
Future events
Here you can see all the events that we’re organising, including Friends lectures, the schedule for our public tours of the Gardens, and any planned plant sales. You can find more details on the lecture programme and on our tours schedule.
For information on public courses and workshops, visit the official website for the Gardens.
Type of Event

Dr Andrew Ward ‘Success with Sand’ Live Lecture
Andrew Ward of Norwell Nurseries will share advice on successfully growing perennials in sand and provide tips for those that garden on a sandy soil.

Shakespeare’s Botanicals Public Tour
We regret it has been necessary to CANCEL this Public Tour and apologise for any inconvenience caused

Ben Preston ‘Cliff Bank Nursery - a new chapter’ Live Lecture
In March 2022 Ben Preston and his partner Laura took on a derelict nursery in North Yorkshire; Ben will share their journey of building the new nursery from scratch (warts and all), the plants they grow and how they propagate them.

Graham Duncan ‘Kirstenbosch, the most beautiful garden in Africa, and its collection of South African bulbs’ Live lecture
Horticulturist Graham Duncan of Kirstenbosch National Gardens in South Africa will share his love for the gardens and South African bulbs

Amy Langron ‘Restoring the Walled Garden’ Live Lecture
Landscape Designer and founder member of ‘Talking Plants’ events, Amy Langron will share the story of the restoration of a walled garden she rents in North Derbyshire
Halloween - Hubble Bubble Toil and Trouble - Poisonous and Magical Plants Public Tour
Join us for our Halloween special exploring poisonous and magical plants in the Gardens.

Annual General Meeting with Grow uk
The Friends’ AGM will commence at 10.00am in the Dorothy Fox Centre in the Botanical Gardens and is open to all members. Following the formal part of the meeting, we will be joined by Dave Cooke, of nature-based Sheffield youth development charity Grow.

Sheffield Organic Growers ‘Growing Organically in Sheffield’ Live Lecture
Sheffield Organic Growers tenant Nick Johnson will share the story of 10 years growing organically in Sheffield
National Tree Week Public Tour
Join us as we walk around the Gardens and learn about some of our magnificent, rare and unusual trees.

‘Designing the Winds of Change Garden’ Live Lecture
In conversation with ‘Winds of Change’ designers James, Marko and Saachi as they share the story of their 2024 award winning pocket garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace Festival
Tropical Trees and Plants Public Tour
Join us this afternoon for a walk looking at tropical trees and plants around the Gardens.

Vernon Sanderson ‘Inside the National Garden Scheme’ Live Lecture
Friend of the Botanical Gardens, Vernon Sanderson will give an overview of the history of the NGS charity, their plans to celebrate their centenary in 2027 and share tales of his own participation in the Scheme over many years.


Dene Wood ‘Working the Clumber Landscape’ Live Lecture
Clumber Head Gardener, Dene Wood will share some of the horticultural and heritage projects his team have delivered in recent years and share thoughts around future developments

Pollinators and Plants Public Tour
Join us this evening for a walk looking at how plants and their pollinators interact.


Natural Dyes Public Tour
In July we will be looking at plants used to make natural dyes.

Geoff Hodge ‘Propagation - Plants for Free’ Live Lecture
Garden writer Geoff Hodge will provide hints, tips and advice on vegetative propagation, from splitting herbaceous plants to taking cuttings from a wide range of garden plants.

Plant Sale hosted by The Friends of Botanical Gardens Sheffield
Join us for our July plant sale

Jenny Stephenson ‘Medicinal Plants - Powerful Prescriptions Through History’ Live Lecture
In this illustrated talk, Dr Jenny Stephenson will give an overview of the history of the use of plant-based medications over the world and relate this to their basic chemistry and use in some of today’s medicines.
Pollinators and Plants Public Tour
This evening we will be looking at how plants and pollinators work together.
The Apothecary’s Apprentice Public Tour
Join us for a walk looking at the medicinal uses of plants.

Becky Crowley ‘Creating a Cutting Garden’ Live Lecture
Gardener and artist Becky Crowley will discuss the key principles to consider when planning and growing ornamental cutting gardens for productivity, beauty and biodiversity.


Jackson’s Wold Garden and Scampston Hall and Walled Garden Trip
Our first coach trip of the year is a full day trip to North Yorkshire to visit Jackson’s Wold Garden, and Scampston Hall and Walled Garden

Felley Priory Gardens Trip
Felley Priory is a garden with rare and unusual plants, a house to explore and Farmhouse Tea Room

Owen Hayman ‘ The Greening of Sheffield - our Grey to Green Success Story’ Live Lecture
Horticulture Innovation Manager and gardener Owen Hayman shares the inside track on Sheffield’s Grey to Green planting success story
(Image with thanks to Alastair Johnstone (Climate Visuals)

Shakespeare’s Botanicals Public Tour
This June evening we will be looking at Plants that Shakespeare referenced in his works.
Painting with Flowers - Celebrating Summer Public Tour
Join us as we walk around the gardens to see how art is inspired by beautiful summer flowers. This tour is one of the events for Sheffield Environment Weeks.

Steve Lovell ‘Bark, Berry and Leaf’ Live Lecture
Garden designer Steve Lovell will demonstrate how thinking about the texture provided by berries, bark and leaves, can give our gardens all year round value and interest.

FOBS at the Pollen Market, Castlegate
We are back at the Pollen Market in the city centre, promoting the Friends and publicising the Botanical Gardens.

Sheffield Fruit Trees ‘ Growing Fruit in Sheffield’ live lecture
A chance to hear all about Sheffield’s urban fruit tree nursery workers co-op and tips on what to think about when planting trees including rootstocks, staking, mulching and more
Trees of Spring Interest public tour
This month we will be looking at trees and what makes them special in spring.


Friends of Sheffield Botanical Gardens May Bank Holiday Sale
Friends of Sheffield Botanical Gardens are holding a sale of Gardens related merchandise in support of the Botanical Gardens

Lea Gardens Trip
Lea Gardens, specialist growers of rhododendrons and azaleas, with teashop for refreshments and lunch.
The Apothecary’s Apprentice Public Tour
Join us for a walk looking at the medicinal uses of plants.

Horatio’s Garden ‘Horatio’s Garden at Sheffield Northern General Hospital’ Live Lecture
Head Gardener, Ruth Calder, will share the story of how the award winning Horatio’s Garden design transferred from the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show to become the charity’s eighth garden, located at the Spinal Injuries Centre at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital
Image: Horatio's Garden Chelsea 2023 designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg © Marianne Majerus

Maureen Sawyer ‘See-Through Plants’ Live Lecture
Artist and garden designer Maureen Sawyer will illustrate the best see-through perennials, annuals, bulbs, grasses and subshrubs to enhance any border planting and turn your garden into a painting!