seasonal gardening and Floral workshops in sussex
Discover the joy of gardening and floral design in Sussex with our hands-on workshops. These engaging sessions provide an opportunity to connect with nature while learning essential skills in cultivating seasonal blooms and arranging romantic garden-style florals. Led by experienced horticulturist/florist Bea Andrews, the workshops cater to all skill levels, offering insights into sustainable practices and the beauty of British flowers. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a complete beginner, join us in creating stunning arrangements and enhancing your gardening knowledge amidst the picturesque backdrop of Sussex. Embrace your creativity and nurture your green thumb in a welcoming and inspiring environment.
2025 GARDENING AND FLORISTRY WORKSHOPS
Rose Pruning
WINTER at Pitfield Barn Flowers, West Sussex
Friday 28th February 2025 10am-1pm
Learn about the principles of rose pruning, how to care for different types of roses and gain confidence in maintaining a variety of flowering shrubs in your own garden. Pitfield Barn has a selection of roses from different groups, hydrangeas and other deciduous shrubs so you will have a chance to put your new skills into practice, have a go at pruning and ask questions along the way.
Part 1 of a series of practical, hands on gardening workshops will be run over 4 separate days throughout the key months of the growing season and cover essential gardening tasks from propagation, plant care and pruning to soil management and successional planting.
£75
Grow Your Own Cut Flowers
Pitfield Barn Flowers, West Sussex
Wednesday 19th March 2025 10am - 3pm
This course is perfect for anyone looking to grow a year-round, productive cut flower garden on a domestic scale - whether for personal enjoyment or to share with others. We’ll guide you through the key plant groups to grow in each season, helping you build a core selection of your favourite cut flowers to pick from spring through to autumn. Topics will include soil and site preparation, plant combinations, successional sowing, planting techniques and plant care - all designed to extend your picking season for as long as possible. You’ll also learn useful tips for harvesting and conditioning your flowers, ensuring they last beautifully in arrangements. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your approach, this course will give you the knowledge and confidence to create a flourishing cut flower garden.
£145
Propagation Day
Pitfield Barn Flowers, West Sussex
Friday 21st March 2025 10 - 3pm
Learn how to grow annuals and perennials from seed, cuttings, and division to create a beautiful, productive garden. This course will guide you through sowing different types of seeds, pricking out, potting up and caring for seedlings, as well as knowing what and when to sow each season. You’ll also learn how to take softwood, hardwood and root cuttings successfully, along with techniques for multiplying herbaceous perennials by division. To complete the cycle, we’ll cover saving seeds from your own plants at the end of the season - ensuring you can continue growing year after year. With plenty of practical tips along the way, this course will give you the skills and confidence to propagate plants successfully for your garden.
£145
Propagation - FULL
SPRING at Pitfield Barn Flowers, West Sussex
Friday 28th March 2025 10am-1pm
This class will focus on one of our main spring tasks, propagating new plants from seeds, cuttings and division. Learn essential skills and techniques for sowing annuals, perennials, take and raise cuttings successfully and multiply garden perennials by lifting and division.
Part 2 of a series of practical, hands on gardening workshops run over 4 separate days throughout the key months of the growing season and cover essential gardening tasks from propagation, plant care and pruning to soil management and successional planting.
£75
Make a Mother’s Day Bouquet
Pitfield Barn Flowers, West Sussex
Saturday 29th March 2025 10am - 12pm
Step-by-step guide to creating a hand tied, seasonal bouquet. Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to create a beautiful, hand-tied bouquet using seasonal, locally grown cut flowers. We’ll start with picking and conditioning tips to ensure your flowers last longer, then move on to arranging a balanced, natural bouquet, with a relaxed, effortless feel. To finish, you’ll learn how to wrap your design beautifully, giving it a professional, gift-ready touch. By the end of the class, you’ll have a stunning spring bouquet - a thoughtful gift for yourself or someone special this Mother’s Day.
£75
Make an Easter Bouquet
Wednesday 16th April 2025 10am - 12pm
Step-by-step guide to creating a hand tied, seasonal bouquet. Learn how to create a beautiful, hand-tied bouquet using seasonal, locally grown cut flowers. This workshop will cover everything from selecting and picking the best blooms to conditioning them for longevity. You’ll also discover techniques for arranging your bouquet with a natural, effortless feel before finishing it with the perfect gift wrap. By the end of the class, you’ll have a stunning spring bouquet - a thoughtful gift for yourself or someone special this Easter.
Please also see our Easter Bowl Arrangement workshop on the same day.
£75
Easter Bowl Arrangement
Wednesday 16th April 2025 1-3pm
Using foam-free, sustainable methods we will guide you through the process of creating a seasonal bowl arrangement for your table. A beautiful alternative to a taller vase arrangement, this low, natural design sits perfectly as a centrepiece, windowsill or sideboard display - bringing a touch of the season into your home at any time of year. But it feels particularly special at Easter, filled with the first spring blooms and fresh foliage, celebrating the beauty of the new season.
Please also see our Easter Bouquet workshop on the same day.
£75
Floristry for DIY Weddings
DAY 1 Personal flowers - Monday 9th June 2025 10am-3pm
Pitfield Barn Flowers, West Sussex
This course runs over two separate days, allowing you to choose how much you’d like to learn about the floristry basics of creating your own wedding flowers. Whether you’re planning a DIY wedding or simply want to develop your floristry skills, this course will give you the confidence to create beautiful, natural arrangements with ease.
Join us for one or both of the days.
DAY 1 focuses on personal flowers. In the morning, we’ll cover hand-tied bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, followed by an afternoon session on floral jewellery, including buttonholes, wrist and pinned corsages, flower crowns and floral hair pins. You’ll also learn essential tips for buying, conditioning and storing cut flowers and foliage, ensuring your creations look their absolute best on the wedding day.
£175
Floristry for DIY Weddings
DAY 2 - Tuesday 10th June 2025 10am-3pm
Pitfield Barn Flowers, West Sussex
DAY 2 shifts to venue decorations for both the ceremony and reception, with beginner-friendly designs that are easy to recreate. We will start the day with a demonstration on how to create a large vase or urn arrangement, showcasing techniques for achieving a natural, abundant design. In the afternoon you’ll learn how to create a foam-free, sustainable table centrepiece, perfect for repurposing across different spaces throughout your celebration. You’ll also have the opportunity to design a seasonal table scape, combining bud vases, candles and an easy-to-make foliage garland to create a stunning, effortless display. This session will give you the skills to style a beautifully cohesive table using seasonal flowers and greenery.
This course runs over two separate days, allowing you to choose how much you’d like to learn about the floristry basics of creating your own wedding flowers. Whether you’re planning a DIY wedding or simply want to develop your floristry skills, this course will give you the confidence to create beautiful, natural arrangements with ease.
Join us for one or both of the days.
£175
Summer Gardening Tasks
SUMMER at Pitfield Barn Flowers, West Sussex
Friday 20th June 2025 10am-1pm
This class will cover a useful selection of different skills you need to maintain and prolong a beautiful garden throughout the main growing season. Propagation of half hardy, tender plants, successional sowing, pricking out and potting on, plant care, plant supports, planting, feeding, staking, deadheading, wildlife friendly pest and disease prevention and control.
Part 3 of a series of practical, hands on gardening workshops, run over 4 separate days throughout the key months of the growing season and cover essential gardening tasks from propagation, plant care and pruning to soil management and successional planting. The four days will cover different garden tasks in each season and can be booked separately. These practical workshops will be kept to a small group to ensure everyone is getting the most out of them.
£75
Autumn Gardening Tasks
AUTUMN at Pitfield Barn Flowers, West Sussex
Friday 19th September 2025 10am-1pm
Part 4 of a series of practical, hands on gardening workshops, run over 4 separate days throughout the key months of the growing season. Covering essential gardening tasks from propagation, plant care and pruning to soil management and successional planting. The four days will cover different garden tasks in each season and can be booked separately.
Autumn gardening tasks - Seed saving, autumn propagation, sowing, taking cuttings of tender perennials, protecting crops for the colder months, propagating perennials by lifting and division. Planting bulbs. Preparing the garden for winter and caring for wildlife along the way.
£75
Seed Saving Workshop
Friday 17th October 2025 10am-12pm
Pitfield Barn Flowers, West Sussex
Spend a morning learning about the benefits of saving your own seeds, from sustainability to preserving your favourite plants year after year. This session will cover practical advice on timing and collection techniques of different plant seeds across the seasons, as well as which varieties are best to save fresh each year. You’ll also gain useful tips on seed care and storage to ensure the best germination rates. To finish, we’ll take a walk through the autumn flower fields, where you’ll have the chance to collect a variety of seeds to take home and grow in your own garden next season.
£55
PREVIOUS CLASSES
Floral jewellery
This class will include creating delicate floral hair pieces, crowns, floral clips, pinned and ribbon corsages, buttonhole flowers, rings to complement bridal party flowers and floral accessories for special celebrations.
Romantic compote centrepiece
Learn how to create a wild, romantic and beautifully composed table centrepiece, with seasonal flowers, fine vessels and environmentally friendly ingredients.
Wild, romantic bouquet
Learn how to create our signature style wild, romantic, trailing bridal bouquet with the most beautiful flowers available each season.
Floral Photography
Learn how to photograph your flowers for social media and portfolio work. This course has previously been taught by Eva Nemeth, professional garden and still life photographer with works published in all major garden and lifestyle magazines.
Create your own wedding flowers
Learn a few simple techniques to create your own beautiful wedding flowers. From bouquets, hair flowers, buttonholes to ceremony and party flower designs with the best seasonal ingredients available.
Sustainable Event Flowers
A full day of learning about foam-free techniques for large scale event flowers, covering seasonality, best suited ingredients, hydration methods for different sections, best design styles for natural, more eco-friendly event and wedding floristry.
Christmas wreath making
Come and join us for a natural winter wreath class this season. We will be gathering for a morning of festive Christmas wreath making.