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CAFÉ TALK
April 21st, 2026
10:00am for 10:15am
Café in the Courtyard

THE PAINTINGS OF LOWTHER with Rory Johnson

All the paintings you see hanging in the café today have been passed under the careful eye of picture conservator, Rory Johnson.

Trained in Fine Art Conservation at Northumbria University, Rory is one of the most distinguished painting conservators in the north with an impressive portfolio of clients including The National Trust, Newcastle University & Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. This talk will give gripping insights into what it takes to bring a painting back from the brink and will also feature anecdotes about each individual painting – most notably the Hopkins & Havell hunting scene, which was painted by two different artists.

To book your free place, please click here

SPRING GEMS with Andrea Brunsendorf

Andrea Brunsdendorf has been the Head Gardener at Lowther since 2022. She is a passionate plantsperson and in this talk, will help visitors to learn more about the spring planting and the gardening of one of the most established areas at Lowther Castle: the Garden in the Ruin.

Plants Andrea will be taking a particular look at will include erythroniums, cardamine, epimediums and hellebores. In addition, Andrea will give guests a preview of plans for the new garden developments within the Western Range of the Ruin.

Free with admission to the Castle & Gardens.

To book your place, please click here.

CAFÉ TALK
May 19th, 2026
10:00am for 10:15am
Sculpture Gallery

PENRITH TO KENDAL LANDSCAPE RECOVERY with Lee Schofield

Lee Schofield is the author of Wild Fell: Fighting for Nature on a Lake District Hill Farm, published by Penguin/Transworld. Wild Fell is his account of a decade working for the RSPB at Haweswater in the Lake District National Park, where he oversaw pioneering conservation work across an upland mosaic of woodland, bog, mountain and meadow covering 30km2.

Today Lee is working for Lowther on one of the largest Landscape Recovery Projects in England, the Penrith to Kendal arc. The aim of the project, to create a 150km2 corridor of wildlife-rich land from Penrith to Kendal, will be the subject of this talk.

To book your free place, please click here.

SPOTLIGHT ON TWO RECENT PLANTING PROJECTS with Tom Robinson

Tom Robinson has been the Senior Gardener at Lowther for over two years. In this Garden Talk, Tom will escort visitors on a tour of two recent planting projects, in the Sweet-Scented Garden and the Japanese Garden. Learn about the implementation of the Dan Pearson planting plan, from soil preparation to plant sourcing and layout.

Floral highlights will include scented violets, woodruff, sweet rocket, fringe cups, shuttlecock ferns and magnolias (late frost permitting!).

Free with admission to the Castle & Gardens.
To book your place, please click here.

CAFÉ TALK
June 16th, 2026
10:00am for 10:15am
Sculpture Gallery

ENGLAND’S LAST GOLDEN EAGLE with Bill Kenmir

Bill Kenmir is the Conservation Manager at Cumbria Connect – a collaboration of farmers, landowners and conservationists, of which the Lowther Estate is one – and one of the largest nature recovery programmes in the UK.

Bill will talk about the last Gold Eagle in England which nested in the Haweswater Valley. He will recount his time guarding the nest from egg collectors and, through his personal memories and reflections, explore what the loss of an iconic bird tells us about the changing landscape. Landscape-scale nature restoration is essential, he will argue, if species like the Golden Eagle are to return. A fascinating insight into the natural world around us.

To book your free place, please click here.

WILDFLOWERS & MORE with Rachel Borrows

As the resident Horticultural Ecologist, Rachel is passionate about wildflowers.

In this talk, visitors will hear about the wildflower meadow areas within the gardens at Lowther. She will identify a range of wildflowers and pollinators that thrive in the local ecosystem and explain how these areas are being managed to increase biodiversity and provide seasonal interest for visitors.

Free with admission to the Castle & Gardens.

To book your place, please click here.

TALKING ROSES with members of the Garden Team

Since it was officially launced in 2019, the Rose Garden has become one of the most popular areas in the gardens generally. This talk – guided by members of the gardening team – will run through the maintenance required to keep 2,000-plus David Austin roses looking their best in the Cumbrian climate.  Visitors will be talked through the month-by-month job list, including pruning, feeding, mulching and deadheading. They will learn to identify some of the varieties that perform best at Lowther.

Free with admission to the Castle & Gardens.

To book your place, please click here.

MIGHTY PERENNIAL PARTERRE STARS with Kate Harrison

The Parterre on the south side of the castle ruin takes the place of what were pure lawns. Dan Pearson created the area in a woolly style to echo the sense of ruin in the castle itself. Gardener Kate Harrison will take visitors on a journey round the late-season perennial stalwarts and highlight how the floral season is extended by dipping into a prairie-style plant palette. Kate will also cover the promotion of soil health in this garden.

Free with admission to the Castle & Gardens.

To book your place, please click here.

CAFÉ TALK
September 22nd, 2026
10:00am for 10:15am
Sculpture Gallery

BEEKEEPING & BEES with Josh Frazer

In 2019, Jim Lowther began to turn his passion for bees into a business. The Lake District Honey Co. is now an established brand, Jim’s bees foraging on the fells, heather and blossom across the Lowther Estate.

Head Beekeeper Josh Frazer, who manages the company, will draw on a decade of his commercial beekeeping experience to share insights into life inside the hive and the craft of producing premium honey. Josh will be joined by his apprentice Ellie Craig, who offers a fresh perspective on learning the art of beekeeping.

To book your free place, please click here.

GARDEN TALK
October 15th, 2026
2:00-2:30pm
Meeting point: Heronry

EVERYTHING BENJES with Andrew Sagar

As part of the initiative within the gardens to adopt fully sustainable practices, the gardening team has created a Benjes hedge. Senior Gardner Andrew Sagar will talk visitors through the construction of the Benjes hedge, also known as a ‘dead hedge’. It is an excellent example of how to recycle waste materials whilst also providing invaluable habitats for garden wildlife.

Free with admission to the Castle & Gardens.

To book your place, please click here.