This course is an interactive workshop day to look at what makes certain spaces miserable and tips and tricks to troubleshoot our own gardens.
Welcome to our talented designer Rachel Owens 2026 garden workshop series. These workshops will teach you everything you need to know about creating the garden you have always dreamed of.
Bring along photos of any sad unsolved spaces you have in your gardens, and we will work through what makes a beautiful space and how to breathe life back into forgotten corners. These areas could be a dumping ground behind a shed, a ‘strange’ shaped space that is hard to understand, a shady slope or even a bleak courtyard.
It will be a fun and interactive day that first looks at why certain sections can be problematic and how using the principles of design can help solve these areas. The afternoon will be spent looking at your own spaces and working through the layout, the use of the space and the plants that could help the space feel loved again.
What makes an area difficult to manage
Desire lines and how we use spaces
How certain principles of design can help us rethink spaces
Using photos and tracing paper to rethink areas
Plants focus for difficult sites.
Our very own studio space is set within the grounds of Old Barn Garden Centre, Dial Post, South of Horsham. Our dedicated space for courses, is a light airy and spacious place to learn.
· A new understanding of the reasons why the space has been forgotten
· Tips and tricks to rethink spaces and use the principles of design as a guideline
· An understanding of plant characteristics than can breathe life into tired spaces
· Sketch ideas using tracing paper over photos to suggest solutions and actions points
· Images and names of plants that can work in difficult areas
Rachel teaches in small groups which ensures everyone gets the opportunity to practice, and time to ask questions. Our monthly workshops are a great way to meet like minded people with an interest in gardening and the natural world.
This course will appeal to anyone that has a space that they need a hand with. No experience is needed just bring along photos and a list of what is currently there and why it is not working for you.
The day will be class based but we will be looking at plants in the nursery and assessing their physical characteristics.
An engaging talk with demonstrations, from a gardening expert.
Refreshments
Tutor:Rachel Owen is a designer with 30 years’ experience, working from concept through to build.
Alongside her background in horticulture and design, in recent years she has focused on urban forestry and the protection of trees in the landscape, promoting resilience and longevity. She has recently completed an MSc in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry and manages the health of urban trees within Sussex daily. Rachel is also part of a Community Interest Company creating a large-scale land-based Centre for Resilience in East Sussex. This project will be a flag ship for agroecological farming, resilience planting and support environmental regeneration and land stewardship.
Rachel has a passion for soil health, plants, our relationship with the landscape, and tailors her teaching to suit learners from beginners to professionals.
Early Bird Ticket: £80
Standard Ticket: £95
Saturday 11th July 2026
10:00am – 3:30pm
Sussex Garden School Studio, at Old Barn Garden Centre, Dial Post, Nr Horsham, RH13 8NR
Once you have booked, you will receive an email confirmation of your booking – please check your junk email folder if you do not hear from us.
Shortly before the workshop, you will receive another email from us, giving your directions and any joining instructions – please check your junk email folder if you do not hear from us.
Gardening Workshops by Rachel happen throughout the year at the Sussex Garden School Studio (RH13 8NR) and pre-booking is essential. These small-group sessions, led by expert gardener Rachel, cover essential skills to help your garden thrive—whether it’s choosing trees, planting design for future climates, making the most of difficult garden spaces or the art of planting design. Check out Rachel’s courses in 2026:
The Garden Palette: Mastering Colour Outdoors- Saturday 6th June 2026
Planting Design for future Climates –Sunday 21st June 2026
Design Solutions for Difficult Garden Spaces – Saturday 11th July 2026
admin@julietsargeant.com
Tel: 01273 834 083
Sussex Garden School
Oak Studio
Old Barn Nurseries
Worthing Road, Dial Post
Horsham RH13 8NU
