The Learning Hub
Nine paths into the craft of topiary
Our Learning archive is gathered, written and refined by members. From absolute beginners to accomplished practitioners, everyone finds something to learn, and something to teach.
Craft Skills
Cultivation and hand-skills for box, yew and holly, from the Anglo-Saxon roots of the word 'craft' onwards.
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Design
Structure, textural contrast, mirroring, view from above and freeform — the language of the formal garden.
Enter sectionHistory
From Egyptian hedge clipping in 4,000 BC to Le Nôtre, Capability Brown and the modern revival.
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Practical member-written guides: seven rules for modern topiary, taking cuttings, thinning boxwood.
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Image Library
A growing archive of member photographs, originally inspired by Mark Braimbridge's personal collection.
Enter sectionLearning to Clip with EBTS UK
Half-day and full-day Learn To Clip courses at Capel Manor, Yorkshire, Sweden and more.
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Research on box blight, Box Tree Moth, nematode trials and jointly-funded RHS studies.
Enter sectionTop Topiary Tips
Nine concise, tested tips from members: getting it centred, one hand at a time, string not wire.
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Shears, secateurs, hedge trimmers, ladders and frames — with recommended reading.
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