This series of five talks, organised by the Historic Gardens Foundation in partnership with The Gardens Trust, explores international examples of Unforgettable Gardens, seen through the eyes of their owners, creators and restorers.

The Historic Gardens Foundation is an international not-for-profit organization, launched in 1995, which works to bring together lovers of historic parks and gardens across the world. Its magazine, Historic Gardens Review provides a portal for the views of both enthusiasts and professionals and is a strong voice in championing the cause of our global garden heritage.

This ticket is for this individual session and costs £5, and you may purchase tickets for other individual sessions via the links below, or you may purchase a ticket for the entire course of 5 sessions at a cost of £20 via the link here. (Subscribers to Historic Gardens Review will be able to purchase a series ticket for £10.)

Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days prior to the start of the talk, and again a few hours before the talk. Please note the slightly earlier time for these talks of 6 pm. A link to the recorded session (available for 1 week) will be sent shortly afterwards.

Week 1. June 2: Two Mughal Paradise Gardens: Part of a series of 5 online lectures, £5 each or all 5 for £20.

Week 2. June 9: Courances, a moveable feast: Part of a series of 5 online lectures, £5 each or all 5 for £20.

Week 3. June 16: Le Jardin Secret, Marrakech: Part of a series of 5 online lectures, £5 each or all 5 for £20.

Week 4. June 23: Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace, Boston: Part of a series of 5 online lectures, £5 each or all 5 for £20.

Week 5. June 30: The Indian influence on Renaissance Gardens of Portugal: Part of a series of 5 online lectures, £5 each or all 5 for £20.

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Week 3. June 16: Le Jardin Secret, Marrakech by Tom Stuart-Smith

Le Jardin Secret opened in 2016 and is almost invisible from the rest of the Medina of Marrakech beyond its thirty feet high walls. The garden is made of two contrasting courtyards: the Islamic Garden, a cruciform design on traditional Islamic lines, with plantings based on those mentioned in the Koran; and the Exotic Garden, a more intimate space, using plants sourced from all over the world. The garden was restored over an 18-month period from a state of almost total dereliction. It is now recognised as one of the leading tourist attractions in the city.

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Tom Stuart-Smith is a landscape architect whose work combines naturalism with modernity and built forms with romantic planting. He has designed gardens, parks and landscapes throughout the world. His clients have included the Royal Horticultural Society, the Royal Academy of Arts and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He has also designed eight award winning gardens for the Chelsea Flower Show, all of which were presented with gold medals and three ‘Best in Show’. Tom regularly gives talks and lectures, and continues to write occasionally for the Guardian, Financial Times and Daily Telegraph, amongst others. He is a Vice President of the Royal Horticultural Society, a trustee of the Garden Museum, Garden Advisor at RHS Wisley, an Honorary Fellow of the RIBA and a Fellow of the Landscape Institute.

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Unforgettable Gardens - Le Jardin Secret, Marrakech