Noel Kingsbury

Lectures, Workshops and Tours

I am available as a lecturer or workshop facilitator for garden groups, design and master gardener groups, colleges and others. I lecture regularly for the English Gardening School at the Chelsea Physic Garden in London. Elsewhere I have had dates at the North West Flower Show (Seattle), The Chicago Botanic Garden, and The Philadelphia Horticultural Society, and needless to say, a great many others.

Nigel Dunnett (of Sheffield University) and I have also given joint presentations to the American Society of Landscape Architects on green roof and living wall technology at Philadelphia in 2008; we were invited back to repeat our presentation at Chicago 2009 – apparently as we got a top evaluation at Philly (but maybe they just found our accents irresistible).

I have a background in adult education and am particularly interested in developing interactive teaching programmes and workshop for local groups of garden designers or master gardeners. Following my PhD research, I have developed a teaching methodology which works very well in a garden context – students have to get out and down on hands and knees to closely observe plants.

I have led groups of garden enthusiasts around gardens and landscapes in The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, the USA and am available to lead tours around these countries, plus: southern and midland England, Wales, India, Pakistan and China. Chinese gardens are a relatively recent interest – I shall be leading a tour there in 2010. Japan is on the cards for 2011. Through contacts I could also facilitate wildflower and walking tours of Slovenia and Slovakia.

Contact me on Noel@NoelKingsbury.com if you would like to discuss a possible booking.

1. Naturalistic Planting, Perennials:

   1. Wild about Perennials

      An introduction to naturalistic planting design, explaining the basic philosophy and practice of selecting plants for the ecology of the site, naturalistic aesthetics etc. also suitable for a half-day or full day interactive course

   2. New ways with perennials

      A look at a variety of contemporary approaches to using perennials: naturalistic, neo-formal, exotica, etc.

   3. Aesthetics of the wild garden

      How does a wild or naturalistic garden differ from a conventional garden? A year round look at some fundamental questions of design, and how they can be realised in a planting style which is in many ways radically different to conventional ones.

   4. Perennials that stand up for themselves

      Choosing plants for wild or minimal maintenance situations where they have to look after themselves. An introduction to some basic plant ecology and some delightfully wild gardens.

   5. Plant ecology for gardeners

      Plant ecology has so much to teach gardeners. This is an introduction to its important lessons for plant selection and cultivation.

   6. Natural Planting for Small Gardens

      Using a wild style in the smaller garden.

   7. Natural Gardens – A Contradiction in Terms?

      Exploring notions of the ‘natural’ and the ‘organic’ in the garden. A gently sceptical look at various arguments for wild or ecological gardens.

   8. Seedheads

      A look at gardens out of season - how the seedheads of many perennials and grasses have a quiet beauty of their own, and how this can be utilised in the design of the garden.

2. Design

   1. Form and Foliage

      Making gardeners more aware of foliage and plant shape in a variety of garden styles: period and contemporary. The role of foliage, form and texture in planting design, with both clipped and natural shape being considered. also suitable for a half-day or full day interactive course

   2. Goodbye to the English garden (primarily for North American audiences)

      It’s time to take a critical look at the hold of the English garden over the imagination of non-English gardeners. It is often not appropriate, either because it is unsustainable or does not ‘belong’ to the local landscape. As an outsider who loves American landscapes and flora, I encourage the audience to consider castintg the concept into Boston harbour along with the tea, but also to look at the success of the English garden in providing intimacy and harmony and how this might be achieved using inspiration from a variety of sources.

   3. Some contemporary designers

      A look at the wide and inspirational range of work being produced by contemporary designers in a number of different countries. There is an emphasis on ideas which can be implemented at home.

3. Visual Ecology

   1. ‘Phormiums and oaks’ – some thoughts on visual ecology

      Designed to be interactive, this has proved very popular with those groups who have booked it; a light-hearted but provocative look at how well many popular garden plants fit into rural and heritage landscapes. Originally planned for British Isles, but could be adapted to most North American regions.

   2. Ecology and Diversity in West Coast Gardens

      Looks at the opportunties and the challenges facing gardeners in west coast climates, where it is possible to grown an enormous range of plants, but where the weeds can grow strongly too, and where the sheer variety of plants can overwhelm the best design intentions. How can we garden creatively in a way that reduces maintenance, benefits wildlife and local landscapes.

4. Culture and Politics of the garden

   1. The Politics of the Garden

      The garden has always been a more political arena than has often been realised. Here I explore how gardens down the ages have played a part in politics, ideology and national identity. Illustrated with a variety of historical visual material.

   2. Women, Men and Gardening – do we garden differently?

      An entertaining look at whether men and women garden differently? If so, how and why? A bit of gentle sociology illustrated with a variety of historical visual material.

   3. Garden criticism

      We have art, theatre and restaurant critcs? Why not garden critics? Or garden reviews? Why don’t we ever ‘criticise’ gardens except in private? A look at some of the potential and the problems in developing garden criticism. Particularly suited for an interactive approach.

   4. Is gardening an art?

      Gardening is often spoken of as an art, but is it? An in-depth but not too serious look at some of the issues that surround looking at gardening as an art. I argue that treating gardening as art involves giving it more serious attention than it does simply as a ‘hobby’ activity. Illustrated with a wide variety of visual material.

   5. Organic: yes or no?

      A look at the arguments for organic gardening, at basic principles, philosophy and at the (surprisingly disreputable) history of the movement. What are the problems? What are the arguments against? Both sides of the discussion are looked at, and a pragmatic approach argued for.

5. Travelogues

   1. Garden travelogue

      Wherever you go, there are gardens and plants to look at, and they can be a great focus for planning a trip. Countries covered: Germany, Netherlands, USA, Pakistan, India, Brazil, Thailand.

   2. The Brazilian Gardens of Roberto Burle Marx

      The work of one of the twentieth century’s greatest garden designers. Private gardens and public landscapes in and around Rio de Janeiro. Nice warm subject matter for mid-winter.