“Seeing how everyone benefits from the sessions makes it all worthwhile; horticulture is a great leveller and a marvellous therapeutic tool.”

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Based in Potters Bar, Herts, happy to visit groups in Hertfordshire, London, Essex, Middlesex, Befordshire, Buckinghamshire & Cambridgeshire.

Anne has been a Guest Lecturer on Cruises and at Conferences.

Please see Bookings Page for fees and check out Testimonials

Happy to deliver talks by Zoom especially in the winter to both local groups or those who are further away, you may be at the other end of the country or even in a different one but technology is enabling!

Further queries, please contact Anne at:  anne@anneluder.co.uk

Anne worked as garden designer for over thirty years, designing both public and private gardens; specialising in allergy-free and challenging gardens. She likes to incorporate and encourage the use of edible plants into her designs, as well as upcycling and encouraging the wildlife in.  She was environmentally aware back when conservationists were called “cranks”. When planning a garden, her clients are  encouraged & involved so they are reflected in the design whilst learning how to maintain their garden and develop it.

She has been on the “Speakers Circuit” for over 15 years regularly being invited to return to many groups.

At the beginning of Anne’s horticultural career she spent four years in charge of propagation at a nursery in Essex which offered support, tutoring and a sense of purpose for those with disabilities. This led to becoming a part time lecturer at Capel Manor College, Enfield.  She specialised in therapeutic horticulture for severe physical disabilities; growing this provision at the college. Today HT is finally being acknowledged for all the things that she and my fellow horticultural therapist’s knew and practised years ago.

Anne in retirement is the Honorary Horticultural Landscape Consultant and Trustee of a Natural Burial Ground in Cheshunt – re-creating a British native woodland and meadow.

Over the last few years Anne has developed aninterest in ancient and biblical plants plus those mentioned in the holy writings of other faiths. Curiosity led her to look at the mythology surrounding these plants, their usages in past times ie food, building etc and how these plants are impacting on our lives today ie cancer treatments. These are the “Ancient & Bible Plant Talks” all of which are stand alone. Anne has acquired a nickname: The Biblical Botanist.  These talks are all amusing and excellent if you want a quirky talk and not religious.  Where possible Anne uses either photos she has taken  to avoid infringing copyrights! However, a big thanks to  the friends who also send me pictures they have taken – many of which are outstanding.

PS Anne has a wonderful repositary of Coeliac recipes from when she ran a gluten free resources website back in the early days of the web and two kindle recipe books are still available on Amazon

Testimonials

  • Thank you very much for coming to speak to our U3A group today, and for helping us out of our dilemma of a cancelled speaker.  It was a most unusual talk, and I think we all learned a lot about some familiar as well as some unusual plants.  I shall certainly be viewing plants like sorrel and dandelion with new interest, and consider how they may be eaten. (Chess Valley U3A - April 2025)

  • Thank you for your illustrated talk on Evolution and Adaption of Plants.   Our members found it interesting and enjoyed it.
    Redbridge Pensioners Forum - February 2026
  • Thank you so much for your really interesting and exceptional talk which is much appreciated
  • Thank you for the interesting talk last night (Gardening 3rd Age). It went down well and there was a lot of “ food for thought”. Harpendon Gardening Society
  • Another stimulating talk that made me and my fellow gardeners think. Anne does not talk - she imparts knowledge and involves her audience. I asked for a talk on Roses but never thought she would go back to the age of the dinosaur. I have invited her back knowing that whatever topic I choose as speaker's secretary Anne will deliver - Ida, Hitchen Horticultural Society
  • "Thank you so much again for giving New Vistas your excellent talk yesterday, our members greatly appreciated it.  You do have a lovely, clear voice which is easily heard;  not always a feature prominent in a lot of our speakers. I will hope very much that you will pay us another visit next year"- Juliet