Top Torbay gardener to offer tips for successful propagation

EXPERT advice for gardeners on how to multiply their plants at home is top of the agenda for the April meeting of Torquay and District Gardening Club.

Devon head gardener Saul Walker who has won national recognition for his knowledge of plants native and exotic, will be sharing plant propagation tips.

Saul’s love of gardens and gardening blossomed thanks to his grandparents’ passion for visiting historic houses and gardens. He is now the head gardener of Stonelands House in Dawlish - a privately owned 10-acre garden.

Born in Devon, Saul started his career with a brief spell as an archaeologist, but then trained and worked as a gardener for the National Trust at Antony House in Cornwall.

He was then accepted on the prestigious three-year Kew Diploma of Botanical Horticulture course at RBG, Kew and experienced the fantastic plant collections in the gardens and glasshouse. He also visited Australia, Southern Spain and the French Riviera to study plants in their native habitats.

Though he has an in-depth knowledge of most aspects of gardening, his special interests include orchids, woodland gardens, alpines and exotic and tender plants.

Saul is also interested and experienced in teaching horticulture, writing for publication, presenting lectures and talks, as well as media work - including the Talking Heads gardening podcast he co-hosts with Lucy Chamberlain.

After Kew he spent a couple of years as a member of the show management teams for both the RHS Hampton Court Palace and RHS Chelsea Flower Show respectively. However he was unable to resist the call back to his native Devon.

He is one of the experts appearing at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live show at NEC Birmingham in June.

Saul will be talking at the next meeting of the Torquay and District Gardening Club at the Livermead House Hotel, Torquay, 7.30pm on Wednesday April 17.

The following talk on May 15 is by Julie Haylock Sandhurst Garden Design.

Julie and her husband hail from Yeovil and in 2016 Julie decided to ‘follow her heart’ and left the police force to study garden design. Her special interest is container gardens and after many awards at Taunton Flower Show, in 2023 she won a bronze award at Chelsea Flower Show. While talking about her art and story she will plant up a container to be raffled at the end of the evening.

There is more than just a harvest of fruit and veg or border of floral colour to be gained from getting up and out.

Research has shown that gardening can be a valuable method of getting or keeping fit.

Royal Horticultural Society research showed those who garden every day have higher scores for wellbeing and lower stress levels than people who don’t garden at all.

Its research, involving more than 6,000 people, showed a significant association between gardening and improvements in wellbeing, perceived stress and physical activity.

Being active in the garden can burn as many calories in 30 minutes playing badminton, volleyball or practising yoga - as well as the satisfaction of growing your own plants, whether flowers or vegetables or wildlife space.

Should you be in need of inspiration, advice or just enjoy the company of other gardeners, the season of talks by guest speakers at Torquay and District Gardening Club has started.

The guest speaker in February was Tony Parker, deputy churchwarden at the historic St Raphael’s chapel at Huccaby on Dartmoor known for its spectacular snowdrops.

Mr Parker got involved with the chapel and the creation of a visitors’ car park. While digging out the area they unearthed 400 snowdrop bulbs which he nurtured in his own garden before replanting at the chapel to create the wonder which people travel from far and wide to see. Possibly some plants for sale.

Dianne Long, garden historian and researcher followed with an illustrated talk on the History of Garden Design last month. Dianne is chair of the Devon Gardens Trust and has researched the history of designed landscapes of the pioneers of the Industrial Revolution. She is also involved with researching the historic designed landscapes of Devon with the trust. She will talk extensively about gardens around the country.