Speakers

London

Brigitte Kaltenbacher

Area: Greater London and within the Home Counties
Email: Beekaymakes@gmail.com
Website: Beekaymakes.co.uk

Info: Brigitte is a sustainable weaver that is in love with nettles. Some of you might have read Brigitte’s article “No sting in the tale” on the many benefits of nettles in the summer edition 22 of the member magazine ‘Herbs.’ Brigitte gives talks on nettles as a textiles plant, its history, its value as a dye plant, and as an important support of local wildlife. Long revered as a source of magic, healing and protection, nettles’ spirit has been woven into many fairy tales, like ‘The Wild Swans’ or ‘Rumpelstiltskin’. Brigitte has an MA in Sustainable Textiles from the UCA Farnham and also teaches in heritage museums.

Elena Renier –  MNIMH, Medical Herbalist and Nutritionist

Area: West London based, will travel within UK

Email: elenarenier@herbalistamedica.info

Website: https://herbalistamedica.info

Info: I have been a Member of NIMH for 15 years and have incorporated fungi in my treatment plans for ten years. Having delivered a number of conferences, I am available in the West London area, provided that bookings are made at least two months in advance. I can offer online training in combining herbal with mushroom medicines (for a fee).

Kim Walker –  BSc, MSc

Area: Greater London based, will travel within UK

Email: handmadeapothecary@gmail.com

Telephone: 07976579619

Website: www.handmadeapothecary.co.uk

Info: Offers talks, walks and workshops rediscovering local plant identification, foraging guidance, folklore, plant uses and herbal remedy making.

Home Counties

Julia Behrens –  Medical Herbalist BsC(Hons), MCPP

Area: East Sussex
Email: Julia@herbal-consultant.com
Website: www.herbal-consultant.com
Info: Julia has taught at the School of Herbal Medicine, lectured at East London and Westminster University, consulted for the WWF and Neal’s Yard, appeared on TV- Channel 4 Food unwrapped and on Gardeners and cooker question time cruises. Julia runs a range of courses in Herbal Medicine and has been practicing herbal medicine for over 20 years. She  is currently practicing at the Albion Clinic in Brighton and Herstmonceux Health Centre working alongside GPs and other health professionals.

Rachel Boon BSc (Hons), URHP

Area: East & West Sussex, Hampshire and London

Email: info@rachelboon.co.uk

Website: https://www.rachelboon.co.uk/about-me

Info: Rachel is a women’s health specialist naturopath and herbalist who has been practising in coastal West Sussex since 2005. As a human biologist first and naturopath and herbalist second, Rachel has a foot firmly in both camps and can disseminate complex scientific information in a way that brings whatever subject she’s discussing to life. A born communicator, Rachel shares her broad knowledge with passion and understanding, aiming to educate and empower every woman she meets in her online or real life clinics, at support groups or at corporate speaking events.

Popular talks include:

Perimenopause Friends and Foes, The Herbal Treatment of Problem Periods, Fasting for Females, Juicing and Detoxification for Health and Menopause + Mind. Do get in touch to discuss your own organisations unique needs and Rachel will be delighted to tailor something accordingly.

Rachel is a member of the URHP, an experienced clinical supervisor, has been involved in new product development and was the clinical lead at a popular juice and yoga retreat. She lives by the beach with her partner, teen children and their Greek rescue dog.

Kate Scott BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine

Area: South of England, willing to travel!
Email: Kate@thedroversdaughter.com
Telephone: 07969882439
Website: www.thedroversdaughter.com
Info: A qualified medical herbalist I have been giving talks, lecturing and running herb walks and workshops for the past 15 years. I specialise in native British plants which I use both in clinic and in my skincare products. With a herbal heritage in my family dating back to the 16th C, I combine traditional knowledge with scientific research to talk about plants, demonstrate techniques such as tincture making and simple balms. I have a projector and screen if required. Happy to travel for longer talks and workshops.I’m currently based in West Sussex but have run workshops in Dorset, Wales and Scotland in the past!

Victoria Wright

Area: Travels to Oxfordshire / Berkshire / Wiltshire areas
Email: victoria@thelivingherb.com
Telephone: 07722 328 307
Website: www.thelivingherb.com
Info: Victoria is a medical herbalist and wellness coach based in Oxfordshire. She has a rigorous and scientific approach to helping people understand their own health issues thanks to 10 years experience working as a research scientist. This is uniquely combined with compassion and mindfulness following 20 years of meditation training.
Victoria can provide inspirational talks on a range of topics from an introduction to herbal medicine and its links to modern research to specific illness, particularly women’s health concerns and stress-related illness. She can also talk about mindfulness and meditation and the links between body and mind.

Southwest/West Country Wales

Michele Daramat

Area: Cardiff + < 1h by train Cardiff and am willing to travel

Email: michele.daramat@gmail.com

Telephone: 07754 070058

Info: Provided it is not more than an hour or so by train

Sue Minter, Past Chairman of the Herb Society

Area: Prefers to deliver talks locally, but will travel if the host covers travel costs and puts me up for the night if it’s an evening talk and it’s impossible to get back home.

Email: sue.minter1@btinternet.com

Telephone: 01626 368948 (with answerphone)

Info: Sue is past Chair of the Herb Society, past Curator at Chelsea Physic Garden and past Horticultural Director of the Eden Project where she developed their Crops for Health display.She delivers Powerpoint presentations on ‘The Healing Garden’ (covers pharmaceutical and herbal plants and the conservation issues about them); also on Alicia Amherst who wrote the first history of gardening -which touches on herbs as she was a Council member at Chelsea Physic for 40 years.She required a digital projector to be provided.  She provides her own laptop computer.Sue can also deliver talks with slides:  ‘Thinking with your Nose’ (on the art of perfumery) and ‘Which Doctor?’ (which covers enthobotany and pharmacology). For these Sue will provide her own slide projector.

Talks are charged at £100, plus travel costs if applicable.

Hilary Loder, DBTh

Area: Dorset

Email: hilaryloder@hotmail.co.uk

Info: I prefer to bring my own equipment and enjoy giving talks on:

1) Herbal First aid

2) Propagation of herbs

3) Uses of herbs for healing

4) Herbal aids for the relief for stress

The cost of a talk would be £70 plus travelling if over 5 miles. Willing to travel up to 15 miles radius of Marnhull, near Sturminster Newton.

Dilys Griffiths, Medical Herbalist, DBTh, MURHP

Area: Carmarthenshire

Email: dilys@balmdinefwr.com

Telephone: 07855 673096

Website: www.balmdinefwr.wales

Info: I am a qualified Medical Herbalist registered with the URHP. I have part time herbal practices at Ammanford and Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire where I see patients for consultations, treating the individual rather than their symptoms. I am happy to give talks through the medium of Welsh, English or bilingual, according to the individual needs of the group. Talks can be about the properties and use of herbs and plants for health generally; the properties and use of specific herbs; maybe some practical demonstrations; introduction of the history of the ancient Physicians of Myddfai from Carmarthenshire. Topics of talks can be discussed so they are suited to the individual group. Cost £60 per talk. Reduction of cost may be granted to some charities, chapel and church groups, please enquire for further information. Willing to travel within a 20 mile radius of Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, S Wales

Carrie Pakenham

Area: Travels up to 40 mile radius of Frome, Somerset

Email: carriepakenham@gmail.com

Telephone: 01373 830312

Info: Talk titles include ‘The Cultivation and Uses of Unusual Herbs’ and ‘Getting Ready for Winter.’

I can also give one of these talks at a barn on my property, including tea, cakes and a garden tour for up to 30 people.

I always bring my jellies, copies of my 2012 book: Jellies: Jellied Preserves from Garden and Hedgerow, plus plants to sell and plants to use for identification and demonstration.

I don’t use a projector.

All monies go to the Wessex Therapy Centre for Multiple Sclerosis

Maggie Pope BSc (Hons), MNIMH, MCPP

Area: N Devon as well as Somerset, and travel anywhere that is not more than 45-50 minutes travel from Bridgwater.

Email: info@growingmedicine.co.uk

Telephone: 07771660442

Website: www.growingmedicine.co.uk

Info: Maggie has a practice in Bridgwater with its own herb garden, where she sees patients and runs workshops.She is also a tutor at the School of Herbal Medicine in Bridgwater which trains people to become professional Medical Herbalists.Maggie can provide a range of talks from the treatment of any specific disease process from RA to diabetes 2, plus winter ills, insomnia etc. She can also talk about what a Medical Herbalist does – where they get their medicines from, how they treat people etc., along with more practical sessions for smaller groups – making ointments and poultices and so on.

Kim Walker BSc, MSc

Area: Greater London based, will travel within UK, Somerset

Email: handmadeapothecary@gmail.com

Telephone: 07976579619

Website: www.handmadeapothecary.co.uk

Info: Offers talks, walks and workshops rediscovering local plant identification, foraging guidance, folklore, plant uses and herbal remedy making.

East of England

Julie Dore –  Medical Herbalist, MNIMH

Area: Within 25 miles of Cambridge for evenings, further for the whole day.

Email: hedgerow-herbals@juliedore.eclipse.co.uk

Website: www.hedgerow-herbals.co.uk

Info: Variety of talks and walks, from slideshows to making own medicine, plants of Shakespeare, plant walks, etc.

Dr Gwenda Kyd, B.F.R.P.

Area: Will travel to Cambridgeshire; happy to travel further if possible by public transport; west central Scotland

Email: gwenda@cambridge-bach.co.uk

Website: www.cambridge-bach.co.uk

Info: I am a writer, chemist and Bach flower remedy practitioner. My

talks mainly cover plant uses (past, present and potential future) and how

these can be linked to what we understand about the plants. I also talk

about Bach flower remedies and and the plants used to make them and can

also run workshops on using Bach flower remedies.

Currently I can offer:

1. People and Plants – Molecules, Medicines and Mischief

2. Fantastic Food Plants

3. Bach Flower Remedies and their Source Plants

4. Drugs from Plants (a bit more science in this one!)

5. Using Bach Flower Remedies to Improve Health and Well-being (workshop)

North West/North East

Caroline Daniel –  BSc(Hons), Dip Herbs (CNM), Dip Naturopathy (CNM), MURHP

Area: Greater Manchester and Cheshire mainly

Email: carolinedaniel@sky.com

Telephone: 07736964479

Info: I am based in Wilmslow, Cheshire. I am available for herb related talks, workshops and herb walks. I cover all sorts of topics and am happy to tailor to your needs. I have a special interest in CBD.

Roisin McLaughlin –  Bsc (Hons), MNIMH,GHR reg. Medical Herbalist and Master NLP Practitioner

Area: Greater Manchester only

Email: roisin@butterflyeffect.uk.com

Info: NIMH Medical Herbalist and Master NLP Practitioner

Barbara Wilkinson –  Consultant Medical Herbalist, DBTh, MURHP, Chair of the Herb Society

Email: barbara_wilkinson101@hotmail.com

Telephone: 07771727569

Info: Medical Herbalist and Chair of the Herb Society.  Talks for WI, Townswomen Guild, U3A, Probos, etc. on Herbs & Spices for Health & Wellbeing, Cultivation & growing of herbs, etc.

William Woods, Owner Blackbrook Herb Gardens

Area: Cheshire/ South Manchester

Email: fwoods725@btinternet.com

Telephone: 01625 539166

Website: www.blackbrookherbgardens.co.uk

Info: Range of topics covered including culinary, historical and traditional uses of herbs, with propagation and growing advice.

Angela MacRitchie –  Dip Herb & Dip Nat Nutrition

Area: Willing to travel if expenses covered

Email: angela@essenceofthesoul.co.uk

Telephone: 07717186647

Website: www.essenceofthesoul.co.uk

Info: Naturopath & Herbalist – Dip Herb (CNM) ANP, AMH, URHP

Naturopathic Nutritionist – Dip Nat Nut (CNM) BANT, NNA & CNHC.

Complementary therapist – Reflexologist, Reiki master, Body work, fertility massage, MISP practitioner & Crystal healer. Angela left the fashion industry to study with CNM 5 years ago and completed Nutrition in 2015, then completed Naturopathy in 2016 and now herbal medicine in 2017.

She is a practicing naturopath and nutritionist in her own clinics and for Napiers the herbalists in Glasgow. She has various clinics in Glasgow as well as Manchester and Newton Stewart.

She loves spreading the word of the wonders of herbs and will cover any topic required for the day.

Stephaney Allinson –  BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine CPP, MNIMH

Area: Will travel to areas accessible via public transport in the West Yorkshire area

Email: allabouttheherbs@gmail.com

Telephone: 07426016993

Website: www.stephaneyallinson.com

Info: I mostly deliver talks that last between 1-2 hours. I am available some evenings and some days during the week. I have a regular talk schedule in my clinic currently, my website has the details for more information.

Meghan Rhodes MCPP MAPA –  Medical Herbalist and Member of the Ayurvedic Professionals Association

Area: Happy to travel in East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. Also available nationwide for online talks.

Email: info@heritageschoolofherbalmedicine.com

Website: www.heritageschoolofherbalmedicine.com

Info: I’m a qualified herbal medicine practitioner and the founder of Heritage School of Herbal Medicine. I am completely and utterly passionate about helping people remember, reclaim and relearn knowledge of plant medicine so we can all bring the support of our own health back into our families and homes for a sustainable future for ourselves and the planet.

My approach to herbal medicine is a blend of Western Herbal Medicine and Ayurveda and my approach to teaching and talks is accessible, practical, fun and hands on. My style involves encouraging participants to use their senses alongside stories and analogies, rather than getting bogged down in theory and terminology. I design my sessions so what participants learn with me gets into their bones, so they can use it in their daily life beyond the experience they’ll have on the day.

Having previously worked in a corporate environment for a decade, I also have extensive experience speaking to business audiences – from intimate team settings to live audiences of over 5,000. I am very comfortable delivering corporate webinars and events to support employee wellbeing programmes.

Midlands

Trudy Norris – Consulting Medical Herbalist

Area: Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, happy to travel up to 60 miles if travel costs are covered

Email: LifeCyclesCounsellingServices@gmail.com

Telephone: 07745577503

Info: Trudy is a qualified and experienced Medical Herbalist, Counsellor and Horticultural Therapist (FNIMH/MBACP). In addition to Herbal Practice Trudy delivers workshops and works with people outside using nature as a co therapist.

As an experienced speaker and teacher I can offer a range of topics and activities. I always like to talk ideas through so we can fit the needs and interests of the group.

Rowan McOnegal –  BA Hons, Cert. Herbal Medicine

Area: Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire

Email: rowanmconegal@hotmail.com

Website: rowanmconegal.co.uk

Info: Rowan qualified from the school of phytotherapy in 1990 and has been practicing, teaching and lecturing in herbal medicine ever since. She has always grown her own herbs and made her own medicines, and teaches practical herbal medicine making and natural perfumery courses in Herefordshire. She can talk about hedgerow medicine, modern herbal practice, spices, natural perfumery, making herbal medicines and cosmetics for home use, etc.

Scotland

Amanda Edmiston

Area: Based in Stirlingshire but working across Scotland, the UK, online and internationally.

Email: botanicafabula@gmail.com

Telephone: 07884107466 or 01786 841136

Website: www.botanicafabula.co.uk

Info: A professional storyteller, writer and artist with a background in herbal medicine, Amanda creates bespoke projects, interactive performance pieces, talks and workshops, both online and in person for a range of venues and organisations. She is a contributor and host for Folklore Thursday and writes a regular column for Herbology News. In addition to her work for grown up audiences she delivers curriculum connected sessions: Herbal Magic and Potent Potions for schools and as family engagement sessions for museums, botanic gardens and events.

Amanda can also be booked to deliver events connected to her ongoing projects: The Very Curious Herbal project which is inspired by the work of Elizabeth Blackwell (the first woman to publish a herbal, in 1737) and The Kist in Thyme: which shares stories and memories of everyday plant use from recent history, collected from intergenerational groups and archive material, the Kist project has a connected exhibition and plant based activities and is great for all ages…previous tours have engaged audiences at The National Museum of Rural Life and The Scottish Storytelling Centre amongst others.

Examples of Amanda’s online sessions created for venues and groups during 2020/21 can be found on her website or get in touch to chat over possibilities.