A Year of Tress Medicine • Traditional Skills • Woodland Wisdom-

Discover the medicinal properties, folklore and seasonal gifts of Britain's trees with Rachel Owen, tree specialist, and Julia Behrens, medical herbalist. Over twelve inspiring months you'll learn to identify trees, understand their healing properties, make seasonal remedies, and reconnect with the ancient traditions that have linked people and trees for generations. is an invitation to slow down, observe the seasons, and rediscover the healing relationship between people and trees through knowledge, craft and tradition.

Course Highlights

Monthly practical workshops

Learn the medicinal uses of over 25 trees

Make herbal oils, ointments and seasonal remedies

Explore folklore, legends, traditional songs and woodland customs

Guest tutors and practical crafts

Two bonus online webinars included

Garden visit and Forest Garden inspiration

Exclusive discounts on selected Sunday workshops

Trees of Healing: A Seasonal Journey into Herbal Medicine

12th September – Autumn Remedies: Brain Tonics & Healing Oils

Featured Trees: Horse Chestnut & Ginkgo

Explore the remarkable medicinal history of Ginkgo, one of the world's oldest brain tonics, alongside the folklore and traditional uses of Horse Chestnut.

Take Home: Create your own infused herbal oil and healing ointment.

10th October – Woodland Medicine: Fungi, Tree Health & Hidden Partnerships

Discover the extraordinary relationship between fungi and trees and how woodland ecosystems support health, resilience and biodiversity.

Bonus Online Webinar: The Medicinal Properties of Mushrooms.

Special Offer: Discounted place on Julia's Sunday workshop exploring medicinal mushrooms in greater depth.

14th November – Willow – The Tree of Healing

From ancient pain relief to the origins of modern medicine, discover the remarkable story of Willow.

Special Guest: Katie. Learn traditional willow weaving and make your own small willow basket to take home. There will be an extra cost of materials for this one

12th December – Winter Evergreens & Nature's Christmas Apothecary

Featured Trees: Fir • Pine • Yew

Celebrate the festive season by exploring evergreen medicines, sacred resins including Frankincense and Myrrh, and winter folklore.

Practical Day: Create natural Christmas gifts, herbal remedies, festive decorations and seasonal treats inspired by nature.

16th January – Holly, Hornbeam & Beech

Winter Folklore, Ancient Songs & Woodland Legends

As the trees sleep, we'll explore centuries of folklore, traditional songs, customs and woodland legends while learning to identify trees through buds, bark and winter silhouettes.

20th February – Trees of Longevity

Featured Trees: Yew & Cedar

Discover two of the world's most iconic trees, exploring their symbolism, medicinal traditions and enduring place in history.

20th March – Reading the Woodland

Featured Trees: Blackthorn & Oak

Master practical tree identification using habitats, seasonal clues and key features while discovering the medicines hidden within these magnificent native trees.

24th April – Spring Awakening

Featured Trees: Elm • Birch • Hawthorn • Elderflower

Celebrate spring's abundance with cleansing remedies, blossom medicines and traditional spring tonics.

29th May – Rooted in Nature

Featured Trees: Hawthorn & Elder

Explore woodland ecology, healthy soils, root systems and sustainable harvesting while discovering two of our most valuable medicinal trees.

19th June – Summer Trees & Herbal Harvests

Featured Trees: Mulberry & Lime (Tilia)

Harvest the gifts of midsummer and learn how to prepare calming, nourishing and restorative tree medicines.

Summer Online Webinars

July – Surveying Trees & Recording the Landscape

Featured Trees: Sumach & Sea Buckthorn

Explore the benefits of trees on land and along the coast while learning practical surveying techniques, recording methods and essential field skills.

August – Forest Gardens & the Future

Come and discover the stories, science and healing traditions held within our trees. By the end of the year you will have developed the confidence to identify key species, understand their medicinal value, and deepen your relationship with the living landscape around you.

Our Tutors

Julia Behrens is a Medical Herbalist, author and educator with over 25 years' experience in herbal medicine, clinical practice and teaching. Since graduating with honours from the College of Phytotherapy in 2000, she has combined traditional herbal knowledge with modern scientific research to support people in reconnecting with the healing power of plants.Above all, I am passionate about reconnecting people to the healing power of plants and supporting a deeper awareness of the vital links between health, community, and the natural world.

Julia has worked alongside NHS GPs since 2013 at the Integrative Herstmonceux Health Centre, where she continues to receive referrals for complex conditions including Lyme disease and women's health. Her work focuses

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