4th Mar 2026
Land Trust Green Angels host TV Gardener Chris Collins, at Linmere
A hands-on gardening workshop, hosted at Linmere Allotments, brought together residents, community growers, and local experts, to welcome in Spring 2026, offering some practical guidance on preparing gardens for the coming season.
The session was delivered by the Green Angels, a programme run by The Land Trust, and led by renowned TV gardener Chris Collins. With decades of experience in organic horticulture across the world, Chris guided attendees through essential seasonal tasks, sharing both practical techniques and insights from his extensive career.
The workshop drew several ‘green-fingered’ residents and neighbours, including the team from Houghton Hall Park Kitchen Garden. Participants worked collaboratively through a series of activities designed to prepare growing spaces for the months ahead.
Chris led the team through several tasks, including how to set-up a composting bin and manage it, throughout the season. This was followed by a hands-on seeding workshop, including the creation of a small-pot salad bar, demonstrating how to create fresh, edible leaves in compact containers – ideal for urban and beginner gardeners.
Throughout the session, Chris shared his passion for sustainable, organic practices, encouraging participants to work with nature and make the most of everyday resources. Attendees were able to ask questions, share experiences, and gain confidence in applying new skills at home or within their community plots.
The event reflects a growing interest in community gardening initiatives in the Linmere area. Organisers hope the workshop will inspire more residents to get involved in cultivating their own produce and taking an interest in local indicatives, such as the Houghton Hall Kitchen Gardens. Chris joined the video team to run through the day’s session:
The event is the first to be delivered at Linmere by The Green Angels; the Land Trust’s award-winning, free environmental training program, hosted at various Land Trust managed sites around the UK.
This hands-on programme gives residents and partners the opportunity to gain new skills, meet people, and make a difference in local communities. These introductory courses cover topics like wildlife conservation, landscaping, wildlife identification, wild wellbeing, and horticulture.
Chris joins some of the afternoon crew, marking the Green Angels’s first event at Linmere.
Linmere is designed to be a place for communities that embraces the natural environment, and where all generations can enjoy a great quality of life. This exciting new collection of leafy and walkable neighbourhoods, situated north of Houghton Regis Bedfordshire, located close to M1 Junction 11a. Nestled into verdant surroundings, its first homes completed and inhabited in 2021. The Land Trust will maintain and preserve these spaces on behalf of Houghton Regis Management Company.
