BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:64@dilstonphysicgarden.com DTSTART:20260101T100000Z DTEND:20270911T123000Z DTSTAMP:20260216T161852Z URL:https://dilstonphysicgarden.com/events/junior-herbalist-club/ SUMMARY:Junior Herbalist Club 2026-2027 DESCRIPTION:Junior Herbalist Club (JHC) Dilston Physic Garden takes place a ll year\, every year with the support of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH). It aims to let children explore and learn about the es sential healing and medicinal plants around them in a safe and supervised environment. JHC meets at Dilston Physic Garden once a month from Septembe r through to July the following year and is led by NIMH medical herbalist Davina Hopkinson in 10 lessons\, with options to complete Levels 2 and 3 o ver a further 2 years.\n\nChildren’s learning includes\n\n Identificati on of common heritage medicinal plants growing all around them\n Safety – which herbs are safe to use and which are poisonous\n Folklore\, heri tage &\; history – taught through stories and songs\n How to grow an d harvest herbs\n Medicinal uses of common herbs\n How to use a variety of common herbs for first aid\n How to make a variety of herbal preparati ons to keep and take home\n Respect for all plants and their environment\ n\nBy the end of the year\, the children will be able to\n\n Correctly id entify many common medicinal plants growing in their gardens\, parks\, hed gerows and streets and distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous pla nts\n Know the medicinal properties of many common plants\n Understand h ow to use some of these plants in first aid and how to use some plants for making medicines\n Enjoy listening to the stories and tales of folklore and history surrounding the plants and plant medicine\n Know how to culti vate and harvest plants whilst respecting their environment and all of nat ure\n\nEach month focuses on one particular healing plant. Children are ta ught how to correctly identify the plant\, about the origins of the plant name (both common and botanical names) and about the plant’s habitat and life cycle. Next\, we look at the history and folklore surrounding the pl ant. This may include storytelling\, songs and humorous anecdotes! We then discuss the medicinal qualities of the plant\, the primary constituents r esponsible for the healing activity\, and the uses for the plant\, both in ternally and externally. Children are encouraged to participate in the dis cussion\, adding their own ideas and thoughts. Children are given a worksh eet after each session to be completed before the next meeting. This helps them to remember what we have learnt and acts as their very own portfolio of medicinal plant learning.\n\nEach month the children build on their kn owledge and skills. We start off with lavender\, the well-known and easily identifiable plant and make lavender bags and lavender-scented sugar and progress on to making sun-teas\, infused oils\, poultices\, cordials\, bat h-bombs and lip balms. In the second year\, the tasks become a little more complex\, building on the skill set developed in the first year and inclu de making marshmallows\, syrups\, lozenges\, salves\, creams and hydrosols .\n\nLevels 1\, 2 &\; 3 JHC is aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 12. Children aged 7 can come but will require a parent or guardian to stay with them during the class. Parents of children over the age of 8 are welcome to stay if they wish\, with purchase of Dilston Physic Garden's G arden Membership. Please note that we are not able to provide supervision or care for siblings not registered on the JHC course\, and that children must be supervised in the physic garden at all times. Please make sure tha t your child wears clothes suitable to the activities – comfortable old clothes\, and shoes or boots that can get muddy\, and bring a raincoat to each session as we always try to go outside\, even if it’s wet. From 202 5\, Davina will also be offering Level 3 for children 13+ who have complet ed the first two levels and want to continue to advanced classes.\n\nCost: £80.00 per year\, payable in advance to secure your child’s place. Thi s cost covers all tuition and materials. Children who attend regularly wil l receive an award and certificate of attendance at the end of the year.\n \nBooking: Booking are open for next year's course\, please contact NIMH m edical herbalist Davina Hopkinson davinaherbalist@gmail.com.\n\nDates: Lev el 1 &\; 2: The first Saturday of each month from September through to July\, with occasional exception: May &\; July being 2nd Saturday of th e month\, or subsequent Mondays for the Home Education group. Level 3: Dat es for 2026 TBC ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dilstonphysicgarden.com/wp-content/uploa ds/2023/07/DSF8554.png LOCATION:Dilston Physic Garden\, Dilston Physic Garden\, Dilston\, Corbridg e\, Northumberland\, NE45 5QZ\, United Kingdom X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Dilston Physic Garden\, Dil ston\, Corbridge\, Northumberland\, NE45 5QZ\, United Kingdom;X-APPLE-RADI US=100;X-TITLE=Dilston Physic Garden:geo:0,0 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR