Phil Broomfield: The garden History Detective

Garden Talks & Lectures

Welcome to a world of gardens, history, and horticultural discovery. Through engaging talks and lectures, I share my passion for Britain’s most beautiful gardens and the fascinating stories behind them. I deliver garden talks & lectures across Dorset, Hampshire and surrounding areas.

About Phil Broomfield

Who is the Garden History Detective?

Phil has always had a passion for horticulture, but his career started back in 2010 when he set up his own gardening business – The Garden Doctor.

Studying garden history has been an interest for a great many years, having visited countless National Trust and Historic Houses.

This passion has led him to create a series of Garden History lectures! Phil now delivers garden talks to a variety of clubs and associations across Dorset, Hampshire and surrounding counties!

If you’d like to learn more about me or find me on LinkedIn use the buttons below. To explore the talks I currently offer, scroll down a bit further.

How to book your Garden talk

My booking process is quick & simple:

Explore My Talks

Garden Talks & Lectures

Merton's Dream Garden: The Story of the Russell-Cotes Garden - Book Now

Phil has been Lead Garden Volunteer at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum in Bournemouth since 2020. His talk will cover the original design and layout of this cliff-top garden and how it has evolved, highlighting key features, with a spotlight on plants and showcasing how it looks through the seasons.

Architecturally Eccentric Follies & Grottoes (Spring 2025)

Phil has always been intrigued with follies and grottoes when visiting historic gardens and landscapes. This talk delves into the origins of these creations and showcases those that lie within Dorset and surrounding counties.

Thomas Hardy's Gardens: A study of Hardy's Cottage & Max Gate (Spring 2025)

In collaboration with the National Trust, the format of this lecture will cover the garden history at both sites, Hardy’s birthplace cottage at Higher Bockhampton and Max Gate, in Dorchester.

Where history & gardening meet

Why Choose Me?

From years of hands-on experience in horticulture to crafting engaging talks and lectures, I bring both expertise and enthusiasm to every presentation. With each and every talk sure to be informative and entertaining for audiences of all gardening experience levels. I deliver garden talks across Dorset, Hampshire and surrounding counties.

Experienced

15 years working in horticulture, but a lifetime of greenfingers!

Professional

Research driven, articulate, knowledgeable and engaging!

Winning Feedback

You can find a selection of fantastic feedback from my attendees below.

Testimonials

What my wonderful attendees have to say...

Read through just a selection of the excellent feedback I’ve received from attendees to my garden talks and lectures, from across the South.

Thank you so much for your very interesting and entertaining talk of Merton’s Dream Garden. Friends have contacted me this morning, to say how much they enjoyed it, and your photos were lovely.

Jacqui Evans Milford Gardeners’ Club

Thanks so much for your really interesting talk. Enjoyed by all our members.

Brenda Martin West Parley Garden Club

Thank you very much for your excellent talk, it was a huge success, and everyone seems to have really enjoyed it, brilliantly prepared and presented and with lovely pictures too. We shall much look forward to seeing your next lecture.

Sue Collins Dorset Gardens Trust

Thank you for coming to talk to us. We found it very interesting!

Ann Moordown Winton Townswomen’s Guild

Talk was superb, very well received.

Keith Adams Ferndown & Parley Rotary

Blog & News

Garden Talk & Lecture News

Stay up to date with where I’ve been, new talks I’ve prepared and explore curiosities and eccentricities found across the UK’s historic garden sites.

December 3, 2024

This Is A Test Blog

Welcome to my website. This is a test post for editing the blog section and template.…

Privacy & Cookie Policy

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Phil Broomfield: The garden History Detective

Garden Talks & Lectures