Speakers

Below is a list of speakers who can talk to your group on herb related topics. Click on the name for more details.

If you would like to be added to the speakers list then please contact info@herbsociety.org.uk. We would be grateful if speakers could promote the Herb Society when giving talks. Please see the Herb Society introductory presentation here Herb Society Introduction Presentation 2021

Brigitte Kaltenbacher

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

Comments: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, it’s history, it’s value as a dye plant, and as an important support of local wildlife. Long revered as 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.

Julija Milovanova-Palmer BSc MA MCPP MNIMH

Area: West London, will travel around London
Email: juliamilova@gmail.com
Comments: Women’s health (fertility, menopause, gynaecological conditions), mum and baby, elderly, herbs and dentistry. Herbal walks with elements on plant identification, medicinal uses, foraging, folklore, current research. In the past delivered workshops with emphasis on herbal pharmacy and herbal remedies making titled “Kitchen Pharmacy”, “Liver Cleanse and Digestive Health”, “Herbs for Energy and Stamina”, “Skin health”, “Herbal First Aid”.

Elena Renier, MNIMH, Medical Herbalist and Nutritionist

Area: West London based, will travel within UK
Email:elenarenier@herbalistamedica.info
Website: https://herbalistamedica.info
Comments:I have been a Member of NIMH for 15 years and have incorporated fungi in my treatment plans for ten years. Having delivered a numbered 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: https://herbalistamedica.info
Comments:Offers talks, walks and workshops rediscovering local plant identification, foraging guidance, folklore, plant uses and herbal remedy making.

Julia Behrens Medical Herbalist BsC(Hons) MCPP

Area: East Sussex
Email: Julia@herbal-consultant.com 
Website: www.herbal-consultant.com
Comments:Medical Herbalist

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 a 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 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
Comments:

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:

Permenopause Friends and Foes, The Herbal Treatment of Problem Periods, Fasting for Females, Juicing and Detoxification 101 and Herbal Medicine & Naturopathy for Mental Wellbeing. 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
Comments: 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 and 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
Comments:

Victoria is 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 it’s 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.

Michele Daramat

Area: Cardiff + < 1h by train Cardiff and am willing to travel
Email: michele.daramat@gmail.com 
Telephone: 07754 070058
Comments: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)
Comments: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.

Anne Stobart MCPP

Area: Based near Exeter, Devon. West Country and Wales. Fee £80 plus travel at cost.
Email: a.stobart@herbaid.co.uk
Telephone: 01363 777531
Website:https://medicinalforestgardentrust.org
Comments:Anne Stobart is a longstanding member of the Herb Society and is a trained medical herbalist. She taught professional herbal medicine at Middlesex University in London until 2010. Anne has research interests in the history of herbal medicine and growing herbs sustainably, and she has a number of published books with Bloomsbury Academic and Permanent Publications. Anne has developed the Medicinal Forest Garden Trust and related short courses. Her talks include ‘Medicinal Forest Garden Design’, ‘Healing Trees and Shrubs’, and ‘Seventeenth-century Domestic Medicine’.

Hilary Loder DBTh

Area: Dorset
Email: hilaryloder@hotmail.co.uk
Comments: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.

Sarah Donoghue ND Dip. Herb (member of URHP)

Area: Cornwall
Email:sarah@alchemilla.co
Website: https://alchemilla.co/

Sarah is the owner of Alchemilla apothecary, a small herbal dispensary and wellness clinic on the Cornish coast. She has been in practice for 13 years after qualifying the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London. Her special interests lie in the treatment of skin conditions and using herbs to support people with anxiety and PTSD.
She has a passion for the manufacture of tinctures and syrups, and collaborates with local growers and landowners to create her own unique formulations.She also enjoys collecting old herbals and has a keen interest in folklore.
She offers talks on a wide range of herbal topics and is open to suggestions for specialist talks. She particularly enjoys speaking on the topic of herbal vinegars, swichels, shrubs and syrups.
Speaker fee is approx £80.00 ( please contact for exact quote).

Dilys Griffiths, Medical Herbalist DBTh MURHP

Area: Carmarthenshire
Email: dilys@balmdinefwr.com
Telephone: 07855 673096
Website: www.balmdinefwr.wales
Comments: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 that their symptoms.I am happy to give talks through the medium of Welsh, English or bilingual, according to the individual need 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 for talk and travelling costs at 45p per mile if travelling over 5 miles. 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 50 mile radius of Frome, Somerset
Email: carriepakenham@gmail.com
Telephone: 01373 830312
Comments:Talk titles include ‘The Cultivation and Uses of Unusual Herbs’ and ‘Getting Ready for Winter.’
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
Comments: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.

Drew Spellar

Area: Wales and Welsh Borders
Email: drewspellar@gmail.com
Telephone: 07833 453227
Comments: Talk titles include ‘Making the most from your Herbs – from sowing to storing’ and ‘Creating and Maintaining a Herb Garden.’
I bring a range of my homegrown herbs. I am flexible to tailor a talk to your specific audience.

Lynda Warren

Area: Happy to travel any reasonable distance, available for morning, afternoon and evening talks
Email: Lyndawarren453@gmail.com
Telephone: 01793 771453
Website: www.aspoonfulofherbs.co.uk
Comments: Talks include:
A Spoonful of Herbs 1: From sowing and growing to harvesting and preserving
A Spoonful of Herbs 2: Herbs in cookery, health and beauty
Sugar and Spice: A look at the history and uses of spices and sugar

I consider myself primarily a writer and researcher, as well as a public speaker.  After a career in television and theatre, I moved on to  producing and writing educational events, this has taken me to New York, Florida, Barcelona, Paris, London and Skegness!  I have given talks to all types of groups, with a wide range of audience numbers for the past 40+ years.
I hold full Public Liability Insurance and Enhanced DBS Clearance for working with children and vulnerable adults.  

Cost on application, dependant on distance.

Julie Dore MNIMH Medical Herbalist

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
Comments: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 
Comments: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)

Dalbinder Bains MNIMH, BANT Medical Herbalist & Nutr.  Therapist

Area: Northwest through to Midlands
Email: dalbinderbains@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone: 0151 427 1040 / 07841 393775
Website: dalbinderbains.co.uk
Comments:Happy to talk about most health related topics and relate to herbs and nutritional and functional medicine.

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

Area: Greater Manchester and Cheshire mainly
Email: carolinedaniel@sky.com
Telephone: 07736964479
Comments: 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
Comments: NIMH Medical Herbalist and Master NLP Practitioner

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

Email: barbara_wilkinson101@hotmail.com 
Telephone: 07771727569
Comments:Medical Herbalist and Trustee 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
Telephone: 01625 539166
Website: www.blackbrookherbgardens.co.uk
Comments: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: info@essenceofthesoul.co.uk
Telephone: 07717186647
Website: www.essenceofthesoul.co.uk
Comments: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.allabouttheherbs.co.uk
Comments: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@rhodesrootsandremedies.co.uk
Website: www.rhodesrootsandremedies.co.uk
Comments:

I’m a qualified herbal medicine practitioner and the founder of Rhodes Roots & Remedies. 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.

Malcolm Dickson, Owner Hooksgreen Herbs Nursery, Trustee Herb Society

Area: Nationwide
Email: sales@hooksgreenherbs.com
Telephone: 07977883810
Website: www.hooksgreenherbs.com
Comments:Malcolm uses power point presentations.  Titles include “Showing and Growing Herbs” and “Herbs through the Season”.

Trudy Norris Consulting Medical Herbalist

Area: Scunthorpe, South Humberside
Email: trudynorris.nimh@ntlworld.com 
Telephone: 07745577503

Rowan McOnegal, BA Hons . Cert. Herbal Medicine

Area: Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire
Email: rowanmconegal@hotmail.com
Website: rowanmconegal.co.uk
Comments: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.

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
Comments:

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.

Colette Jones PhD BSc Dip Herbology RBGE

Area: Willing to travel, please enquire
Email: gardenherbs33@gmail.com
Telephone: 01224 592 390
Website: www.facebook.com/Garden-Herbs-505428139595014
Comments:Colette Jones is a trained herbologist growing and processing herbs for use in the home. Colette’s interest in medicinal herbs began when working as a research scientist for the British Medical Research Council (MRC) in the Gambia West Africa she noticed that Gambians had more confidence in the bone-mending skills of local healers to those of the MRC clinic.On returning to the UK Colette trained in Horticulture at Myerscough College, Lancashire and worked in the landscape industry for five years. Moving to Aberdeen in 2007 Colette started to grow a wider collection of herbs to use in cooking, remedies and cosmetics and in 2014 was awarded a Diploma in Herbology from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Colette writes short articles for newsletters; advises on cultivating herbs; runs herb workshops; and is a founder member of the NE Scotland Herb Group.Illustrated talks on herbs can be tailored to the interests of the
audience, please enquire. Topics for talks include:

Six Herbs: an introduction to herbal traditions through stories of six
garden plants.
Using herbs: processing home-grown herbs for everyday use in medicines
and cooking
Herbs and the urinary system
Healing properties of rock garden plants

Hosts need to provide all AV equipment if illustrated talk using images
required.
Fee to cover travel & accommodation expenses only.