DIARY
COMPILED BY ALYS HURN AND ANNIE GATTI
Photographic Exhibition Bath-based photographer Rich Stapleton’s exhibition Botany celebrates the sculptural forms of plants. The work is available to buy as prints from £250. Until 30 September. The Salon, Connolly, 4 Clifford Street, London W1S 2LG. Tel 020 7952 6708, connollyengland.com
Secret Structures: Inside the story of Plants and Fungi In this long-running exhibition, you can marvel at the amazing structures of plants and fungi and learn why it is important to protect them. 10am-3.30pm, daily. Free with garden admission. Millennium Seed Bank Atrium, Wakehurst Garden, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, Sussex RH17 6TN. Tel 01444 894066, kew.org/wakehurst
Fruit for Smaller Gardens Learn how to train fruit trees into a variety of forms suited to smaller gardens, plus the basics of summer pruning. 8 August, 11am-12.30pm. £25. RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. Tel 020 3176 5830, rhs.org.uk
Great Comp Summer Show Now in its 16th year, this annual event brings together multi-award-winning nurseries, including Edulis Nursery and Pineview Plants, plus local artists and craftsmen, for a weekend celebrating the joys of gardening. 11-12 August, 11am-5pm. £8. Great Comp Garden, Comp Lane, Platt, nr Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8QS. Tel 01732 885094, greatcompgarden.co.uk
An Elixir of Letters talk and tour Join sculptor Rachel Gundry for a talk on her work that’s inspired by the plants used for teas, tisanes, wines and other herbal brews. The talk is followed by a tour of the An Elixir of Letters exhibition, showcasing the work of some of the UK’s foremost letter carvers. 15 August, 2.30pm. Free with garden entry, but booking required. Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS. Tel 020 7352 5646, chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
Lowther Garden Tours Head gardener Martin Ogle leads a tour of late-summer planting at Lowther Castle Gardens. 16 August, 1.30pm. £12. Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2HH. Tel 01931 712192, lowthercastle.org
Walking in the Footsteps of ‘Capability’ Brown A guided walk across the parkland at Scampston Hall, Yorkshire, which reveals the vistas created by the great landscape architect in 1773. 16 August, 1-2pm. £2 suggested donation. Meet at plant sales area 12.55pm, Scampston Hall, Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 8NG. Tel 01944 759111, scampston.co.uk.
Summer Vegetable Weekend Barnsdale opens up its productive gardens, normally off limits to visitors, with advice from its expert grower on how to grow your own. Seasonal cooking demonstrations take place on Sunday. 18-19 August, 11am-4pm. Free with garden admission. Barnsdale Gardens, The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8AH. Tel 01572 813200, barnsdalegardens.co.uk
Surrey Sculpture Society Trail The Surrey Sculpture Society’s trail opens at RHS Wisley on 25 August. Contemporary and traditional pieces are installed throughout the garden and are available to buy. Until 23 September, 10am-6pm. Normal garden admission applies. RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. Tel 01483 224234, rhs.org.uk
Outdoor Kitchen Design A one-day practical course on outdoor kitchen design by The Lapa Company at their outdoor kitchen at Borough Green, Kent TN15 8QU. 30 August. Tickets are £48, including lunch. Tel 01732 884030, thelapacompany.co.uk
Bee and Pollination Festival Join experts and bee-keeping enthusiasts for a weekend of talks, demonstrations and live hives. Pollinator-friendly plants will be on sale. 1-2 September, 10am-5pm. University of Bristol Botanic Garden, The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 1JG. Tel 0117 928 9000, bristol.ac.uk/botanicgarden