the beds and borders, wildlife pond, wildflower meadow and nooks and crannies that attract an abundance of wildlife to Annie’s garden. We will explore the quirkiness of the sustainable techniques incorporated into her unique garden and give you some inspiration and ideas for you to take back to your own outdoor space.

Shelagh will share how over the last 30 years she has created her own sustainable wildlife garden in a fellside village situated on the edge of the Pennines. During the day Shelagh will share her  top tips on creating a sustainably designed wildlife garden

• Selecting wildlife friendly plants to attract bees & butterflies to your borders
• Creating a mixed hedge for wildlife
• How to encourage wildlife & birdlife into your garden
• Tips on how to create & maintain a wildlife meadow
• The enjoyment & benefits of building a dead hedge accompanied by a demonstration in the garden at Poplin Dub
• A hands on practical session making small bug hotels
• Creative & practical ideas on adding a wildlife pond to your garden

Enjoy being inspired with ideas to benefit both nature and your wellbeing.

10.00am to 4.30pm each day

£85  inc tasty home made lunch, fresh coffee, and cream tea.
Material Charges: n/a 

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

 Saturday 11 July 2026                              (we may also run this course on Fri 10th July .. please let us know if you are interested in this date) 

Please bring: Any other items required will be detailed in your joining email. Typically this course runs with approx 8-10 students.

About the Artist 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
• Annies quirky & creative garden
• Gathering inspirational ideas & now having the confidence to implement the ideas in my own garden