“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 the Testimonials below

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. Fees on Bookings Page.

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 nearly 20 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 where 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 an interest 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.

Testimonials

  • Thank you Anne for coming and imparting your knowledge, several people have said how interesting your talk  on Gold Frankinsence Myrrh & More was and your first remark that Bible GOLD was olive oil has really struck a cord with most of us. Obvious really.(Harpenden Ladies Probus December 2022)

  • 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)

  • I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and I am ever so grateful to Anne for all the information about the type of plants I could use for my shady area.
  • "Thank you so much for your inspirational talk about your work – the audience were really impressed - and for helping people to recognise how they can use different tools to continue their own gardening if injury or infirmity strikes."   Carole Wilcox - Cuffley Horticultural Society
  • The New Year for Trees talk was  so interesting I had no idea of the different properties of trees and their fruits. I am still trying to ‘digest’ it all.

    I will definitely look at fruit differently now.  Many thanks again  Susan   (January 2022)

  • Just a quick note to thank you for a very informative and entertaining talk last night. You certainly inspired our members to go and visit Capel Manor, or to go there again, me included  (October 2025)