Description
About the Venue:
Dilston Physic Garden is a living, breathing science garden where you can explore over 700 heritage flowers, herbs, vegetables, and trees with rich histories in health, healing, and medicine.
About the Workshop:
Join us for a hands-on Workshop exploring the fascinating world of roots — from plant to preparation. We’ll be harvesting Echinacea, Valerian, and Elecampane roots, learning about their properties, and preparing them for drying and use. We’ll also make a simple Elecampane honey or syrup to take home. You’ll be supporting the physic garden by helping with, and learning about, the annual medicinal root harvest.
The Workshop kicks off with a welcome and short introduction to the day from Dr Nicolette Perry, with an overview of the roots attendees will be working with, and a brief talk and tour on plant science, healing roots, and their uses, followed by a harvesting session led by Sarah Tulloch, who’ll give an introduction to the plot and demonstration of careful harvesting. Participants will gently excavate and lift Echinacea, Valerian, and Elecampane roots and begin the first clean/prep stage on the plot.
A break for lunch follows (please bring your own) when attendees can enjoy herbal tea freshly made from the garden. This will be a relaxed opportunity to chat, share experiences, and explore the garden.
Following on from lunch, there will be a root preparation and drying session including chopping and preparing harvested roots outside the Herb House, with discussion on best methods for drying and storage. Attendees will make Elecampane Syrup via a simple hands-on demonstration. If time runs short, attendees are able to take a piece of root home with a recipe and guidance to finish the process themselves. The Workshop will close with a review of what attendees have learned and there will be a sharing of a few reflections on the beauty and healing power of roots.
About the Tutor:
Dr Nicolette Perry B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D. – Nicolette Perry is a pharmacognosist – a scientist specialising in the study of medicinal plants, and serves as Science Director at Dilston Physic Garden. She earned her Ph.D. at King’s College London, where her research on the beneficial effects of European sage for Alzheimer’s disease helped to stimulate global interest in this area. Nicolette’s work focuses on researching, teaching, and communicating the science and practice of plant medicine for brain health.
Timings:
10am – 3.30pm
Food/Drink:
Tea and coffee will be provided. Please bring a packed lunch and enjoy herbal tea freshly made from the garden.
Special Instructions:
Please bring a jar of honey and a spare empty jar.
Please wear suitable weather appropriate outdoor clothing, footwear and gloves.
Costs:
£65 members | £85 Non-members
Terms & Conditions
Please read our Standard Cancellation Policy.
