About Us

Discover the power of plants for health, medicine, and for the brain.  Wander up a country lane in a panoramic stretch of Northumberland to find a uniquely peaceful garden nestled on the banks of a winding river.  Not only do visitors say its natural design has a remarkably soothing effect on the mind, but the latest scientific research now shows that certain traditionally used plants have significant effects to relieve anxiety, depression, insomnia and pain and to boost mood, memory and protect the brain.

Dilston Physic Garden has a distinct 21st century character, a physic garden steeped in the history of medicinal plants , but also in the modern science of how they work as medicines today. Wander winding pathways to discover over 800 medicinal plants with a focus on those for the brain – Dilston was established in the 1990’s because of the team’s scientific research showing sage and other European herbs boost memory. To take part in our next ‘Plants For Memory’ trial email info@dilstonphysicgarden.com.

Many plants contain a host of chemicals that can have a powerful effects when introduced into the body. Cutting edge drugs derived from plants are used by doctors, and whole plant extracts are used by medical herbalists worldwide to treat human ailments. Plant ingredients also promote health and act as preventative medicines – many are antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting and anti-cancer.

Beside each plant at the physic garden read the traditional herbal medical use, the science of what they do, including clinical evidence and medical drugs that come from plants, as well as the folklore and magic! Many visitors, especially children, like the folklore and magic better than the science.

Dilston Physic Garden embraces the natural beauty and importance of medicinal plants and organic growing methods.

Opening Times

WINTER OPENING October to March

Wednesdays and Saturdays 12-3pm  – we are closed December to February

SPRING OPENING April

Wednesdays & Saturdays 11am to 4pm

NOTE: we are not open when the temperature is on or below zero oC. Please bring suitable footwear for the muddy lane!

SUMMER OPENING May to September

Wednesday and Saturday 11am-4pm

Thursday 12-3pm

Every first Sunday of the month 12-3pm

(Thursdays & 1st Sundays are until further notice)

Parking For workshops & events please only park in our Top-up Car Park (directions) and enjoy the 5-10m flat walk to the physic garden.

Groups & Schools are welcome any day of the year by appointment and with a tour or class.

Dogs are welcome on a lead but please do not them pee on any plant or leave any waste.

Payment Please note we take cash, cheque and online payments but do not currently have a card machine.

Takeaway Drinks – enjoy our house Soothing & Uplifting Botanical Tea (fresh in season), BrainTeas, Botanical Hot Chocolate, cold drinks and Botanical Oaties (please note we do not have a cafe).

Explore Brain Trails including trails on plants proven by science to boost memory, mood and mind and a kid’s Explorer Trail.

Workshops We’re open all year for school & group visits and workshops & events – visit our workshop page for the latest courses or for our 10-day Foundation in Plant Medicine course click here.

Herbal Dispensary The Dilston Dispensary of Herbal Medicine will return in 2019 with medical herbalists in our new Physic Hut Dispensary – please call back to the website next Spring for more info. In the meantime we can recommend medicals herbalist in the North East area.

Lots to See & Do

Relax, take 2 minutes out, watch a snap shot of Dilston Physic Garden.  Come to unwind and take it easy, away from life’s hustle and bustle.  Relax on our aromatic Chamomile Lawn, wander the 100 Willow Coppice (dedicated to the commonest plant derived drug available) or our Medicinal Meadow.  Follow the Labyrinth,take a break at the AromaSeat and sit by the Tranquility Pool.

Make a wish at the Cloutie Tree or watch the Wind Sculpture.  Stop by the Time Space Zone (and see medicinal plants from round the world and through history) and soak up the sun at the SunDial Seat. Browse The Physic Shop with physic garden and locally produced botanical spirits, tinctures, creams, dried teas & more including our new book Botanical Brain Balms.  Grow your own physic garden – find select potted plants good for the brain.  In the summer visit our Dilston Dispensary of Herbal Medicine (click here for opening times) with registered medical herbalists.

Children enjoy the Witches Den, Drawing Hut, Croquet, Giant Chess, Explorer Trail and can book on Potion Club and Potion Club Extra.  Follow our other developing trails and activities – at Dilston we focus on plants that are good for mind and brain. In collaboration with the Bodyworks Centre we have just completed our first pilot trial testing a combination of 3 European plant extracts on word recall on volunteers – with results showing the group aged under 62 years, who took the extract improved in their ability to remember correctly by over 50%, compared to those who didn’t take it in the same age group. To take part in our next trial email info@dilstonphysicgarden.com.

Plants & Modern Medicine

Dilston Physic Garden is a Registered Charity for education.

With links to the University of Newcastle in several ways, including interactions with Northeast Universities Medicinal Plant Research Group (MPRG), educational visits from North East university medical students, groups from other university departments.

As well as taking interactive educational visits from schools, college and other groups, Dilston has research links to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and other research bodies.

  • Science Garden

    This physic garden has its origins in neuroscience.  Created by a professor of neurochemistry at the University of Newcastle and directed by a pharmacognosist (study of the science of medicinal plants) specialising in aromatic plants active in the brain, Dilston has a focus on botanical medicine for the brain and especially towards preventative medicine.  It is grounded in modern plant medicine and science and embraces sound evidence from a multidisciplinary and trans-boundary perspective.

  • Plants for Health

    One of the ideas behind why we exist is to help bridge the gap between traditional, so called complementary or alternative medicine.

    Modern science is providing the evidence to help do this.  Scientific studies from round the world show that herbs – the word is synonymous with medicinal plants, botanical medicine, plant medicine and medical botany – will become established, as they were in the past, as essential components in human health, development and medicine.  You only have to look at the hundreds of bioactive chemical components in each plant to realise the potential out there!

    Discover what plants can do for your health with the UK’s first 10-day Foundation in Plant Medicine (seasonal or mid-summer) discovery course. Visit our Dilston Dispensary of Herbal Medicine to find out more on plant medicine for you.

  • Specialist Interest

    A focus at Dilston is plants for the brain and you can enjoy plant collections of Blues Busters, Memory Matters, Herbal Highs, Plants for Pain and Sweet Dreams. But we have lots of other new additions – like our Labyrinth in the meadow – and areas of interest including the Chamomile Lawn, Tranquility Pool, Sundial Seat and Sage Garden as well as Magic & Medicine, Culinary, ‘Heart and Mind’, ‘Flower Power’, ‘Botanic Bliss’ and ‘Opium Den’ collections.

    Email info@dilstonphysicgarden.com if you’d like to take part in our next trial for botanical medicine to improve memory and concentration.

  • Essential Advice

    When visiting Dilston be aware that some plants are poisonous and can be fatal.

    Before taking any plant medicinally always seek advice from a registered medical herbalist and inform your health care provider if you have any type of physical or mental health condition, are pregnant, or taking medications. Certain plant medicines can interact with other medications.

    Also be sure of the identity of your plant and source plant medicines from a reputable source, read any caution and do not exceed the suggested dose or duration.  Heed hazard warnings regarding the use of plant essential oils.  For further information on preparations, dose, effects, side-effects, interactions with other drugs visit http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/ or consults a registered medical herbalist.

Volunteer

Our volunteers are central in caring for the plants at Dilston Physic Garden and say they experience many rewarding opportunities and in a number of different and exciting ways.
As well as keeping all of the physic garden herbs healthy and happy and harvesting them to make tea or to dry and package them, volunteers also show visitors around and answer questions.

We provide any training needed and volunteers pick up herbal tip bits, enjoy good company and the odd healthy herbal lunch!

Volunteers can be reimbursed for traveling expenses and also have the chance to join a workshop of their choice, free of charge. Just contact us to start your experience !

Volunteer
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What others say about us

“The most exquisite magical garden you could find”

A. Robson

“What a fantastic find! Thank you.”

L.S., Salford

“A beautiful and peaceful garden and a real source of inspiration.”

M.R., Newcastle

“Absolutely fabulous. Thank you.”

P.N, Sheffield

Welcome and Wassail – Saturday 7 January

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We invite you to join in an event which continues an ancient tradition while planting a legacy for the future. The physic garden is open from 12 noon – 2pm. Please feel free to bring snacks and sandwiches. From 1pm – 2pm, join in song and ceremony to toast our orchard trees. Wassail is an […]

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Celebrate the Winter Solstice Sunday 18th December 3.00pm – 8.00pm

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From the earliest times, our ancestors have welcomed the rebirth of the sun at the darkest point of the year. In this same spirit, we gather at first to mourn the death of the sun, and to let go of that which is fading and dying. We will then symbolically enact the turning of the year from […]

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Samhain Ceremony in the Physic Garden: Sunday 30th October 3.00pm – 7.00pm

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Samhain (summer’s end) is a festival of remembrance and honouring of our ancestors. It is said that at Samhain the veil that separates the worlds is at its thinnest. So our world, and that of the dead, blend as one. On this night of wonder and magic, the spirits of the otherworld are invited to […]

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