As inherent mood-boosters, a gift of herbs is sure to bring a smile, and there are so many guises to gift them in. Here’s a selection of ideas for herby gifts available from local producers.
Made in Cam & Dursley
The Cam & Dursley Herb Calendar 2025
A perfect gift for those wanting to get to know our local herbs and their beneficial uses. This calendar is packed full of tips and pointers to help you identify and use herbs in every season. It’ll be the perfect reminder in every month of what to look out for so you don’t miss those foraging opportunities.
There’s also plenty of space for your own notes – use it as an appointment calendar, or maybe keep your own plant and weather record in it as the year progresses.
Our events page and newsletter will have lots of diary dates for you to note so get your calendar now to ensure you can keep track of all the herby activities to take part in.
Just £5 each, you’ll find them at various places around town (check out Helen’s Wishes and The Oak at Kingshill), or come to Green Drinks at Kingshill house (7.30pm Wednesday 4th December), or the Kingshill House Christmas Fair (10am – 3pm, Sunday 8th December), Slimbridge Primary School Christmas Fair (Friday 13th 5-7pm), or email us hello@cotswoldherbcentre.uk
Wayside Teas: Artisan herbal teas
Small batch tea making using the best parts of the finest local herbs, blended for taste and nutrition. These are teas that deserve the ceremony of a warm pot and a fancy cosy.
Dr Viv spent a number of years as scientific researcher for Pukka herbs, advising on beneficial blends for their range of teas. She’s now branched out to create her own selection of teas, with limited edition seasonal varieties that can take you happily and healthily though the year.
Specially for this Christmas season, you may be seduced by the sage and red clover in the ‘Santa Baby’ blend, or uplifted by the pine and rosemary in ‘Tree-mendous Pine’, see all the options here.
Each tea blend is £10 per tin, enough for 20 servings. Being fresh and high quality, you can brew several times from the same leaves (we believe in minimal waste, maximum enjoyment). You can get your teas from Kingshill House Christmas Fair (Sunday 8th 10am – 3pm), Slimbridge Primary School Christmas Fair (Friday 13th 5-7pm), pop into The Oak at Kingshill, or contact Viv directly through her website.
Field Fresh Skincare: Blend-it-yourself skincare kits
What better way to know the ingredients you’re putting on your skin than by making your own skincare? If that sounds a bit too tricky, Field Fresh kits make it easy. Everything you need is provided pre-measured, so all you need to do is heat, stir and enjoy the aromas.
Field Fresh products have won awards, including ‘Best Facial Moisturiser’ (Janey Loves Natural Skincare awards) and ‘Best Balm’ (Green Parent Magazine) proving that the skincare you make at home can out-perform what you’d buy off the shelf.
Choose from the range of eight different products all made from locally sourced herbs and plant seed oils. See all the options here.
You can try the samples of all the products at Kingshill House Christmas Fair (10am – 3pm, Sunday 8th December) and Slimbridge Primary School Christmas Fair (Friday 13th 5-7pm) and all are available direct from the Field Fresh Skincare website.
Why buy local?
Buying local is well recognised as a way to help the local economy thrive, not just supporting local makers but also through the ripple effects that extend through the community. It helps make where you live be a great place to live.
But when you’re buying herb-related products, it’s especially important to buy local. Plants don’t move around, they have roots that bind them to the soil and they will adapt to their local conditions. Plants that thrive are ones that are well-adapted. These are the ones to look out for – if they’re healthy, they can help you be healthy too.
Buying plants, and plant-based products, that have come from your local area will mean they are adapted to the conditions you’re living in, they’re going to be the most beneficial for you, helping you thrive.
But don’t take our word for it, buy local and put it to the test yourself!
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