Bridgewater Lates at RHS Garden Bridgewater

Making the most of the lighter nights and warmer climes, RHS Garden Bridgewater will host a variety of inspiring events on Thursday evenings throughout the month of June. Spanning sustainable fashion, award-winning urban gardens and climate action, Bridgewater Lates is a weekly series of entertaining and thought-provoking after-hours talks, discussions and workshops.

 A weekly series of entertaining after-hours events spanning sustainable fashion, award-winning urban gardens and climate action.

Inspired by the venue’s own ‘Planting for the Planet’ exhibition, two special events – focusing on the impacts of climate change – will take place on Thursday 9 and 16 June from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Join RHS Garden Bridgewater to visualise a greener Greater Manchester. Imagine a city that works with nature, filled with rain gardens, greenspaces, street trees, green roofs and living walls. Head down to RHS Bridgewater on 9 June to join in the discussion at Climate Café, a non-judgemental conversation about climate action. Additionally, on Thursday 16 June you can enjoy an interactive workshop inspired by the exhibition.

On Thursday 23 June from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, first-time garden designer Dawn Clarissa Evans will be in conversation with BBC Radio Manchester’s Karen Gabay, talking about the award-winning tropical haven she created in her north-facing backyard in Greater Manchester. Dawn Evans won the BBC Local Radio City Garden competition in 2021 with her garden, ‘Windrush’.

The garden went on to be shown at the RHS Tatton Flower Show before being installed at RHS Bridgewater. Inspired by memories of her parents’ Jamaican heritage and their generation’s journey to the UK, ‘Windrush’ is a garden of peace and reflection. Incorporating a heady mix of exotic plants (a challenge to grow in Manchester) and hardy shrubs, the garden represents the resilience of the Windrush generation and also the memories of the world they left behind. The evening will be perfectly rounded off with live calypso singing and food and drink in the Stables Cafe.

If you want to find out more about sustainable fashion – head to ‘Homegrown Homespun: From Field to Fabric’ on Thursday 30 June from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. You’ll hear from two of the founders of the Blackburn-based project, Homegrown Homespun, which launched in 2020. Join Justine Aldersley-Williams of The Wild Dyery and arts commissioners The Super Slow Way to find out more about this sustainable fashion project. When they planted their first woad and flax crops in April 2021, their journey towards growing a pair of jeans began. Inspirational stuff. Enjoy hearing all about this innovative project, and get hands-on with interactive workshops following the journey of plants to fabric, through carding, spinning, dyeing and weaving.

Calling outdoors enthusiasts, nature lovers and those who care about creating a greener Greater Manchester…

All set in the wonderfully lush grounds of RHS Garden Bridgewater – Bridgewater Lates is an exciting programme of summer evening events for outdoors enthusiasts, nature lovers and those who care about creating a greener Greater Manchester.