Charity Registration
We were pleased to hear that our application to register as a charity has been accepted (charity no. 11020141). We are currently looking at ways to develop the educational aims of the garden. Ideas include a range of information booklets for visitors with detailed histories of some of the herbs and their uses, as well as a more general souvenir booklet with tried and tested recipes for herb teas and cakes. We are also looking at possible ways to link into the school curriculum in order to make the garden available to school groups - if anyone can help us with this, please do get in touch. New President for Dilston Physic Garden
We are truly delighted to welcome as our president, Mrs Anya Ridley, Professor of Visual Neuroscience at Newcastle University. She joins our existing team of trustees, Elaine Perry, Nicolette Perry, Charles Beaumont, Liz Devonport, Helen Stephenson and Ross Menzies. Artist in Residence - Jean Dawes
Local artist, Jean Dawes, has joined us at the Physic Garden as Artist in Residence. Jean lives in Ulgham, near Morpeth and, since retiring from a position with the Medical Research Council, has developed her lifelong love of painting in oils and acrylics. A keen flower arranger, Jean is fascinated by the beauty of plants and flowers and their use in healing and medicine. Jean is currently working on a series of paintings depicting the healing properties of the plants at the Physic Garden. There will be an exhibition of these paintings at THE ARTWORKS GALLERIES on the Ouseburn, Gateshead throughout July, with 50% of proceeds being donated to support the work of DPG. There is a preview evening on Thursday 3rd July between 6.30 and 9pm. Further details from www.theartworksgalleries.com Lottery Success
We were fortunate at the end of 2006 to receive lottery funding to relace all the old home-produced plant signs with professional ones. Local sign-maker, Robin Watson, came up with an attractive and eminently practical design and these are now all in place. Thanks to some detailed research by Elaine, we have been able to update and expand the information contained on the original signs. This means that visitors to the garden now have access to an unusual and eclectic database of the 600+ plants in the garden. Details include folk/magical associations, traditional medical herbalist uses and up-to-date scientific, clinical evidence. Staff
Garden owner, Elaine Perry, continues to work as Professor of Neurochemical Pathology at Newcastle University and at King's College, London. When she is not busy researching possible uses of herbs to treat disorders and diseases of the brain, she welcomes spending time at home developing the physic garden. She is particularly intersested in creating dialogue between the worlds of medical science and complementary therapies and in possible future research opportunities involving the physic garden. Consultant Herbalist, Ross Menzies, runs a clinic in Hexham. He has been in Practice for 9 years and treats patients with a wide variety of imbalances. As well as seeing patients, Ross runs regular courses on herbal medicine, has lectured on a Complementary Therapies degree course and tutored Herbal Medicine students. Ross has a particular interest in getting to know plants and trees on a deeper level, rather than just seeing them as a collection of chemicals that can be of medicinal benefit to us. He believes that herbal medicine works on many different levels and draws from scientific research, herbal tradition and a more shamanic understanding of plants. His courses reflect this broad view of herbal medicine. Garden Manager, Katrina Padmore, has been working hard over the last two years to set up structures which enable this small organisation to run smoothly and to move towards greater financial stability. She didn't ever expect to find herself on a book-keeping course, but this has been one small part of a surprisingly varied job. She finds it particularly rewarding to help create a healing space, where visitors are can relax and feel genuinely welcome. However, her greatest pleasure is still to get her hands into the soil and get down to some gardening! Fellow gardener, Maggie Grainger, is now a crucial part of the team. We are very glad that, after 20 years in the NHS, she chose to leave her job as a ward sister and, whilst currently considering future options, is working with us at Dilston. We greatly appreciate her intelligence, loyalty and commitment to all that happens here and indeed to all things alternative. We like to think we can take credit for offering her some inspiration in return, as she embarks on a medical herbalism course this autumn. Volunteers
We consider ourselves lucky to have a small team of enthusiastic volunteers, who help to maintain the physic garden and keep it open to the public. They bring with them a range of skills and a real sense of community. By way of appreciation, we like to offer regular volunteers a free place on any of our courses, subject to availability. Current volunteer Sue Lowrie has this to say:- "In 2006 I was looking for a volunteer gardening experience ‘with a difference’. When I visited Dilston in the late summer, I really felt enthused by the purpose of the garden and the feel of the environment. So, I was overjoyed to be accepted as a potential compost-carrying, soil-digging, wheelbarrow-toting garden helper and so I remain! I have learned so much about these amazing plants and also about myself – whilst gardening - a giant furry orange-bottomed bee mumbles past or an unusual insect decides to land on my hand, a frond of leaves exudes an amazing aroma, the sunlight shines magenta through the maple leaves – nothing stays the same. I hope that by giving something back in the little that I do there, others will enjoy the experience of the Garden as I do – with renewed senses and impressions." If anyone is interested in joining us as a volunteer, please contact Katrina on 01434 673593 or email katrina_padmore@yahoo.co.uk Courses
This year we are offering a wider range of courses - for full details, please go to our courses page. Plants for Sale
Last year students at neighbouring Dilston College - a specialist MENCAP college for students with learning difficulties/disabilities made a fantastic job of doing some propagating for us and we look forward to continuing this collaberative venture in 2008. Herbs for sale will include:- Caraway, Chamomile, Chives, Comfrey, Fennel, Lemon Balm, Parsley, Peppermint, Soapwort, Thyme and Sage (purple and broad-leaved). Remembered Memories
Do you remember any herbal remedies used by your parents or granparents? A new initiative called Ethnomedica, which is based at Kew Gardens, is trying to collect such memories to establish a database to "honour the knowledge and wisdom of our older people and help benefit future generations". For further information, click here. |
