The Garden
A physic (pronounced ‘fizz-ic’) garden is a garden where each plant growing has the power to heal as a medicine or to keep you healthy.
Grounded in the science of how each plant works, this garden has been created to educate on the medicinal and therapeutic uses of plants, and introduces an ecologically biodiverse habitat in the area, and a place for wellbeing in the community.
Wander winding paths to discover abundant plants, herbs and trees with properties for health and medicine, all in a natural-habitat environment. Visitors of all ages can learn more about plant medicine through our information signboards, tours and trails. Which provide not only the traditional and modern plant medicine use, but also the science and active ingredients, as well as the folklore and magic that bring each plant to life!
This physic garden is not only a place for mental wellbeing but also features local medicinal species that improve our mind too, with special collections of science-backed plants to enhance memory, mood, sleep and more.
Our Story
The garden was created 30years ago on former pastureland on the south bank of the Tyne Valley nestled above the flowing Dyvel’s Water. It is the inspired creation of the curator and prominent UK neuroscientist Professor emeritus Elaine Perry.
The Physic Garden team’s enduring work continues this community garden for all to enjoy and benefit from. Our pioneering scientific research into plants to support the mind and brain, showed that traditional plant medicines, like European sage improve memory, focus and attention. To take part in our clinical studies into safe plant medicine for enhancing the mind, email info@dilstonphysicgarden.com.
Natural-Habitat
Botanic Garden
At Dilston Physic Garden, we are pioneering rewilding and natural-habitat cultivation to restore biodiversity and revitalise our regional ecosystems. Unlike conventional botanic gardens, we focus on minimising human intervention to enhance the health of our natural environment. Our sustainable approach helps address biodiversity loss, improve air and water quality, mitigate climate risks like extreme heat and flooding, as well as promote physical and mental wellbeing in the community.
Over the past 30 years, our 2-acre site has evolved from agricultural land into a thriving natural habitat. Key practices include creating wild corridors directly in cultivated areas, minimal digging, and dispersed composting—all designed to enrich soil, support plant health, and foster a diverse and balanced ecosystem.
Did You Know?
Did you know that nearly 50% of modern medical drugs developed over the last 30 years come from plants? From aspirin, derived from white willow bark, to the pain-relieving morphine extracted from opium poppies, plant-based medicines have been integral to healthcare and offer a library of potential drugs. The Alzheimer’s drug galantamine comes from snowdrop and daffodil bulbs, while the powerful anticancer drug taxol is sourced from yew trees.
Plant medicine, however, offers more than just one active compound. Instead, it contains a blend of natural chemicals that work together, often resulting in fewer or no side effects compared to synthetic drugs. In fact, over 80% of the global population relies on plant-based remedies to treat common ailments. Here in the UK, National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH)-trained medical herbalists are equipped with the same rigorous training as GPs, using plant medicine to effectively address a wide range of conditions—from anxiety and insomnia to IBS and skin issues.
At Dilston Physic Garden, each plant comes with its own story. You’ll discover detailed information about its traditional uses in plant medicine, scientific studies like lab tests (in vitro = “test tube”; in vivo = “living model”), clinical trials, active compounds, and any medical drugs that may originate from the plant. Plus, we bring the folklore and magic of each plant to life, adding a touch of magic to the science.
In addition, while some plants can be toxic (making proper identification essential), many are also vital to our diet. Acting as natural preventive medicine, they are proven to boost health and help ward off disease —one more reason to consider adding a medicinal herb or two to your five-a-day!
Discover Wellness in Nature
The Chamomile Lawn invites visitors to walk and rest on it, to release its heavenly smell which acts as a relaxant and mild sedative.
A Culinary Zone truly inspires you to eat veg, containing edible medicinal plants with disease-preventative actions beyond their nutritional properties.
The Sage Garden is tribute to our forgotten European ‘cure-all’ herb that improves mood, memory and has a wide range of health-promoting properties.
A Medicinal Meadow is a rewilding project aiming to grow medicinal herbs in a natural, wander the paths and see if you recognise any local species.
The Labyrinth invites you to ask a question, and by the time you have walked its path and met the ‘minotaur’, you find the answer to your question.
