Simon Akeroyd's Gardening Academy

Gardening Experience Days for beginners

Welcome to my gardening experience days on the English Riviera in Torquay, south Devon. Time to pull on your wellies, don your gardening gloves and join me for a fun gardening experience day in Devon. Perfect for beginner gardeners.

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Hands-On Learning

Spend the day gardening alongside Simon, gaining practical skills in propagation, planting, and care through enjoyable demonstrations.

Expert Guidance

Benefit from Simon’s years of horticultural experience, with personalised advice to help you grow and maintain your own garden.

Beautiful Setting

Enjoy a magical day in the stunning walled gardens of Torre Abbey, a peaceful, inspiring space just moments from the sea.

Exclusive Access

With only fifteen spaces per event, you’ll enjoy a friendly, intimate experience and plenty of time to ask Simon anything.

Get Growing

a beginner’s Gardening Experience Day

Simon Akeroyd's Gardening Academy on the English Riviera

Gardening Experience day for beginners with Simon

Join Simon at Torre Abbey gardens on the English Riviera in south Devon, for a gardening experience day where you will spend a fun day learning the basics of growing, propagating and nurturing plants.

Simon will share his favourite gardening tips for beginners. Don’t dress to impress – Dress to grow cress (eg bring outdoor clothes and shoes). You might need a waterproof, as it very occasionally rains here is Devon!

I’m sorry to say dogs aren’t allowed in the gardens at Torre Abbey.

Your day includes:

Free entry to Torre Abbey Gardens in Torquay (please note this doesn’t include entry to the house)

10:00 – Tea and coffee on arrival

10.30 to 11:00 – Behind-the-scenes tour of Simon’s garden at Torre Abbey. Simon will also show you his method of growing in Keyhole raised beds

11:00 to 12.45 – Get Growing – Propagation tips from Simon including cuttings and seed sowing, compost mixes, potting on and pricking out

12.45 to 13.30 – Gardener’s lunch (cold buffet lunch on site)

13.30 to 14.30 – Keep growing – Gardening maintenance tips and hacks from Simon including staking, pruning, weeding and anything else that needs doing

14.30 to 15.00 – Get composting – looking at different types of composting including wormeries. Simon will also talk about No-dig gardening

15:00 to 15.30 – Q&A session to ask Simon any gardening questions

15.30 – Close. Take home a copy of Simon’s Grow Your Groceries book.

A Day With Simon

Book Your Gardening Experience

Join Simon for a magical gardening experience day at Torre Abbey on the English Riviera in Torquay. These are exclusive events as there are only fifteen spaces on each one.

Just in – two more Gardening Experience Dates have become available on Saturday 14th March 2026 and Tuesday 17th March 2026. Book below.

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Gardening Experience Days for beginners

a beginner’s Gardening Experience Day

Gardening Experience day for beginners with Simon

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