An Intro to Forest Gardening **1 Place Left Special Offer**

A two day Introduction to the principles of Forest Gardening. Suitable for anyone interested in creating a productive and low maintenance food growing area.

A forest garden is primarily a food-producing habitat, based on the model of a natural woodland in its early stages of development. Comprised of several layers – and usually including fruit and nut trees, fruit bushes, perennial vegetables and other useful plants – it can be tailored to fit any garden. With careful design, a forest garden will be low maintenance and highly productive for many years to come. This course will cover:

• Concepts and principles of forest gardening
• Food crops and other benefits of forest gardens
• Forest garden design and grouping of plants
• The basics of plant selection and establishment

There will be a chance to have a go at designing a simple forest garden and a special visit to the diverse forest gardens at Angie’s smallholding. No prior knowledge will be assumed, though participants may wish to learn more about some specific gardening and fruit growing techniques, such as pruning, after the course.

Tutor: Dr Angie Polkey

Angie is a founder member of the Lampeter Permaculture Group (which arose from the first full Permaculture Design Course (PDC) that she co-taught in 2000) and Lampeter Resilience Hub. Her background in ecology and conservation helps her understand – and teach – the natural principles, patterns and processes that have inspired permaculture. Her enthusiasm for permaculture began on an introductory course in 1995, followed by a PDC with Ben Law (featured in Grand Designs) and then a sabbatical to study permaculture and sustainable land use in Australia. Enthused and motivated to ‘walk the talk’, Angie first practised permaculture in a tiny urban garden in Sussex and then moved to Wales with her husband in 1997. Their small acreage in west Wales has several forest gardens, vegetable beds, a polytunnel, wildlife habitats, and hard-working chickens, and is designed to minimise inputs and maximise outputs over the longer term. After a long career working for conservation organisations such as the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Learning through Landscapes, Denmark Farm Conservation Centre and PONT Cymru, Angie works freelance as a facilitator and advisor in the sustainable design & management of land-based & community projects.

Angie will also be running a two day Introduction to Permaculture Course on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd April 2022. There is a £10 discount for anyone attending both courses (£210 for two courses).

Fee: £110 per person

**SPECIAL OFFER: £90 per person (BOOK BY MIDDAY MON 28th MARCH)**

For terms and conditions of bookings please click here

NB. COVID-19: This workshop will take place with social distancing and enhanced hygiene measures in place.

• This workshop will take place according to COVID safety regulations at the time of running.
• Please do not attend if you should be self-isolating for any reason.
• If you are able to, please do a lateral flow test just before leaving home. 
• There will be a smaller number of participants to allow for good social distancing. 
• Please come prepared to work in a well ventilated room, or outdoors if the weather permits, with plenty of warm clothing. 
• Everybody will be required to wear a face mask indoors (unless medically exempt) on arrival, whilst moving around and when working closely with the tutor etc. At other times face masks may be removed whilst sitting at a work station at a good distance from others.

You may also be interested in other courses and workshops at Denmark Farm. Please see our events calendar for our full list.