About the event

Devon Wildlife Trust is excited to be offering FREE wildlife gardening workshops in partnership with the Italian Garden in Ipplepen. The garden has its roots in LGBTQ+ history so we want to honour and celebrate that by inviting the LGBTQ+ community and allies to the workshops.

· Learn the top tips for welcoming wildlife to your garden

· Take a tour of this hidden gem

· Learn about the garden’s roots in LGBTQ+ history

· Help to restore the garden back to its former glory

· Meet new people in a safe space

· Receive your own wildlife Gardening resource pack

· Hot drinks and snacks will be available

About the workshop leader

The workshop will be led by Katie Wilkinson – DWT's Wilder Communities Team Leader. Katie has led wildlife gardening initiatives for both Dorset and Devon Wildlife Trust including leading on the Get Dorset Buzzing campaign and expanding the wildlife garden award initiative in Devon. Katie has just moved house and is excited to start creating her own wildlife garden (again!).

History of the garden

The Italian Garden was designed and built between 1909 and 1912 by local architect Thomas Lyon for the wealthy owner of Great Ambrook estate, Arthur Graham, but was lost to nature for decades from the 1960s and only rediscovered in the late 1980s. The garden is currently under active restoration thanks to National Lottery funding and a dedicated team of volunteers. The owners aim is to retain the romance of the garden whilst restoring the essence of the original design, and creating a sanctuary for both people and wildlife. All new planting is with wildlife in mind and large areas are left uncleared as natural wildlife habitat.

The workshops are funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Italian Garden Project.