Courses/Workshops
Ross Menzies and Katrina Padmore enjoy teaching a range of workshops in various locations locally. The core of their teaching is a deeply personal connection with plants and the natural world. Ross is also a practising medical herbalist and teaches a range of herbal medicine workshops. Both Ross and Katrina are ordained as Interfaith ministers .
Here are some dates for 2024. For more information or to book a place,
please contact Ross Menzies on 07762 244381 or email rossherbalist@gmail.com.
Seasonal Foundation in Plant Medicine at Dilston Physic Garden, Corbridge, Northumberland
Ross Menzies co-teaches a 10 day in-depth herbal medicine course at Dilston Physic Garden in association with two other herbalists - Jill Schnabel and Sarah Hughes - and Nicolette Perry. This is a diploma course and is now recognised as a foundation training for Heartwood - a professional Herbal Medicine course. For more information on the Foundation in Plant Medicine, please visit www.dilstonphysicgarden.com
Wild Medicine, Wild Food at Dilston Physic Garden,
Corbridge, Northumberland
Saturday 18th May and Saturday 24th August, 10am - 4pm
Tutor: Ross Menzies
A walk in the countryside will never be the same again!! Discover how to identify, harvest and use many wild plants for medicine and food.
Recognising plants when out in nature, and working with them to make medicines and foods can be a wonderful journey of deepening your connection to the natural world. Becoming more aware of the meaning of symptoms and understanding which herbs can be used to help restore balance is a life affirming adventure.
This day will provide the skills, knowledge and confidence to start treating many minor ailments with plants and to begin using them to help stay healthy and vital. We will learn how to identify medicinal plants, which time of year to harvest them, which parts of each plant to use and and how to process them in order to make a range of medicines. In each of the courses we will focus on those plants that are most relevant at the time of year. You will make an ointment and a tincture to take home as well as several other preparations and we will also explore some of the delicious and nutritious foods to be found in the wild.
Ross has been a practicing herbalist for 20 years, and has a clinic in at his home in Hexhamshire. He is an experienced teacher and is passionate about sharing his enthusiasm and experience with others.
Booking – The course costs £60 - and a £30 deposit is required to secure a place, the full balance being paid on the day.
Plant Spirit Medicine - 2 day course at
Dilston Physic Garden, Corbridge, Northumberland
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June 2024 , 10am -4pm
Tutors: Ross Menzies and Katrina Padmore
Working with plants as living, evolved, complex beings and coming to them from a place of reverence, allows access to a deeper medicine. In this way plants can act as our allies and be profoundly helpful, not only for physical ailments, but also on our personal spiritual journey.
This is an opportunity to develop your capacity to access sacred experience. During the weekend you’ll find your own plant ally to work with at this stage in your life’s journey and prepare an essence from your plant to take home and use. Using a range of intuitive practices, including meditation, perceiving with the heart , using subtle senses and journeying to the beat of a drum, we will work towards a deeper connection with a number of our wonderful native medicinal plants and trees.
Please bring a packed lunch; hot drinks will be supplied. You may wish to bring a camera or sketch pad to help identification of plants after the course. Please bring waterproofs or an umbrella if it is wet, as the course will still run.
Cost: £120 for the 2 day course (deposit £60 on booking).
Embracing the Journey of Transformation -
an Autumn Retreat Day at the Peace Garden,
Minsteracres, nr. Consett, County Durham
Sunday 20 October, 10am - 4pm
Retreat facilitators: Katrina Padmore and Ross Menzies
A shared day of reflection, exploration and nourishment focusing on transformation, both personal and global, as we deepen into community with each other and the rest of the natural world.
Come and join us for a spacious day in the tranquility of the Peace Garden. We will have time to reflect, nourish ourselves and to seek guidance.
An opportunity to enjoy poetry and spiritual texts, meditation, reflective writing, working with intuition and simply bringing mindful awareness to being in nature.
Led by Ross and Katrina Menzies of Let's Get Growing, a gardening therapy project at Minsteracres, which helps people find healing and meaning through connecting with nature. Ross is a practising medical herbalist. Both Ross and Katrina are ordained as interfaith ministers
Booking info: Cost for each day is £60, to include seasonal, home-cooked lunch provided by us. (£30 deposit to be paid at time of booking please).