Programme
We are thrilled to present the full programme for the Talking Plants Symposium 2025. Two days packed full of engaging talks, digging into the detail!
Day 1 - Friday 5th
Registration
9:00
9:25
Welcome
Session 1 - Substrates
Working with soils and lessons from regenerative agriculture
Sheila Das
9:30
10:15
11:15
11:00
12:00
Working with sand as a planting medium
Peter Korn
Break
Soils and substrates
Owen Hayman / Richard Scott / Sally Bower
Working with and growing in recycled substrates
John Little
12:30
Substrates Q+A
Sheila Das / Peter Korn / John Little / Katy Merrington
13:00
Lunch
Session 2 - Biodiversity
How to - Habitat management for Wildlife
Benny Hawksbee
14:00
14:45
Wildflower meadows and brownfield sites
Jo McKerr
15:30
Break
How to garden for wildlife
Chris Baines / Sarah Wilson
How to encourage and prevent damage to specific species
Chris Baines / Entomologist TBC / Will Tomson
15:45
16:30
17:00
End of day
Party at The Forum
Details to follow
19:30 - Late
Day 2 - Saturday 6th
Registration
9:00
9:25
Introduction
Session 3 - Planting design
Approaches to planting design and lessons learnt
Tracy McQue
9:30
10:15
11:15
11:00
12:00
Climate resilient planting
Daryll Moore / Sarah Wilson
Break
Approaches to planting design and lessons learnt
Charlotte Harris
Lessons learnt - Delivering urban planting at scale
Nigel Dunnett / Jac Semmler / Katy Merrington
A message from Grow
12:50
13:00
Lunch
Session 4 - Maintenance
The importance of gardeners - a look at new maintenance training
Benny Hawksbee / John Little
14:00
14:45
Maintenance and management of public spaces
Errol Reuben Fernandes / Katy Merrington
Debunking maintenance issues and top tips
A Conversation with various speakers
15:45
16:30
17:00
Plants for now and for the future
A Conversation with various speakers
15:30
Break
Goodbyes and thanks