Coastal Herbalism

It’s been an absolute joy to focus on coastal herbs for healing - of all sorts, including trees, herbaceous perennials, macroalgae - in preparation for the workshops at the Scottish Seabird Centre. These workshops are being run as part of their Winter Wonders Exhibition, which encourages visitors to discover the secret lives of local wildlife, witness the subtle shift in seasons as waders depart and seabirds return, and appreciate the soft glow of the setting sun across the coastal landscapes.

Their aim is to connect with nature in the Exhibition space which has been transformed with support from Reuse Scotland into a cosy nook to contemplate and engage with nature during these Winter months.

The workshops in the series range from crafting to candle-making, drawing to wildlife watching… and of course, Coastal Herbalism.

Herbalism is about so much more than, “Take this herb for that problem”… instead I think it’s about building a reciprocal connection with the web of life which we are just a little part of.

So I hope you feel encouraged to go gently out into the seaside and coastline, and feel connected with herb plants of all sorts. Maybe get to know a little about their properties. That way, the plants and algae become more than just part of the scenery, and you will start to grow in relationship with the plants and what they have to share.

Through the workshops I host either at my home and garden or in other settings such as the SSC, my aim is to give you a spark, an inspiration, for how you can deepen your relationship with the plants that give so generously to us.

If you’ve attended one of the workshops, I hope you will enjoy reviewing the recipes and ideas we talked about here. This webpage is for you to come back to and maybe try some of the recipes for yourself:

www.thehoneybeesanctuary.org/coastal-herbalism-recipes-and-resources