Events Calendar
To Sunday 23 August 2026 - 05:00pm
Caring for Nature: Grow Food, Restore Biodiversity and Create Thriving Ecosystems
Forest Gardening Weekend
22 & 23 August 2026
Herbal Origins Apothecary, near Newquay, Cornwall
Imagine a place where every year there are more birds nesting, more butterflies feeding, more bees pollinating and more life than the year before.
A place where the soil becomes deeper and healthier, where rain is held in the ground for longer, where shade keeps the land cooler during hot summers and where nature does more and more of the work.
This is the promise of a forest garden.
Rather than treating wildlife as something separate from our lives, forest gardening invites us to become part of the same living system. The plants, fungi, insects, birds and people all have a role to play. When we understand those relationships and learn to work with them, we can create landscapes that are both beautiful and productive.
A forest garden is never finished. It evolves over the years, becoming richer, more diverse and often requiring less intervention as the living community establishes itself.
About the course
During this relaxed and practical two day course, we will explore how forest garden ecosystems function and how you can apply the same principles wherever you live, whether you have a small garden, an allotment, a community space or several acres.
We will explore:
- Reading a landscape before changing it.
- Designing with nature rather than against it.
- The different layers of a forest garden and the role each plays.
- Growing food in ways that support wildlife rather than displacing it.
- Creating habitats that encourage pollinators, birds and beneficial insects.
- Building healthy soils through natural processes.
- Selecting plants for multiple functions.
- Designing spaces that become easier to care for as they mature.
- Applying these ideas to gardens, community projects and larger landscapes.
Whether you are completely new to ecological gardening or already have years of experience, this course will offer practical tools alongside a different way of seeing the land around us.
This is not about copying nature. It is about understanding the patterns that make natural ecosystems thrive, then applying those patterns to create landscapes that meet human needs while leaving more room for the rest of life.
The venue
We will be gathering at Herbal Origins Apothecary, a peaceful four acre site dedicated to medicinal plants, regenerative living and reconnecting people with the natural world.
The venue is just three miles from Newquay's beautiful beaches, so bring your swimming things, walking shoes or surfboard and make a weekend of it.
Accommodation
There are a variety of affordable accommodation options available at the venue, including camping, bell tents, a shepherd's hut and space for campervans.
Prices range from around £10 to £100 depending on the option chosen and whether you stay one or two nights.
Full details and booking options will be provided on the registration form.
There are also Airbnb options nearby, although August is peak holiday season so early booking is recommended.
Shared meals
Food will be self organised over the weekend.
Please bring organic ingredients or prepared food to share, or make a donation towards communal meals if you prefer.
Herbal Origins will also contribute some fresh organic produce grown on site.
Conscious contribution
Rather than setting a fixed price, this course is offered on a conscious contribution basis.
Rakesh's philosophy is that money should not be a barrier to learning. If those who are more financially comfortable contribute a little more, it helps make the course accessible to people who otherwise could not attend.
As a guide:
- £50 to £80 - Little or no disposable income.
- Around £120 - You are comfortably able to meet your everyday needs.
- £200 or more - You are a higher earner or attending through an organisation.
If even £50 is beyond your means, please get in touch. We would much rather find a way for you to join us than have finances stand in the way.
When booking, simply let us know how much you feel able to contribute.
Register your interest
To join us for this Forest Gardening Weekend, please complete the registration form:
https://tinyurl.com/RnP-FG-Cornwall2026
If the above link does not work, use this link:
Come and discover how working with nature can create landscapes that are richer in wildlife, increasingly resilient and a joy to spend time in.