In this weekend long workshop we shall be journeying into all things Hawthorn. This is a tree with a significant place in the fabric of social history of this land. On the Saturday morning of the workshop there will be an opportunity to explore some of this history alongside the tree’s ecological relationships to other plants, insects and animals. Hawthorn is also a potent provider of medicine as well as a food source which are some further ways that people have interacted with the tree over time. There will be examples of some of these and a few samples to try!
On Sunday morning the focus is on the folklore and mythology associated and connected to Hawthorn. Accompanying this will be images and tales of it’s recurring symbolism through time.
During the afternoon of each day the emphasis will shift to creative material possibilities from Hawthorn. This includes dye colours, paper, inks and tools, and will have time to use these materials to begin to build up a visual language of this magnificent and significant tree. Participants will go home with a collection of Hawthorn made creations at the end of the two days and well as a booklet containing some of the information covered over the course of the workshop.
Important information
Timings: 10.00am – 3.30pm both days
Booking fee: £130 (Information about bursary tickets available on their event webpage)
Booking enquiries: to Edward and Lucy via theoldmillgallery@gmail.com
Parking: for workshop and events we please use our top-up car park, thank you! Directions available here
Refreshments: Please bring lunch! Light snacks and teas available in the physic shop
For more information about visiting the garden see our Visit Us page. Please get in touch if you have queries/concerns about disability access via info@dilstonphysicgarden.com
About your hosts
This workshop will be hosted by Edward and Lucy, founders of Old Mill Arts studio, based in Palnackie, Dumfries and Galloway. Through Old Mill Arts, their aim is to create spaces for inquiry into the connection between creativity, spirit and our natural environment. For more information about the work Ed and Lucy are doing and other workshops available see their website: Old Mill Arts
For this workshop they have partnered with Sarah Jane Scouten, aka Juniper Wood Herbs, as part of their Trysting Trees project, which you can read all about here. Sarah Jane is a medical herbalist and songwriter, also based in Dumfries and Galloway. Originally from Canada, she dove deeply into the natural world of Britain during the pandemic and emerged with a herbal medicine practice and a collection of traditional ballads she calls The Herbal Songbook. Part of Trysting Trees, Sarah Jane will lead a practical workshop on the science and practice of making and taking hawthorn as medicine. Caution: singing may occur.
