Festival of the Garden

About

Charleston's Festival of the Garden returns this July with four days of live and in-person events bringing together today's most pioneering gardeners, designers, writers, artists, horticulturalists and activists. This year's Festival of the Garden explores themes of race, access, privilege, mental health and sexuality through the prism of gardening, horticulture and the natural world.

Join us this summer and explore your connection with the natural world and our collective impact on the environment through talks, walks, tours and demonstrations. A selection of free, informal drop-in fringe events covering everything from composting to growing your own medicinal plants will be running throughout the festival, plus a selection of plant stalls from quality, independent local growers.

Programme highlights include:
* Leading figure of the 'New Perennial' movement and innovative plantsman, Piet Oudolf, discusses his high-profile projects such as the garden at Hauser & Wirth in Somerset and the New York High Line.
* Charlotte Harris, Hugo Bugg and Poppy Okotcha explore kitchen gardens and the power of growing for ourselves.
* Award-winning teenage autistic author of the 'Diary of a Young Naturalist' Dara McAnulty talks about the changing world, its impact on his generation and his environmental activism.
* The founding members of the grass roots 'Right to Roam' movement Nick Hayes, Jon Moses and Paul Powlesland join folk singer Sam Lee to talk about freedom, trespassing and the campaign to open up British countryside to all.
* Organic food grower, writer and nature worshipper Claire Ratinon explores the themes of race and belonging.
* Fergus Garrett, Head Gardener and Chief Executive of Great Dixter House & Gardens, discusses biodiversity, meadows and the garden habitat.
* Tom Stuart-Smith and Isabella Tree on the rewilding of the walled garden at Knepp Wildland.
* Alys Fowler on medicinal gardens: growing plants for healing, plants in folklore and the role of wise-women, witches and healers.

The full Festival of the Garden programme will be revealed in April and tickets will be on sale later that month.