speakers & lecturers
If you're a member of a garden club, horticultural society or similar organisation looking for a speaker to give a talk to your members, staff and others, then look no further than the Garden Media Guild members who are speakers and lecturers.
Members of the Garden Media Guild are either well-known writers, authors, photographers, bloggers, social media influencers, or radio or TV presenters. Our directory provides a list of the most popular talks they give – although they may have more – their contact details and fees.
Please note
This is a service for clubs and societies, provided by the Guild. The Garden Media Guild is not responsible for the speakers in any way and we cannot enter into any conversations with the clubs, societies and speakers concerning bookings, or any other matter, or any dispute that may arise from any subsequent bookings.
How to use
You can either see the full list of our members who give talks – simply scroll down the page – or you can search for a speaker.
If you know the name of the speaker you are interested in, type their name in the search box below.
If you're looking for a speaker within a certain distance of your club or society, type your postcode in the box plus the maximum number of miles you're willing for them to travel to you. You can also use the Speaker’s Home Town/City search box.
If you're looking for a specific topic, type this in the Talk Topic box. A list of all the speakers who talk on this subject will be returned.
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Virtual Talks Available
Marina Walker
Marina Walker is a British freelance photographer specialising in plant and garden photography for private clients and those in the horticulture and floristry industries. Please find more information at www.marinawalker.co.uk
Based in: Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, UK
Distance willing to travel: 40 miles
Virtual talks available: Yes
Fees: £120 + petrol expenses, while a Zoom talk is £90.
Talks:
'The Art of Flower Photography'
Marina Walker is a professional garden and flower photographer based in Hertfordshire and presents her talk ‘The Art of Flower Photography’. During her presentation, Marina will share what led her to specialise in this genre and discuss various types of floral photography, including 'plant portraits', gardens, and still-life. Topics covered will include techniques for finding compelling floral compositions, working effectively with light, mastering selective focus, and insights into her editing process. The session will conclude with a Q&A session.
Contact
Virtual Talks Available
Laura Warren
Based in: West Sussex, UK
Distance willing to travel:
Virtual talks available: Yes
Fees:
Talks:
Contact
Virtual Talks Available
Tamsin Westhorpe
Based in: Herefordshire, Worcestershire, UK
Distance willing to travel:
Virtual talks available: Yes
Fees:
Talks:
Contact
Virtual Talks Available
Susie White
Speaker of many years, listen on the RHS Speakers List
Based in: Northumberland, UK
Distance willing to travel: N/A
Virtual talks available: Yes
Fees: £120-£150 for online talk
Talks:
Online talks given by Powerpoint with gorgeous inspirational photographs
Contact
Virtual Talks Available
Marianne Willburn
Marianne speaks to both smaller clubs in the US, UK and Canada, and large venues such as Master Gardener symposia, The Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Speaking of Gardening, iLandscape, etc. (full list upon request). Her relatable but knowledgeable approach with audiences puts them at their ease and encourages engagement.
Based in: Virginia, USA, United States of America, US
Distance willing to travel: Internationally and Nationally
Virtual talks available: Yes
Fees: contact for details
Talks:
Garden Building: Exploring the Process & Adapting Big Ideas to Small Gardens
Tropical Fusion: Successfully Using Tropical Plants in a Temperate Garden
Inspiring Tropical Accents for Containers
Storing Tropical Plants in Temperate Climates: Decisions, Tips, Techniques
Contact
Virtual Talks Available
Abigail Willis
Based in: Castle Cary, Somerset, UK
Distance willing to travel: 50 miles
Virtual talks available: Yes
Fees: £150 + mileage charged at 45p/mile
Talks:
Somerset's Glorious Gardens
Somerset Gardens and the Genius of the Place
The Wardian Case & Other Bright Ideas that changed gardening
Contact
Virtual Talks Available
Nic Wilson
Nic Wilson is a garden and nature writer, editor and Guardian Country Diarist. She works for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. Having spent 12 years as an A Level English teacher, Nic enjoys sharing her love of gardening, wildlife and writing with others.
Based in: Hitchin, Hertfordshire, UK
Distance willing to travel: 30 miles Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, possibly further on arrangement.
Virtual talks available: Yes
Fees: Fees from £150 for 1 hour talk, plus mileage and expenses. Virtual talks from £100.
Talks:
Nic gives talks on a range of gardening and wildlife topics (and is willing to consider suggestions). She also runs writing workshops with organisations such as the Wildlife Trusts.
A Talk on the Wild Side: Gardens in the Wider Landscape (1 hour talk incl. Q&A)
Four and Twenty Blackbirds: How to Create a Bird-Friendly Garden that Sings in Every Season (1 hour talk incl. Q&A)
Climate Change Gardening: Minimising Our Carbon Footprint and Planting for a Challenging Future (1 hour talk incl. Q&A)
Nature in Your Local Patch: Love Begins at Home (1 hour talk based on Nic's Guardian Country Diaries incl. Q&A)
Wild Writing Workshop (3 hour Introduction to Nature Writing, but can be extended to a series of sessions as a short course)
Garden Writing Workshop (3 hour Introduction to Garden Writing, but can be extended to a series of sessions as a short course)
Contact
Virtual Talks Available
Katharine Woods
I am a gardener, garden historian and photographer offering talks on a wide range of gardening topics and garden history. I have an MA in Garden and Landscape History and am studying for a Ph.D. Talks tailored for gardening, history, U3A and business groups.
Based in: Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, UK
Distance willing to travel: 1 - 1.5 hour travel from home. Further by negotiation.
Virtual talks available: Yes
Fees: £120 plus travel expenses but with discounts for local groups.
Talks:
Talks on gardens, plants and gardening techniques:
Growing alpines - includes information on alpine plants, how to build a rockery and other options for growing alpines in any garden)
Gardening on the web - (a talk about how to use the internet for garden inspiration, the joys and pitfalls of garden social media, and buying plants online.)
Japanese Gardens and Cherry blossom - (an overview of Japanese garden styles and photos from the Sakura season in Japan)
Growing sweet peas - (tips for growing great straight-stemmed sweet peas to cut for the home, including sumptuous photos of some favourite varieties)
How to make the best use of a greenhouse - (Ideas for using your greenhouse to augment your gardening and to expand your range beyond summer tomatoes!)
Get the exotic look - plants for a tropical garden vibe - (Hardy and semi-hardy plant suggestions for UK gardens)
Snowdrops: Winter's White Gold - (an insight into the obsession of galanthophiles and why snowdrops are more than just small white flowers)
Garden History Talks:
The development of an Arts and Crafts small country house and garden in Buckinghamshire - (of particular interest to those keen on the Edwardian era, the history of Buckinghamshire or the development of 'Metroland'. This talk includes rare photographs from a by-gone era)
The Blitz as a Catalyst for Greening London - (how the devastation of bombing created opportunities for new parks and gardens - including some surprising stories of what once lay beneath some of London's best-loved parks)
Contact
Virtual Talks Available
Liz Wright
Talk on market gardening, smallholding, the good life - is it that good? and keeping poultry in your garden
Based in: March, Cambridgeshire, UK
Distance willing to travel: 50 miles day time 20 miles night time - but only travel at night when the clocks have gone forward, virtual all year round
Virtual talks available: Yes
Fees: Around £50 plus travel
Talks:
How good is the good life?
Poultry in the garden
The market garden past and present
Contact