Aimed at interested adults. For further details about cost, accommodation and booking, please contact the venue via address/phone/email below to receive further information when it is available - or phone me. Note that many courses book up months beforehand. Most centres accept non-residential bookings too. Weekend (W/E) courses start on Friday evening and usually end on Sunday after lunch.
All - Christmas - Flower - Illustrated - Mushroom
April 16th or April 23rd 2012
Spring Flowers in Lycia (Turkey)
Walks, flowers, ancient sites and good food based in a small British-run hotel in the pretty seaside village of Adrasan near Olympos on Turkey's beautiful turquoise coast. £670 full board (incl packed lunch) tuition and transport from and to the airport at Antalya and to and from the walks. Book your own flights (currently about £275 return) - see hotel and other details on www.jonnyturk.com
Email - Website - TelephoneJune 1st - 3rd 2012
Summer Flowers in North Wales
A series of short walks to find and enjoy Summer flowers,trees, seasonal fungi and more!Evening slide talks. Venue: Plas Tan y Bwlch, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, LL41 3YU Comfortable accommodation (most en suite), excellent food.
Email - Website - TelephoneJune 1st - 3rd 2012
Illustrating wild and garden Flowers with Jean Binney
Demonstrations, handouts and one to one tuitionwill guide you through observation,design,drawing and colour matching to produce beautiful plant portraits. Suitable for artists of all abilities. Venue Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentrog,Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, LL41 3YU
Email - Website - TelephoneMay 20th 2012 (10.00 - 4.00)
Food for free Day
Finding, identifying and cooking with wild plants. From chickweed and wild garlic saladto lime flower tea and bilberry gin - no meat but plenty of fun. Venue: Cordon Vert School, Vegetarian Society, Dunham Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4QG
Website - TelephoneJune 15th - 17th 2012
Name that Plant
A practical course to help people identify both wild and garden plants using talks, handouts, books and plenty of time in the field. Wonderful gardens,grounds,food and ensuite accommodation. Venue: Madingley Hall, Madingley, Cambridge CB3 8AQ
Website - TelephoneChristmas and its Customs
When was Jesus born? Who was Father Christmas? What links Christmas and holly, ivy, mistletoe, robins, candles, crackers, mince pies etc? Copies of my book on Christmas available at a discount.
The Magic of Mushrooms
Fungi - how to find and cook the best edible species; be aware of the poisonous kinds and the folklore surrounding hallucinogenic species and the use of fungi in medicine. Identification books available.
A Mushroom Miscellany
Based on my recently published book of the same name. Mushrooms in art, literature, music, folklore, murder and medicine. From dry rot to truffles; witches to Enid Blyton - wonderful stories.
A Plant Anthology
A look at plants in medicine, folklore, poetry, history and industry. From making bombs to preventing strokes, from glass making to cancer treatment, from Portland Sago to Wordsworth.
In Praise of Trees
How did our native trees re-colonise after the Ice Age? A look at the many fascinating uses to which trees were put – from cradles to coffins. Woodland natural history plus the folklore of trees.
Hearts of Oak - the Oak in History, Legend and Natural History
From Dryads to Druids, Robin Hood to Birnam Wood; buildings, battleships, coopers and charcoal. Bats, beef steaks, cow wheat and celandines. Kate Moss and Spike Milligan - something for all.
The Medicinal Uses of Plants
Ancient and modern medicinal uses of plants such as foxglove, cannabis and willow. A history of herbal medicine and a look at current drugs from plants such as yew, melilot and evening primrose.
The Plant Hunters
The lives, travels and plants of the men who helped transform British gardens - the two John Tradescants, Joseph Banks, David Douglas, George Forrest and Ernest (Chinese) Wilson.
The Glory of the Garden
Poetry and prose readings about gardens and garden flowers, set to beautiful slides. From the Bible to Wordsworth, from Ted Hughes to Anna Pavord. A feast for the eyes and ears of all garden lovers.
Wild Flowers of the Peak District
The talk shows why the Peak District is so important for plant life. It covers flowers from a range of different habitats in the dark and white peak. Profusely illustrated with slides of the flowers.
Wild and Garden Flowers on the Isles of Scilly
A glorious mix of flowers from the most south-westerly point in Britain. Wild flowers of many hues plus the wonderful Tresco Abbey Gardens and the unique landscapes of the Scillies.
Slovenia - Flowers, Forests, Lakes and Mountains
The greenest country in Europe and a paradise for walkers, flower-lovers and those who enjoy outdoor sports. Alpine flowers, hay meadows, forest streams, lakes and the wonderful capital city of Ljubljana.
Food for Free
A look at the many plants and fungi that can be safely eaten or made into interesting beverages. Starters, main course ideas and wonderful puddings, not forgetting the wine and coffee!
June 23rd 2012
The Plant Hunters -Saturday day school
Learn about the exploits,expeditions and plant finds of the likes of John Tradescant, David Douglas and Ernest Wilson. 1 Wellington Square Oxford
Email - Website - TelephoneJune 29-July1 2012
Identifying Wild Flowers
A course including excursions and illustrated talks and exercises to aid flower identification concentrating on some of the key plant families. Excellent food and en-suite accommodation Venue: Urchfont Manor College, Urchfont, Devizes, Wilts, SN10 4RG
Email - Website - TelephoneJuly 2nd (pm) - 8th 2012
The Wild Flowers of Dorset
6 days of visits to Studland, Abbotsbury, Portland, hay meadows, gardens and tea rooms. Good food and accommodation (mostly en-suite) based in an idyllic hamlet west of Dorchester. Venue: The Kingcombe Centre, Toller Porcorum, Dorchester, DT2 0EQ
Website - TelephoneJuly 13th 2012
The Edwardian Plant Hunters Day School
A series of illustrated lectures and a look round the garden concentrating on the plants,plant hunters and their sponsors from the turn of the century up until the First World War. Cambridge Botanic Garden,1 Brookside, Cambridge, CB2 1JE
Email - Website -November 2nd - 4th 2012
H is for Holly, Hornbeam and Hawthorn
A new course looking at the natural history, uses, folklore and literature centred around these three native trees. From chopping blocksto religious links with holly and hawthorn plus natural history and a session on poetry and prose. Venue: Madingley Hall, Madingley, Cambridge CB3 8AQ
Website - TelephoneThursday October 6th 2011
Mushrooms in the Peak District
Non-residential (10.00 - 5.00)Fungal forays and a fine lunch. Date will be posted after Easter 2011. Venue: Shatton Hall Farm, Bamford (near Castleton), phone 01433 620635 for more details
Email - Website - TelephoneOct 7th-10th 2011
Mushrooms in Scotland
Scotland is the place to be for all sorts of fungi, including ceps and chanterelles. This is your chance to foray around beautiful parts of Perthshire backed up by excellent accommodation and stunning food. Phone 01764 655721 Venue: Galvelmore House, Crieff, Perthshire, PH7 4BY
Website - TelephoneOctober 14th - 16th 2011
Mushrooms and Toadstools in Wiltshire FULL
Forays to ancient woodlands and also in the grounds at Urchfont Illustrated lectures on the nature, folklore and ecology of fungi plus sessions on how to identify the common and edible species. Excellent food and accommodation. Venue: Urchfont Manor College,Urchfont, Devizes, Wilts, SN10 4RG
Email - Website - TelephoneOctober 21st - 23rd 2011
Mushrooms and Toadstools in and around Snowdonia FULL
Forays to coastal sand dune meadows, pine woods, ancient oak woodlands and upland grassland. Concentrates on the common and edible species and there will be an optional fry up. Venue: Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3YU
Email - Website - TelephoneOctober 21st - 23rd 2011
Illustrating Autumn Foliage, Fruits and Fungi with Jean Binney
Learn how to draw and paint(in watercolour)mushrooms and other autumn finds. Demonstrations, handouts and personal tuition in a relaxed atmosphere. Venue: Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3YU
Email - Website - TelephoneOctober 29th 2011
Wild About Mushrooms Day
Finding, identifying and cooking edible wild fungi with a wonderful mushroom-based lunch with wine. As it is held at the Vegetarian Society\'s headquarters in Altrincham there is no meat but plenty of fun. Venue: Cordon Vert School, Veegetarian Society, Dunham Rd, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4QG
Website - TelephoneWed 19th Oct or Sat 29th Oct 2
Fungus Day at Sherwood Pines Forest Park
A day with illustrated talks and walks in the forest to find and identify a range of common wild fungi.
Email - TelephoneMay 11th - May 13th
The Plant Hunters
Find out who introduced many of our favourite garden plants from far flung corners of the World. From John Tradescant to George Forrest, to Chinese Wilson - lots of stories about their lives and the plants they introduced. Residential in single, en-suite rooms with all meals and the lovely setting of the castle gardens.
Email - Website - Telephone