The Gardenist and Travelling Masterclasses is pleased to present 'The New Naturalism' Tour 2025, meticulously curated by Michael McCoy to take in the best of the UK’s cutting edge perennial and re-wilding plantings. 

Participants will journey to internationally celebrated gardens from renowned designers such as Piet Oudolf, Tom Stuart-Smith, Dan Pearson, Nigel Dunnett and James Hitchmough.

The tour will take the form of a travelling masterclass, examining what each garden does particularly well, exactly how it achieves its outstanding qualities, and what we can learn from it for our own designs or home gardens. 

“This tour was outstanding - well organised, well lead with knowledgeable hosts, and the gardens selected were in keeping with the contemporary and naturalistic theme.”

Alistair Ripper | 2024 Tour Participant

“This beautifully considered and executed tour was a deep dive into contemporary and heartwarming garden thinking. Lead by the inimitable Michael McCoy and his very thoughtful team, with so many warm and generous welcomes and insights by leading designers and inspirational hosts. It was an absolute joy!”

Jenny Whitehead | 2024 Tour Participant

'The New Naturalism' Tour promises to be an unmissable and unforgettable gardening experience. Michael will be leading the tour from start to finish, with help from some of the UK’s leading perennial practitioners along the way. 
 

Tour Features include:

• Access to Tom Stuart-Smith’s home garden, The Barn

• Experience the astonishing walled garden at Knepp Castle with head gardener Charlie Harpur, plus lunch at the Knepp Wilding Kitchen

• A walking tour through Sheffield’s reimagined gardens and public spaces

• Time with James Hitchmough in his own (new) home garden

• A guided tour through the iconic Iford Manor followed by lunch at its renowned restaurant

• Morning tea at Long Barn, where Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson cut their gardening teeth

• Meet and greet with many of the Tour’s garden designers, owners and visionaries

  and much, much more…

“I can’t wait to take you on this magic ride through my favourite perennial gardens. Not only will we be visiting mind-blowing destinations, we’ll be teasing apart everything we see, to take both our appreciation and our own planting to a new level. Come prepared to indulge and to learn.”

Michael McCoy