News
| Home | About us | News | Journal | Diary | Groups | Legislation | Articles | Education | Links |
| News 2006 | News 2005 | News 2004 | News 2003 | New 2002 | Press releases |
Contents
- North-West Event (October 2005)
- Annual Conference (August 2005)
- Silver Medal at Tatton (July 2005)
- Chelsea Physic Garden Event (July 2005)
- BBC Gardeners' World at the NEC, Birmingham (June 2005)
- Manchester Museum Event (June 2005)
- Manor House Museum, Bury St Edmunds (May 2005)
- Great Garden Challenge (April 2005)
- Herb Society Education Prize
- Our first event of 2005
- Fate of the Discovering Herbal Medicine Course (March 2005)
- Chairman's New Year Message (January 2005)
North-West Event
Saturday 1 October
By Audrey Butterworth
The weather was exactly the same as last year-wet and dreary, but the event was a great success. I must congratulate Sally Miller (our treasurer), Nicky (our administrator) and Jan Greenland (Council member) on their organisation. They are completely unflappable. The custodians of the hall were also wonderful in helping to set up the main hall and the dining room.
Jan Greenland gave the first demonstration of the morning in her inimitable style. It is interesting to the readers of our Forum as she made walnut and onion spelt bread. We have had some Forum correspondence on spelt bread. The other bread Jan made was poppy and almond ring. It looked beautiful and we got to taste these breads at lunch time.
Sarah Clark gave the second morning talk. Sarah runs Green Garden Herbs. She had brought a big selection of herbs even though she was exhibiting at a big event in Skipton over the same weekend. She had brought a large selection of Salvias which she talked about first. I have just become an enthusiast of Salvias as they are so lovely at this time of the year and have so many delicious and varied scents. Then she talked about culinary herbs. I bought a peach salvia, lemon verbena and a thyme. I would have bought more but my garden is microscopic.
The lunch was a choice of delicious soups made by Sally and breads made by Jan. Then there was a choice of desserts with custard, crème fraiche or cream to accompany them.
Dalbinder Bains, who stood in for Jane Gray, due to a muddle over dates, turned out to be a star. She had been an auditor with some large firms before becoming a convert to herbs. Her mother had suffered from several ailments for many years and at that time they lived near to where Jan de Vries had a practice. After seeing him, her mother’s health improved so dramatically that Dalbinder decided to do a distance learning degree course with the College of Phytotherapy.* She then studied nutrition and is now practising in Chorlton, Manchester as a herbalist and nutritionist.
 |
 |
 |
||
| Jan demonstrating bread making | Sarah tells us how high this plant will grow | Dalbinder in private consultation |
She spoke for a while about her background and about herbalism and then as people did need to move around after lunch there was a cream-making workshop. People were invited to ask Dalbinder questions while this was taking place. The first question, which I overheard by chance, was someone asking Dalbinder where she got her trousers! I must tell you that Dalbinder was very chic.
Skin cream workshop
Afterward there was a talk on skin complaints, mainly eczema and psoriasis and the herbs that would be used. For pregnant patients she generally uses a nutritional approach rather than herbal, though camomile is very safe.
I was impressed by all the speakers and it was a wonderful day. I learnt a lot.
*The correspondence course in herbal medicine (phytotherapy) is now run by the University of Wales.
Annual Conference
Saturday 13 August
Here are a few pictures from the day. Visit our Forum for reports from members who attended the event.
John Baylis, leading the discussion of our strategic plan while Nicky Westwood takes the notes.
|
Janet Blundell talking about the work she is doing to develop the new Herb Society schools' web site |
Lettitia Derrington talking about the old and new medicinal uses of herbs |
Silver Medal at Tatton
20 - 24 July, 2005
Lavender was one of the herbs featured at the Society's silver-medal-winning stand at the Royal Horticultural Society Show at Tatton Park in Cheshire.
Part of the lavender display
The silver-medal-winning stand
Chelsea Physic Garden Event
Tuesday 5 July
Penny Ody, Medical Herbalist, talked about restoring energy with medicinal herbs. She exlained how herbs restore vital energy and work with the body to repair itself rather than just overcoming symptoms.
Penny and Jessica Houdret gave a guided tour of the historic physic garden.
Jessica and Penny lead the final discussion
BBC Gardeners' World at the NEC, Birmingham
15 -19 June
Firstly, a great thank you to Ruth Waters who helped with setting up the stand and manned it each day. Also to every other volunteer who came along and gave so willingly of their time and energy. The Society had been given a lovely big stand by the Royal Horticultural Society, and initially Ruth and I looked at it and wondered what we were going to fill it with, but by the time we had covered it in fresh herbs (for smelling only!) piles of lavender, seeds, books, toiletries and pot pourri, we ran out of space!
We made a tidy profit at the NEC, and also had the pleasure of the Prince of Wales and Camilla changing their route to walk past. Unfortunately it wasn't the Herb Society they were coming to see! Gill Oliver, next to us, had designed a lovely little vegetable garden which we had helped source herbs for when she was rushed during set up. She was delighted to come in on Wednesday and discover she had been awarded a Gold. The Prince had heard about the garden and Gill found herself unexpectedly chatting with the Prince and Camilla the same day! All in all it was a great week.
Nicky Westwood
Herb Society Administrator
Susan Ford talks to a visitor to our stand
Manchester Museum Event
Saturday 4 June
In the morning, Leander Wolstenholme from the museum herbarium team gave a talk on the historic herbarium collection and showed some of the important collection.
After lunch Frances Kershner MNIMH discussed the medicinal properties of these plants.
Leander Wolstenholme
|
The rare Gerards's Herbal
|
Frances Kershner (above and right) |
 |
Manor House Museum, Bury St Edmunds
7 May
The Society held a one day event in the historic setting of the Manor House Museum and Abby Herb Garden in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. In the morning, Caroline Holmes talked about geometry in relation to herb garden design. The afternoon starting with a walk through the Abbey Herb Garden led by Lesley Bremness. Lesley went on to describe the world of cells and molecules and explained how herbs affect your mood and memories, and how you can use this effectively.
Tour of the Abby Herb Garden
Great Garden Challenge
he garden designed by Cheryl Waller, Herb Society Council Member, was featured on the Channel 4 TV programme on Friday 29 April. Cheryl and Sally Miller, Herb Society Treasurer, had three days to build a small garden (working in the pouring rain and in a huge mud bath!). At the end of the Friday programme, Cheryl's garden was judged against another garden built in the same period and under the same adverse conditions. Despite the high praise from the judges for the planting in Cheryl's garden, and positive comments on herbs, the judges decided that the other competitors had the better garden.
Cheryl's garden is called a, "A Garden of Herbal Tranquility". The plan is shown below in outline but click here to download an Adobe Acrobat pdf file with details of the design including the planting list.
|
Sally Miller deep in the mud bath which was eventually transformed into a beautiful garden
|
Garden plan |
|
|
|
 |
 |
Various views of the Garden of Herbal Tranquility
|
|
Nicky Westwood, Herb Society Administrator, in front of our garden |
The garden we were on competition with and lost to on the day |
Sally and Cheryl with the programme presenters. From left to right; James Alexander–Sinclair, Sally Miller, Cheryl Waller, Janet Ellis and Chris Beardshaw.
Herb Society Education Prize
The Herb Society's prize for the best third-year student of the National Institute of Medical Herbalist went this year to Paula Granger and Julie Wood.
Paula Granger (left) and Julie Wood
Our first event of 2005
Saturday 12 March at the Oxford Museum of History of Science
Cheryl Waller trapped inside one of the stills on display at the exhibition
|
|
|
|
Letticia Derrington, medical herbalist, giving one of the many lectures held during the day |
Display of fresh and dried herbs, and extracts shown on a stand run by Lettitia Derrington and Susan Strachan, both Medical Herbalists. |
|
|
Left: Liz Humphrey of Plenti-Full-Pots, who had an array of herbs for sale, some of which complimented the talk by Lettitia Derrington; others were of horticultural and culinary value |
Fate of the Discovering Herbal Medicine Course
Statement by Ann Walker PhD MCPP MNIMH
I expect most herbal practitioners know by now that, unhappily, the College of Phytotherapy was forced to go into receivership recently, and its assets were (and still are at the time of writing this) being sold off by the liquidators. Fortunately, it has now been agreed that ownership of the degree courses will pass to the University of East London. Hence, registered students should be assured that provision will be made for them to continue their professional training in herbal medicine. This is a great relief for all who care about the future of the profession.
Apart from the degree courses, the College of Phytotherapy also ran the "One Year Course", mostly aimed at lay members of the public. This Course gave a taster of the various aspects involved in a full herbal practitioner training. The Course included a detailed description of 50 commonly-used herbs, including their actions and indications. Also, students were introduced to the workings of the human body in health and illness. After finishing the Course, a person was able to distinguish minor health complaints (for which self-help is appropriate) from disease conditions, for which professional help should be sought.
This Course was written originally by Hein Zeylstra and Simon Mills but recruitment activity reduced in the late 1990s when attention was focused on the College's diploma courses attaining degree status. With successful accreditation of the degree courses, the One Year Course was re-named "Discovering Herbal Medicine" (DHM) Course and recently revamped by herbal practitioner, Deborah Sweetman (née Jones). At the time of liquidation, the numbers of people registering for the Course were increasing and its prospects were beginning to look more healthy. As it was unlikely that any university would be interested in running a non-degree course of this nature, my husband, Dr Alan Lakin and I, after some soul searching, decided to make a bid to run the course. On 24th January, we learnt that our bid had been accepted! Our motivation in taking on this daunting task was twofold: to keep the Course in the United Kingdom, and to promote the profession of herbal medicine in the UK and abroad. This is an important part of the ethos behind the Course, since a substantial number of recruits into the profession of phytotherapy have come from those who had already completed the DHM Course.
The DHM Course will now be run by us, as an extension of our Consultancy, under the banner "New Vitality Tuition". The first job that Alan and I have to do is to make sure that students currently registered for the DHM Course are catered for. Pam Bull, as Course Registrar, will continue the good work that she has put in over the years in coordinating the Course. Course Tutor, Deborah Sweetman, who is a member of the CPP, has agreed to continue to assess assignments, marks for which will contribute towards the Final Assessment for the Certificate in Herbal Medicine. Alan and I intend to promote the Course and undertake a staged revision of the material. For the foreseeable future there will be no increase in fees: £350 for the full course, with staged payments negotiable. A leaflet and application form may be obtained from Pam Bull, Oak Glade, 9 Hythe Close, Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 6LQ. Tel: 01323 484353. Email: pamela.bull@btopenworld.com.
Ann Walker PhD MCPP MNIMH
New Vitality Tuition
366 Wokingham
Road Earley
Reading RG6 7HT
January 2005
Chairman's New Year Message
Jessica Houdret
Herb Society Chairman
"What's so special about herbs?" - as somebody said to me the other day. Quite simply, they are life enhancers, even to some extent, life savers. They make food taste good, they smell wonderful and they are packed with health-giving properties.
No wonder they are popular; and increasingly so. Medicinal and aromatic plants, as they are broadly known, provide the raw ingredients for a wide range of commercial products and form the basis of many modern pharmaceutical drugs as well as making traditional herbal medicines. Of course this huge demand comes at a price, and many wild populations of medicinal plants are now under threat of extinction.
Enjoyment of herbs
But before we get too gloomy, or too wrapped up in the implications of uses and commercial values, don't let's forget that herbs are also there just to be enjoyed for their own sakes, as rewarding garden plants. I couldn't put it better than the great 17th century herbalist John Parkinson:
"Herbs and flowers with their fragrant smells do comfort, and as it were revive the spirits."
For my part, I have never found a better way of 'reviving the spirits' than getting out in a sunlit garden filled with the scent of herbs.
I have been passionate about these fascinating and versatile plants for over twenty-five years now. It all began when I moved into my present home in the spring of 1979. Having just completed a degree in English, I intended to take up teaching, but herbs took over instead. They were the only plants that seemed to flourish in my one and a half acres of gravelly soil, so I planted them everywhere, especially those of Mediterranean origin, such as rosemary, lavender and thyme. Then I started to research the subject in depth and ran a herb growing business for a few years, before concentrating on writing - since when I have never looked back.
What are your views?
But that's enough about me. What about you? I would love to hear your stories - that includes all our current, loyal members, without whom this Society would cease to exist, as well as anyone else out there with an interest in herbs who would like to get involved and perhaps join our ranks.
How did you discover herbs? What do you use them for? Do you grow your own? And do you have any tips to share on how you make the most of them? Please post your contributions to our Forum.
Whatever your level of knowledge or experience, as I have discovered, there's always something new to learn about herbs, or some unexpected challenge to face. And that is what the Society is all about. We aim to bring together like-minded people with a common interest, and to provide a network of support and information. To this end we try to bring you the latest news in the herb world (see our Legislation page for a summary of the possible consequences of the recent EU Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicines) and to plan interesting and informative events and workshops.
What does 2005 have in store?
This year we have an exciting afternoon on using medicinal plants planned for the beginning of July, at London's world famous Chelsea Physic Garden. Before that, on the bank holiday weekend of 1st and 2nd May, there is a Herbs and Horticulture Day at the Society's home of Sulgrave Manor, when you can pick up a host of ideas on how to grow your favourite herbs successfully and how to use them to their best advantage. Keep an eye on our Diary page for more information and for what else is on - and don't forget to book early to avoid disappointment.
I am grateful to my predecessor, Roger Tabor, for his valuable support and advice, for his bold vision and imaginative designs for the Herb Society garden at Sulgrave and for all those council members and volunteers who worked so hard to make it a reality.
The last time I was there, the words of Eleanour Sinclair Rohde, writing in the 1920s about herb gardens of a previous age, came to mind:
"For surely this was the charm of these silent secluded places, so far removed from turmoil, that from them it was possible to look at the world with clear eyes and a mind undisturbed by clamour."
At Sulgrave, you will find just such a place. I hope to see as many of you there as possible - perhaps at our Annual Conference, which will be in August this year, when we hope to have a stimulating line up of speakers and a programme for all to enjoy.
Meanwhile, may I wish you all a happy, healthy and herb-filled New Year.
Jessica
January 2005
To make comments on these news items, go to our forum Pot-Pourri
| News 2006 | News 2005 | News 2004 | News 2003 | New 2002 | Press releases |