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. Both Ross and Katrina are ordained as Interfaith ministers. Here are some dates for 2022. For more details or to book a place, please contact Ross Menzies on 07762 244381.


Sunday 19 June 2022 - 10am - 4pm
'Nature as companion, healer and teacher'
at the Peace Garden, Minsteracres, nr. Consett,
DH8 9RT

Mystics of all traditions agree that consciously deepening our connection with nature can inspire and inform our spiritual path.

This is a wonderful opportunity to spend a spacious day immersed in the tranquility of the Peace Garden. We will explore how to open ourselves to the full potential of working with nature as a support in facing life challenges, in discerning guidance and in connecting with our divine essence.

 

Tools to aid our enquiry will include poetry and spiritual texts, meditation, reflective writing, group sharing 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

 

Cost: £50, to include seasonal, home-cooked lunch provided by us. Please call Ross on 07762  244381, or email rossherbalist@gmail.com, to book a place. (£20 deposit to be paid at time of booking please).


'Seasonal Foundation in Plant Medicine' at Dilston Physic Garden, Corbridge, Northumberland

Friday 6th May – Sunday 8th May

Friday 8th July – Sunday 10th July

Saturday 17th September - Sunday 18th September

Saturday 29th October – Sunday 30th October


A unique course taking place over four seasonal weekends (10 days) in the tranquil setting of Dilston Physic Garden in Northumberland.


This hands-on series explores the health and medicinal value of plants and has been a huge success in the 10 years it has been running. The course is designed to be informative, friendly and fun and is run by qualified medical herbalists, a pharmacognosist and other professionals (– optional course). On completion you receive a Foundation in Plant Medicine diploma certificate.


Learn how to:

  • Explore plant medicine to effectively treat many common ailments, from infection to stress
  • Make safe plant medicines using common medicinal plants that grow nearby
  • Gain confidence to choose the right plant for the right situation including first-aid
  • Grow your own medicinal plants: identify, harvest, dry and safely store herbs for future use
  • Uncover fascinating facts behind the principles of plant medicine, including its folklore, history & science

NOTE: The Foundation Course in Plant Medicine is NOT a practitioner course and does not qualify you to become a herbal medicine practitioner or a qualified Medical Herbalist or to individually prescribe plant medicines in any form.  Always consult a registered medical herbalist and inform your health care provider before taking any plant at a medicinal level if you are pregnant, have any medical condition or are taking any medication. The Foundation course does however give you an in depth and working knowledge of plant medicine.

Ross Menzies co-teaches this course with two other herbalists Jill Schnabel and Sarah Hughes. It is also run in close association with Nicolette Perry and Professor Elaine Perry at Dilston Physic Garden.

To book or for more information email info@dilstonphysicgarden.com 07879 533875

10-day diploma £750
*Note we have a maximum of 14 participants per course. Payment can be made in monthly instalments.

Friday 13th May 2022, 10am – 4.30pm: 'Wild Medicine, Wild Food' at Dilston Physic Garden, nr. Corbridge, Northumberland with 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 and working with them to make medicines and foods is a wonderful journey, deepening your connection with the natural world. And being aware of the meaning of symptoms, and understanding which medicinal plants can be used to restore balance, is a life affirming adventure!

This day provides you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to start treating many minor ailments with plants and to use them to help you stay healthy and vital. Learn how to identify medicinal plants, when to harvest them, which parts to use and how to process them in order to make a range of medicines. We’ll make an ointment and a tincture to take home, as well as other preparations, and we’ll explore some delicious and nutritious foods which are found in the wild.


Ross has been a practicing herbalist for 20 years and has a clinic in Hexham and at his home in Hexhamshire and is an experienced teacher, passionate about sharing his knowledge with others. Hot drinks supplied, please bring a packed lunch, waterproofs or umbrella if it’s wet and a digital camera if you’d like to aid identification and/or a sketch pad.


Cost: £55 (£25 deposit to secure a place).

Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th July 2022, 10am - 4.30pm: 'Plant Spirit Medicine' at Dilston Physic Garden, Corbridge, Northumberland with 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 your in life’s journey and prepare an essence from your plant to take home and use. Using a range of practices, including meditation, dowsing and shamanic journeying, we’ll explore 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: £110 (deposit £50 on booking).

Saturday 27th August 2022, 10am – 4.30pm: 'Wild Medicine, Wild Food' at Dilston Physic Garden, nr. Corbridge, Northumberland with 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 and working with them to make medicines and foods is a wonderful journey, deepening your connection with the natural world. And being aware of the meaning of symptoms, and understanding which medicinal plants can be used to restore balance, is a life affirming adventure!

This day provides you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to start treating many minor ailments with plants and to use them to help you stay healthy and vital. Learn how to identify medicinal plants, when to harvest them, which parts to use and how to process them in order to make a range of medicines. We’ll make an ointment and a tincture to take home, as well as other preparations, and we’ll explore some delicious and nutritious foods which are found in the wild.


Ross has been a practicing herbalist for 20 years and has a clinic in Hexham and at his home in Hexhamshire and is an experienced teacher, passionate about sharing his knowledge with others. Hot drinks supplied, please bring a packed lunch, waterproofs or umbrella if it’s wet and a digital camera if you’d like to aid identification and/or a sketch pad.


Cost: £55 (£25 deposit to secure a place).
Sunday 9 October 2022 - 10am - 4pm
'Nature as companion, healer and teacher'
at the Peace Garden, Minsteracres, nr. Consett,
DH8 9RT

Mystics of all traditions agree that consciously deepening our connection with nature can inspire and inform our spiritual path.

This is a second opportunity to spend a spacious day immersed in the tranquility of the Peace Garden. We will explore how to open ourselves to the full potential of working with nature as a support in facing life challenges, in discerning guidance and in connecting with our divine essence.

 

Tools to aid our enquiry will include poetry and spiritual texts, meditation, reflective writing, group sharing 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

 

Cost: £50, to include seasonal, home-cooked lunch provided by us. Please call Ross on 07762  244381, or email rossherbalist@gmail.com, to book a place. (£20 deposit to be paid at time of booking please).