Do you give talks to garden clubs? Or would you like to? How much to charge? How to get gigs? How far to travel? Are garden talks a good way of extending the earnings from writing or photography? Do online talks work? And what about the presentations themselves?
Join our panel of expert garden talk speakers to find out what they consider best practice. Ask your questions and get answers based on experience and expertise.
Note: one of the member benefits of joining the GMG is inclusion in the Speakers & Lecturers list which helps horticultural societies and garden clubs find speakers. Members have had many bookings via this list. Sign into your Members’ Area and see your Dashboard to be included.
Steve Bustin: Chair of The Hardy Plant Society, the UK’s largest specialist plant society. Originally a journalist for BBC News and then freelance, Steve has written for titles including The Times, Time Out, Gay Times, Amateur Gardening, Beautiful Gardens and Pith & Vigor. Steve is also a public speaking coach and professional keynote speaker and event emcee. He’s a former National President of The Professional Speaking Association and was inducted into the UK Speaker Hall of Fame in 2021. Steve regularly gives a range of garden history talks to gardening groups and horticultural societies in person and online
Grace Hensley: Grace Hemsley is a Garden Comm Media Award-winning photographer and experienced international speaker, delivering highly practical talks, workshops and lectures both online and in person. Widely praised for her clear teaching and professional delivery, she helps audiences turn everyday photography into confident, publishable images.
Kim O’Brien is a flower grower, medal-winning show garden designer and professional floral designer. A regular on-stage speaker at BBC Gardeners’ World Live and RHS shows and to garden clubs, she is also a BBC local radio garden expert and a columnist for Amateur Gardening magazine.
Stephanie Hafferty is an expert edible gardener, designer, garden and food writer and award winning author. She has been giving gardening, food and homesteading talks and workshops for around 18 years, online and in person, nationally and internationally, including RHS Chelsea Flower Show, BBC Gardeners’ World Live and garden clubs. Stephanie is a columnist for Kitchen Garden, Amateur Garden and Gardeners’ World magazines.
Indy Rana of the Tender Shoots, an online garden club for individuals and garden clubs, who organise gardening Zoom talks, garden visits, a garden speakers' list and support for garden clubs.