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
9:30
Welcome
Session 1 - Substrates
Working with soils and lessons from regenerative agriculture
Sheila Das
9:40
10:25
11:30
11:10
Working with sand as a planting medium
Peter Korn
Break
Gravel substrates / soil inversion / Nature rising from the rubble
Owen Hayman / Richard Scott / Sally Bower
Working with and growing in recycled substrates
John Little
12:15
12:45
Substrates discussion
Sheila Das / Peter Korn / John Little / Katy Merrington
13:15
Lunch
Session 2 - Biodiversity
How to - Habitat management for Wildlife
Benny Hawksbee
14:30
15:15
Wildflower meadows and brownfield sites
Jo McKerr
16:00
Break
How to garden for wildlife
Chris Baines / Sarah Wilson
An Entomologists view of gardening
Dr Linda Birkin / Will Tomson
16:20
16:55
17:30
End of day
Party at The Forum
Details to follow
19:30 - Late
Day 2 - Saturday 6th
Registration
9:00
9:30
Introduction
Session 3 - Planting design
Climate, soils + plants - a designers approach to creating Scottish gardens
Tracy McQue
9:40
10:25
11:00
11:20
11:55
Climate resilient planting
Darryl Moore / Sarah Wilson
Break
Not just successes: reflections on a plant-led design of an urban industrial project
Charlotte Harris
Lessons learnt - Delivering urban planting at scale
Nigel Dunnett / Jac Semmler / Katy Merrington
A message from Grow
12:40
12:50
Lunch
Session 4 - Management + Maintenance
The importance of gardeners - a look at new maintenance training
Benny Hawksbee / John Little
14:10
14:50
Maintenance and management of public spaces
Errol Reuben Fernandes / Katy Merrington
Debunking maintenance issues and top tips
Jo Mckerr / Owen Hayman / Errol Reuben Fernandes / Benny Hawksbee
15:50
16:30
17:15
Plants for now and for the future
Peter Korn / Nigel Dunnett / Tracy McQue / Darryl Moore
15:30
Break
Goodbyes and thanks