HERBALISM EVENTS AND COURSES

Whatever your location there’ll be a group of herbalists, picking, drying, brewing and bubbling near you

BOUNTIFUL BOTANICS

As part of this family-friendly weekend event at Wakehurst, the Sussex garden managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, herbalists Alice Bettany and Lucinda Warner lead foraging walks and herbal health workshops. 8-9 October. kew.org

ROOTS MEDICINE

The healing powers of plants such as comfrey, dandelion and valerian move down to their roots in autumn. This workshop at the charitable Dilston Physic Garden in Hexham, Northumberland will teach you how to harvest and prepare them. 5 November. £40. dilstonphysicgarden.com

HERBFEST 2017

Four- day celebration of herbal medicine and related therapies at Monte Mariposa, Portugal. Talks, walks and workshops take place at an Algarve retreat surrounded by fields of wild lavender and borage. 29 April–2 May 2017. From £300, including meals and three nights’ accommodation. herbfestuk.co.uk

NATURAL SKIN CARE

Try your hand at making balms and skin creams based on plants and natural ingredients. A great way to stock up on green gifts for Christmas. The eclectic programme of events at Assington Mill in Suffolk also includes a Wild Medicine day on 30 September next year. 24 September 2017. £85. assingtonmill.com

HERBAL FIRST AID KIT

Join medical herbalist Catherine Marshall to assemble a beginners’ kit for different ailments. In her studio in Usk, Monmouthshire, you’ll make your own lavender gel, ointment, infused oil, tincture and cough syrup to take home. 5 March. £45. herbalharmony.co.uk

ENGLISH COUNTRY HERBAL MEDICINE

One-week residential course at Felbrigg Hall, North Norfolk, a country house and garden. With a focus on English plants, you’ll learn how to identify and harvest medicinal herbs and transform them into hand-made remedies. 17–24 May 2017. From £895, including meals. juliebruton-seal.com

HERBAL MEDICINE WEEKEND

Hands- on introduction with leading herbalist Anne McIntyre. Learn to identify and harvest seasonal plants and turn them into tinctures, infusions and lotions. Part of a year-long programme of events at the east Devon organic Trill Farm, owned by Neal’s Yard Remedies’ founder Romy Fraser. 22-23 October. £225 (£335 residential). trillfarm.co.uk

INTRODUCTION TO HERBAL REMEDIES

The School of Natural Health at Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden is the venue for a one- day (or two- day if you book Stage 2) intro to identifying and using natural medicines to soothe common ailments. Take home your own hand-made throat sprays, cough syrups and samples. 25 (and 26) March 2017. £130 a day. nealsyardremedies.com

HERB WALKS

Two Sunday walks in Chelsea Physic Garden and Kensington Palace Gardens on which you’ll learn how to spot medicinal plants and brew them into infusions and decoctions. Run by the Mary Ward Centre, an adult education centre that’s also running a six-week beginners’ herbalism course in central London on Thursdays over summer 2017. £61. marywardcentre. ac.uk