This talk and all our lectures are FREE for Friends of the Botanical Gardens to attend. Members of the public are also welcome to join us on payment of £5 at the door on the day. Live talks are held in the Education Centre in the grounds of the Botanical Gardens - easily accessed via the Thompson Road Entrance.
We all want more nature, plants and horticulture in cities, don't we?
Sheffield's Grey to Green project transformed inner-city roads into a vibrant green corridor. It's the UK's longest "green street," featuring rain gardens and bioswales, improving flood control, and boosting biodiversity. This initiative enhances urban spaces, promoting walking, cycling, and a healthier environment, while also driving economic and social benefits.
In this talk, you will find out about the soils, the planting, the maintenance of these huge urban planting areas and hear about the ups and downs of inner city horticulture, from Owen Hayman, one of the people who do it.
Owen Hayman completed a degree and masters in Environmental Science at the University of Sheffield, and worked in plant and soil science for a few years before getting the gardening bug. He worked his way through garden centres, specialist nurseries, domestic garden maintenance and high-end planting, before completing the prestigious and intensive RHS Wisley Diploma. Seven years ago he started an allotment within an ancient monastic walled garden in north Sheffield, featured on BBC Gardeners World early 2024. He is Horticulture Innovation Manager at The Green Estate CIC and Pictorial Meadows in Sheffield, delivering innovative green space management, and huge urban greening schemes in Sheffield and beyond.
Image with thanks to Alastair Johnstone (Climate Visuals)