GARDEN

SAT 21 JUNE, 10AM - 5PM

Garden for Mind, Longstock Park Nursery, Waitrose & Partners, Leckford Estate, SO20 6EH

In support of

Join The Beardy Gardener for his Garden Gathering on Saturday, 21st June at Longstock Park Nursery for a special fundraising event in aid of Andover Mind.

Set in the inspiring ‘Garden for Mind’ on the beautiful Waitrose and Partners Leckford Estate, this unique day features gardening experts, hands-on workshops, and a vibrant community of plant lovers. Whether you're a seasoned grower or a beginner, come celebrate the joy of gardening with us!

Expect famous faces, live demos, plant sales, expert advice, kids’ activities, and plenty of inspiration to take home. Don't miss this unforgettable day in the garden!

Money raised goes to support the ‘Garden for Mind,’ a health and wellbeing space run by Andover Mind that is used to support the mental health of their service users as well as the wider community.

Special guests include:

BBC Garden Rescues
Chris Hull

Children's Gardening Expert
Lee Connelly

Broadcaster & Author
Ellen Mary

What’s on

HOSTED BY ELLEN MARY

Pergola Stage

Visit the Pergola Stage, where expert guests will guide you through hands-on "how-to" sessions, designed to inspire and elevate your gardening skills.

Whether you want to grow your own mushrooms, capture stunning garden photos, or create a stunning cut flower arrangement, this stage is packed with practical advice and creative ideas to take home.

10am - Lucy Butler - ‘How to create a sensory wellbeing planter’

Lucy Butler is a RHS qualified horticulturist with a passion for promoting mindful gardening and gardening for mental health and wellbeing. Lucy is popular on social media (Mindful Gardener) and regularly shares helpful and inspiring advice on the subject.

11am - Caley Brothers - ‘How to grow mushrooms’

Caley Brothers, founded in 2019 by sisters Lorraine Caley and Jodie Bryan, are passionate about connecting people to the world of fungi through accessible and sustainable projects. They won a gold medal at RHS Chelsea in 2023 and their debut book, Project Mushroom has inspired many to grow their own mushrooms at home.

12pm - Julie Skelton - ‘How to capture breathtaking garden photos with confidence’

Julie Skelton is one of the UK’s most influential garden photographers. She is a member of the Garden Media Guild and Professional Garden Photographers Association, and her pictures have been published worldwide in magazines, books, newspapers and advertising.

2pm - James Grieg - ‘How to create a cut flower arrangement’

James Grieg made a career swap from being a TV producer to growing and selling sustainable, British flowers in Hampshire. He now runs Stem and Green Flower Farm near Winchester and is passionate about growing locally and reducing the environmental impact caused by importing cheaper flowers from abroad.

3pm - Katherine Holland - ‘How to design a garden’

Katherine Holland is an RHS award-winning garden designer who combines a passion for strong design and beautiful planting to create bespoke, wildlife-friendly gardens. With a background in Mathematics and a previous career in the City as a senior risk manager, she won a Gold medal at RHS Chelsea in 2024 and was named a ‘Rising Star’ by the House and Garden magazine.

4pm - Cara Thompson - ‘Make it Flourish sow along’

Cara Thompson is a TV Art Director turned flower grower. She hosts ‘Make It Flourish’, a flower sow-along series that began online and has now expanded to in-person events across the country. From art directing on television shows like BBC’s EastEnders, to designing a GOLD award-winning garden, she earned the People's Choice award at BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Show in 2023.

HOSTED BY THE BEARDY GARDENER AND LIBBY HILLING

Polytunnel stage

Step into the polytunnel for a series of inspirational conversations, where big-names in gardening take the spotlight! Hosted by The Beardy Gardener and Garden for Mind founder Libby Hilling, this is the place to hear insightful stories, expert tips, and behind-the-scenes secrets.

12pm - Amy Chapman

Amy is a passionate content creator, who makes educational videos about gardening on social media. Through creating engaging and informative videos, Amy is able to inspire people to start growing their own food, and shares quick tips with more seasoned gardeners too. With over 381k followers on Instagram alone, she reaches an audience of young people who may have previously found gardening overwhelming. She has a focus on sustainability, and gives tips and advice on how to grow your own food organically.

1pm - Ellen Mary

Ellen promotes the wellbeing benefits of gardening, plants and the natural world. She has trained in horticulture, social and therapeutic horticulture, NLP, reiki, hypnotherapy and wellness coaching. She has appeared on WCNC USA, BBC Countryfile Diaries, BBC News, Mustard TV, featured in The Times, Express and Telegraph newspapers and filmed with the Royal Horticultural Society. She speaks at shows including RHS Chelsea, Malvern, Wisley, Chatsworth, Hampton, Tatton, BBC Gardeners World Live, GROW Scotland, GLEE and BLOOM Dublin.

2pm - Chris Hull

Chris is an award winning garden designer and Ambassador for Rethink Mental Illness. He has over 16 years of experience working in the landscape industry and runs his own company Greenbook Landscape Design. In 2024 he won gold at RHS Chelsea for the ‘Bowel The Bowel Research UK Microbiome Garden’. He is a permanent presenter on BBC Garden Rescue, and has featured on BBC The One Show and ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh.

 

3pm - Libby Hilling

Libby Hilling created the Garden for Mind after experiencing the healing power of gardens. Inspired by childhood loss and personal recovery, she spearheaded a community project at the Leckford Estate while working for the John Lewis Partnership. The garden supports charities, fights food poverty, nurtures wildlife, and empowers students with special needs. It provides a sanctuary for the community, fostering well-being, inclusivity, sustainability, and regeneration while offering hands-on learning experiences and ensuring access to fresh, nutritious food.

HOSTED BY GEMMA HAIGH

Houseplant Hub

Join houseplant expert Gemma Haigh from The Plant Parlour for a day of green-thumb wisdom at the Houseplant Hub.

Whether you're an expert houseplant parent or just starting out, Gemma will be on hand to share expert advice, answer your questions, and help your indoor jungle thrive.

TIMETABLE
10am - Houseplant clinic 

11am - Talk ‘How to create a succulent bowl’

11:30am - Houseplant clinic 

12pm - Talk ‘Houseplant care with ADHD’

1pm - Houseplant clinic 

1:30pm - Talk ‘My orchid obsession’

2pm - Talk 'Common plant problems and how to deal with them’

2:30pm - Houseplant clinic 

3pm - Talk ‘Where do my houseplants come from?’

3:30pm - Talk ‘Preventing plant pests and managing outbreaks’ 

4pm - Houseplant clinic

ALL DAY

Children’s Gardening Festival

Hosted by Lee Connelly, widely known as The Skinny Jean Gardener, this mini festival for children inspires young minds to connect with nature through fun, hands-on gardening activities. Lee is a prominent figure in the world of horticulture, having appeared on CBBC's Blue Peter, BBC Teach, and BBC Radio 1.

The Mindful Soil Zone

Join gardening and wellbeing guru Lucy Butler at The Mindful Soil Zone, a space for you to slow down and experience the calming power of soil through touch. By feeling the earth in your hands, visitors can embrace the therapeutic benefits of grounding, reducing stress, and fostering a deeper sense of wellbeing.

How to get there

The address of the garden is Longstock Park Nursery, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 6EH

This is a rural location, and public transport is limited.

The nearest major train stations are either Andover (16 mins away) or Winchester (23 mins away).

When you get to the nursery, the ‘Garden for Mind’ is situated at the bottom end and is signposted from the cafe.

  • There is free car parking on site but it can get busy and spaces are limited. Car park closes at 6pm.

  • Dogs on leads are welcome.

  • The nursery café offers a seasonal menu with many locally sourced ingredients, including produce grown and produced on the Estate. Picnicking is not allowed.

  • Toilets and baby changing facilities available at the farm shop and nursery.