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 2021. For more details or to book a place, please contact Ross Menzies on 07762 244381.

Friday 15th May 2020, 10am – 4pm: '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).

07–09 May, 9–11 July, 18-19 September & 30-31 October 2021 (10-day course over 4 seasonal weekends)

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


Experience plant medicine through the seasons with our 4 weekend (10-day) discovery of the power of plants for health and medicine.  On this practical immersive course learn how to make safe home plant medicines across the seasons in the tranquil setting of the physic garden.


With our programme of study discover how to use medicinal plants to treat the minor ailments and health issues we encounter in everyday life.  Uncover some of the fascinating science, history and folklore behind the principles of plant medicine.  Each course is designed to be informative, friendly and fun, allowing you to make safe home botanical remedies for you (and your family) and are complete beginner’s guides – no previous knowledge needed.

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 (or £650 if booked before 01 December)
*Note we have a maximum of 14 participants per course. Payment can be made in monthly instalments.

Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st May 2020, 10am - 4pm: '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).

Develop your intuitive senses to work with plants for mind, body and spirit. During the day, you’ll find your own plant ally to work with at this stage your in life’s journey and we’ll prepare an essence from your plant to take home and use. Using a range of practices, we’ll work with a number of our wonderful native medicinal plants and trees.


Drinks and a delicious Garden Station lunch wil be provided. Please bring a notebook and pen, and camera if you wish, to help with plant identification after the course. Please bring waterproofs and an umbrella if the weather is wet, as the course will still run.


Cost: £60 (minimum deposit of £20 on booking)


Saturday 3rd October 2020, 10am - 4pm: 'Nature as Companion, Healer and Teacher' - a one day retreat at Minsteracres Peace Garden, nr. Consett, County Durham with Ross Menzies and Katrina Padmore


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 feeling 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.


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