A Dorset-based gardening charity is inviting people to rethink how their gardens work, with a new programme of events focused on wildlife, sustainability and wellbeing.
The Knoll Gardens Foundation, based at Knoll Gardens near Wimborne, is running a series of workshops, talks and sessions through 2026 aimed at helping gardeners reduce environmental impact while increasing biodiversity.
Established in 2008, the charity uses the gardens as a working example of naturalistic planting – a style that prioritises long-term resilience, lower resource use and stronger wildlife habitats. Its programme reflects that approach, combining practical learning with time spent in the landscape itself.
The first of a new series of workshops begins on 27th April, led by Knoll Gardens director Neil Lucas alongside foundation specialists. These sessions focus on how planting choices affect wildlife, drawing directly on the site’s established planting schemes and ongoing experimentation.
Regular garden-based yoga sessions will run throughout the season, while Lucas will also lead his well-known grass masterclasses, offering a more technical look at planting design.
Later in the year, Knoll will host National Gardens Scheme events, including an open day in September where admission fees will support nursing and health charities.
The programme positions gardening less as decoration and more as land management at a domestic scale – something that can actively contribute to wider environmental recovery.
knollgardens.co.uk/events
