Join for two engaging gardening talks. Our clay soil survival guide in the morning session will teach you how to manage and improve your heavy clay soil and provide you with top plants that will thrive in clay soils. And in the afternoon, discover the principles of planting design, whatever your soil, with our Basics of Planting Design talk.
A Clay Soil Survival Guide (10.30am – 12Noon) and Basics of Planting Design (1.00 – 2.30pm)
Morning Talk – A Clay Soil Survival GuideIf heavy clay soil is the challenge in your garden – look no further! Juliet will explain how you can manage and improve your heavy clay soil and provide you with her top selection of plants that will thrive in clay soils.
Afternoon Talk – Basics of Planting DesignAre you thinking about refreshing your borders but unsure about where to start? Come learn about the basic principles of planting design in this talk with award winning garden designer Keri Fitzpatrick.
A foundational understanding of how to approach planting design in a thoughtful and practical way.
Beginners and garden enthusiasts are welcome.
Morning talk – Juliet Sargeant is a multi-award-winning designer and regular panelist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners Question Time, with over 20 years of experience in designing gardens and also teaching about them. She has a relaxed teaching style, with plenty of illustrations, and discussion.
Afternoon talk – Kerianne (Keri) Fitzpatrick studied garden and landscape design at the University of Brighton, and has exhibited at RHS Hampton Court and at Gardeners World Live, where she was awarded a Gold Medal. She has a passion for travel and natural landscapes and draws on her vast range of travel experience for inspiration.
Old Barn Nurseries is one of the largest nurseries in Sussex. The talk will be held in their purpose-built studio ‘The Garden Room’.
– Two 90 minute talks by a gardening expert
– 20% off lunch at the café
– 20% Off Plants Voucher for use at Old Barn on the day of the talks
Wednesday June 3rd 2026
10.30am – 2.30pm
Old Barn Nurseries, Worthing Road, Dial Post, Horsham, RH13 8NR
If you’d prefer to join for one of these talks rather than both, you can book individual talk tickets here:
A Clay Soil Survival Guide– 10.30am to 12pm
The Basics of Planting Design– 1pm to 2.30pm
Once you have booked, you will receive an email confirmation of your booking – please check your junk mail if you have not heard from us.
Shortly before your course, you will receive another email, giving directions and joining instructions – again, please check your junk mail if you have not heard from us.
Other Gardening Talks at Sussex Garden School:
Boost your garden knowledge with professional tips from our horticulture & design experts. Our Gardening Talks are packed with insights gained from years of creating and planting gardens of all kinds. Whatever your garden problem, we have the solutions! Join us for just a morning ‘info-burst’ or relax into a whole day of learning. You will find details of all our talks here.
admin@julietsargeant.com
Tel: 01273 834 083
Sussex Garden School
Oak Studio
Old Barn Nurseries
Worthing Road, Dial Post
Horsham RH13 8NU
