Garden exhibitors at the Home & Garden Show will be covering the whole spectrum of garden design, development and maintenance, from hard landscaping and architectural features to plants and planting ideas, sculpture, water features – the works.
A few of these exhibitors will be talking about their work in the demonstration area which we’re putting into one of the Main Halls at Rheged. These free talks will give visitors a chance to sit down with an expert and focus on a particular topic for about 20 minutes.
From a gardens perspective, I’ve invited Rod Hughes from 2030 Architects, Shelagh Todd from Newton Rigg College and my other half, Phil Newport of Wildroof Landscapes, to share their ideas and give you a chance to consider the options for your garden in 2015 and beyond.
Shelagh will be focusing on hardy plans for a hardy climate and bringing along a selection of plants to suit the Cumbria climate (12.30pm, Saturday only).
Rod will be talking about preparing for your design project – from a simple extension to a complete conversion or new build – with advice on how best to brief your architect (1.15pm, Saturday and Sunday).
And Phil will be advising on paving solutions – from crazy to more cultured – with an insight into the materials that are available and most suitable for Cumbrian gardens (2.45pm, Saturday and Sunday).
If you’ve not booked your tickets for the Cumbria Life Home & Garden Show 2015 yet, I hope that these free demonstrations will tempt you to make a booking. It will save you £1 if you pre-book (£4 instead of £5 for the day) and you can do the whole thing from our Buy Tickets page.
And don’t forget the Gardeners’ Question Time on Saturday afternoon with Eric Robson, Janet Queen, Tom Attwood, James Smith and Shelagh Todd – come prepared with your questions for the expert panel and we’ll be in the Lecture Theatre at 2pm on Saturday 28 February.