Ingredients for a Healthy Garden - Blackwood - 16 May 2027

Every successful, healthy garden starts with the soil. In this masterclass, Head of Gardens Julian Blackhirst will demonstrate how to build and improve your soil, no matter your starting point, and help you develop the confidence to maintain a healthy, living soil. You’ll explore the techniques behind making good compost—the magic ingredient that revitalises gardens and brings soil to life.

During the session, you’ll learn how to make rich, healthy compost to improve your garden and fertilise plants, understand the importance of living soil and how to maintain its structure, fertility, and biological activity, and discover how green manures and cover crops can be used to add organic matter and build long-term soil health. Julian will also cover how to get the most out of your soil by growing a diverse range of plants, as well as how to choose the right fertilisers and amendments to suit your garden’s needs.

This masterclass is designed to teach you everything you need to know to build a healthy, living soil. From compost and green manures to cover crops and fertilisation, a successful garden always begins with the soil.