Herbal Workshops

It’s time to choose which workshops you want to take part in.

Herbs to help

One of the reasons we get so excited by herbs is because there are so many things you can do with them.

Whether you’re interested in eating, cooking, drinking, relaxing, health, beauty, craft, textiles, making or engineering – there’s a herb to help.

A day of workshops

The workshops on Saturday 19th July have been designed to give you a taster of some of the different ways herbs can help in our daily lives. They offer practical ways to boost health, mood and creativity.

They’ve been selected to give you opportunity to explore with each of your senses: taste, touch, see, smell and hear.

Each workshop is an hour long, providing a brief introduction and some hands-on experience. For you, the workshop may be a simple insight into a new interest, the first step in developing a new skill, or the spark that ignites a new passion. Come along and find out.

Pricing for the day has been kept well below normal levels for the experiences to encourage participation and open up opportunities.

Your choices:

1) TASTE – Herbal Tea Blending

This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to spend an hour with the Herbal Researcher, Dr Viv. Viv was the researcher for Pukka teas, she knows the science behind the beautiful blends we buy from supermarkets and health food shops.

In this magical hour, she will give you all the tips and tricks for blending your own teas, and how to best enjoy them.

We are lucky to have Viv as part of our herbal community, highly recommend taking this chance to come and have a cuppa with her.

TIME: 11am to 12noon

BOOKING: book direct with Dr Viv at Curiosity Research

PRICE PER PERSON: £15

2) TOUCH – Blend your own facial cleanser

To explore the sense of touch, Hedgerow Skincare Expert, Laura Pardoe will introduce you to the vital energy of plant seed oils.

These are the plant power behind beautiful natural skincare products, and are packed full of potency having been pressed from life-giving seeds.

But just as each plant is different, so is the oil each produces.

You will learn to select the right oils to suit your skin, and blend them to create your own facial cleansing oil to take home.

TIME: 12noon to 1pm

BOOKING: book direct with Laura at Field Fresh Skincare

PRICE PER PERSON: £15 (which is the approximate value of the product you’ll make to take home with you!)

3) SEE – The art of herbal dying

Plants have always been our first resource for bringing colour to fashion, fabric and textiles, with a whole rainbow of possibility.

Sharon Butler is a creative genius, exploring the many factors that influence plant dyes. Her experimentation has seen plants gathered in different seasons, different conditions and environments and given different treatments (conventional and a bit more experimental).

Come along for an hour of colourful inspiration and conversation.

TIME: 2pm to 3pm

BOOKING: book direct by emailing hello@cotswoldherbcentre.uk

PRICE PER PERSON: £15

4) SMELL – The world of essential oils

In the plethora of ways we use plants, essential oils are the relatively new kid on the block. But wow, they can pack a punch!

Their enticingly heady aromas make you want to dive right in, but act with caution. Hedgerow Skincare Expert, Laura Pardoe will guide you through the world of essential oils, helping you develop an instinctive sense of which to use when, and how to blend for best effect.

This workshop is ideally paired with the TOUCH workshop – if you have made a facial oil in the morning, you will be able to add your choice of essential oils to it in the afternoon.

TIME: 3pm to 4pm

BOOKING: book direct with Laura at Field Fresh Skincare

PRICE PER PERSON: £15

5) HEAR – Singing with herbs

For a fun and joyful end to our day of workshops, we have the fantastic duo ‘SIDEBOARD’ leading the music-making.

With a smorgasbord of herb-inspired tunes and a splattering of plant-derived instruments we plan to raise the roof with some rousing singing.

There will also be useful guidance on looking after your voice, and the herbal preparations that can assist.

TIME: 4pm to 5pm

BOOKING: come along to the Herbal Takeover to book your place, and nominate a song.

PRICE PER PERSON: £15 / or free for attendees of any of today’s workshops