Should gardening change and somehow; ‘return to nature’? At London’s big Chelsea Show there has been a new emphasis on sustainable  gardening and the use of eco-friendly native ’plants’ and yet the award for the Best in Show went to a large exhibit which is unsustainable in British gardens and are  the very opposite of no-mow  gardening. Robin Lane Fox explores the contradictions here and the way in which people, an invasive species, react to them, whether visitors to his garden or professors and students in the big Oxford college gardens he runs.

Shirley Lanigan's workshop at Kilgraney House and Herb Garden covers the sowing, propagation, cuttings, caring and harvesting of herbs that can be grown in Ireland. There will be demonstrations on each of the aspects as well as helpful hints on the use of herbs in cooking.

Matthew examines how plants can be used to maximum effect whatever the shape or size of the garden. Using examples of gardens designed by Matthew over the last 20 years, this talk considers the use of plants in relation to materials, place and vernacular, the architecture of plants and the importance of the garden in the wider environment. Alys tells the story of making the most of what you’ve got, of what to take with you and what to start again. Alys shows you how to redesign a garden sustainably by recycling what you’ve got rather than starting again. And how small really is beautiful, that a slither of garden can truly feed you, the wildlife, look beautiful and leave you plenty of time to go swimming in the sea.

Marie Staunton leads a garden tour around Delta Sensory Gardens showing how gardeners can mix texture and colour to create wonderful and exciting combinations. Regularly voted as top visitor attraction in Carlow on Trip Advisor, this journey takes the visitor through the series of multi-sensory gardens including the formal Rose Garden, the Five Senses Garden, the Circle of Life and the Stolen Child Garden, which have been created by Ireland's leading garden designers to indulge every one of the senses.

Fergus, chosen by Gardens Illustrated as one of the 30 most influential living garden designers and horticultural educator in Britain, talks about the history of Great Dixter, the 15th century manor house and its restoration by the famous arts and crafts architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens. In a wide ranging talk, he explores the influence of Nathaniel Lloyd on its infrastructure and design