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Access to Holehird from Windermere is unaffected by the closure, caused by the recent landslide, of the A592 (Patterdale Road) above Troutbeck. The road from the north over the Kirkstone Pass, and therefore access from Patterdale, is likely to be unavailable for some time but the LHS continues to welcome visitors to the gardens from the south.
Visitor Reception is now closed until April but there is still plenty to see in the gardens to make a visit worthwhile. We ask all visitors to make a donation of £6 to help with the upkeep of the garden. This may be deposited in the collection boxes situated in the car park (close to the sign board) and outside Visitor Reception, where you will also find maps and useful information about the LHS and Holehird Gardens.
Saturday 24 January 2026 at 2pm
Holehird Gardens, Patterdale Road, Windermere, LA23 1NP
York Gate is an atmospheric one acre Arts and Crafts style garden near Leeds. It was created by a local family in 1951 and donated to the charity Perennial in 1994. It has 14 different garden rooms within just one acre! The talk will cover the garden, its history, restoration projects and future plans
Jack Ogg is the Head Gardener at York Gate. He did his foundational training there before leaving to work at Harewood House for 9 years. He was asked to return to York Gate as Senior Gardener and later moved on to become Head Gardener.
This lecture is free and is open to non-members of the LHS. Please note the venue. Public lectures are now held at Holehird Gardens, and not at the Marchesi Centre, Windermere as in previous years.
Designing with Plants Course
Location - Holehird Gardens, Patterdale Road, Windermere, LA23 1NP
Tutor - Shelagh Todd: Cumbria-based lecturer, garden designer and plantswoman
Course Description- It’s all too easy to have a garden full of wonderful plants that feels more like a restless collection than a well thought out design. Discover how to create a garden with a sense of year-round unity and well-being. Learn to select plants for their visual, aesthetic and structural properties, how to assess your unique site conditions and the process of creating your individual planting plans on paper.
Course Content will include Plant Knowledge and Identification; Plant Form, Habit, Colour & Texture; the Role of Plants in the Planting Scheme; Seasonal Colour and Excitement; Considering Plant Selection and using the mantra “the right plant for the right place”; Drawing up Planting Plans; Exploring & Discussing Different Plants and Themed Borders in the glorious award-winning gardens at Holehird.
Spring/Summer 2026 - 4 day course (10.30am - 4.00pm)
Dates: Thursdays 16 April, 14 May, 18 June, 16 July
Autumn/Winter 2026 - 4 day course (10.30am - 4.00pm)
Dates: Thursdays 10 September, 8 October, 5 November, 3 December
Course fee: £360
For more information and to book your place, email Shelagh on shelagh.todd@outlook.com
Join professional Cumbrian horticulturist and plantswoman, Louise Stoddart for this exciting new course at Holehird Gardens.
Plants - undoubtedly the most import element of any garden. Increase your plant knowledge and learn seasonal requirements to care for and maintain to give the best results.
Pruning - gain new skills through seasonal pruning demonstrations. Discover how and when to prune plants to give great aesthetic results and to ensure healthy growth, flowering and fruit production.
Propagation - learn how to propagate using a range of techniques including seeds, cuttings, division and layering. This course will help you to create new plants for little cost.
Course dates:
Spring/Summer 2026 4 day course (10.30am - 4.00pm)
Dates: Thursdays 19 March, 16 April, 14 May, 18 June
Autumn/Winter 2026 4 day course (10.30am - 4.00pm)
Dates: Thursdays 10 September, 8 October, 5 November, 3 December
Course fee: £360
For more information and to book your place, email Shelagh Todd on shelagh.todd@outlook.com.
