Chris Allen is spending the first few days of National Gardening Week looking behind the scenes at Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland.
One of the objectives is to see firsthand what is required to keep such an important garden looking good for the thousands of visitors who come to the gardens each year. The huge range of plants within the many different gardens created by the late Geoff Hamilton as the location for the BBC Gardeners World programmes filmed on the site.
Geoff’s son Nick Hamilton is in charge of the gardens and is keen to encourage visitors to have a better understanding of gardens and gardening.
To link in with this The Gardening Times is presenting a practical workshop called “Take Another Look at Plants”. This free event will be held at Barnsdale Gardens on Wednesday 16th April starting at 10am until 11.30am. Advanced booking is required to establish numbers.

Please note that the normal admission costs apply to enter the gardens but the workshop is free to those who book in advance.
Please contact Barnsdale Gardens to book
Tel: 01572 813 200
Email: info@barnsdalegardens.co.uk
The address: Barnsdale Gardens, The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8AH
If you are visiting Barnsdale on Tuesday 15th or Wednesday 16th please come and say hello, it would be great to meet as many readers as possible.
Note:
Another date for the diary: there is another plant workshop at the Honiton Garden Centre in East Devon on Thursday 24th April, more details to follow.