Discover the future of ecological planting with the legendary Dr. Noel Kingsbury. As one of the world’s premier practitioners and promoters of ecological planting design, he will focus on bracing topics raised in his latest book, “Wild: The Naturalistic Garden” (Phaidon). As human-led development decreases the availability of healthy, functional spaces for plants and animals, Noel urges that “it is our great moral imperative” to think about creating landscapes that serve plants, animals and people. He will probe questions like: In the face of climate change, how can designed landscapes become vital refuges for both biodiversity and human well-being?  Do visually “wild” and naturalistic plantings truly support biodiversity? What is the difference between maintenance and management? How can we balance aesthetics and ecological dynamism in landscapes?

Speaker Bio:

Noel is a writer, researcher, teacher, planting designer and – in his own words – occasional provocateur. He received his doctorate from the University of Sheffield in 2009, and has authored many influential books, including “The New Perennial Garden”, “Seed Heads” and “Garden Flora”. Noteworthy collaborators include fellow “New Perennialist” pioneer Piet Oudolph and esteemed garden photographer Claire Tokacs. Noel is committed to educating home gardeners, design and landscape professionals through the workshops and webinars of Garden Masterclass, which he co-runs with award-winning designer and educator Annie Guilfoyle. After living in Herefordshire County, England for many years, he now resides in Portugal, where he is making a low-irrigation garden.

Recording will be available for 4 weeks.

All images, except the portrait, courtesy of Claire Takacs from Wild – The Naturalistic Garden, published by Phaidon.