Herbal Wisdom Archives | Woodside Apothecary

Junior Herbalist Club Level One Easter School in Prestbury, Cheshire 30th March – 3rd April 2026

Cath Couzens — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:43:02 +0000

26th November 2025

Due to demand I have created a JHC Level One Easter School which will take place from Monday 30th March to Friday 3rd April at Prestbury Village Hall, with two classes each morning from 9.30am-12.00pm.

Ten lessons are delivered over the week and at the end of the week the children are given certificates of attendance and a badge and can ‘graduate’ into Level Two if they’d like to.

The classes are fun and relaxed with the children using magnifying glasses to look at the herb, making ‘lotions and potions’ to take home, trying herbal teas, creams, balms and glycerites to try new flavours and get to know the plants. We aim to get out when we can to identify the plants growing and to harvest herbs too.

Junior Herbalist Club (JHC) was started in 2014 as a local scheme in Lancashire.

All sessions are run by myself, a qualified Medical Herbalist who has undergone specific training in order to be able to deliver this course.

JHC has been planned so that each class the children build on their knowledge and skills. We start off with Lavender, a well-known and easily identifiable plant, and progress on to making sun-teas, infused oils, poultices, cordials, bath-bombs, and lip balms.

At the end of each session the children are given a worksheet to complete so they develop a portfolio of learning.

By the end of Level One, we hope that the children will be able to:

– Correctly identify many of the common medicinal plants growing in their gardens, parks, hedgerows and streets and that they will be able to distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous plants.

– Know the medicinal properties of many common plants.

– Understand how to use some of these plants in first aid and how to use some plants for making medicines.

– Enjoy listening to the stories and tales of folklore and history surrounding the plants and herbal medicine.

– Know how to cultivate and harvest plants whilst respecting their environment and all of nature.

The cost for the Easter School will be £250 for the whole week, covering 10 classes, payable in advance to secure your child’s place. This covers all tuition, all the herbs, equipment, materials and worksheets to take home. Children will take home their ‘makes’ each day as well.

This special week is limited to 10 children. Three spaces have already been reserved. Email me to receive further details and to register your child.

I look forward to seeing you for Junior Herbalist Easter School!

Cath

Cath Couzens, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

hello@woodsideapothecary.com

The post Junior Herbalist Club Level One Easter School in Prestbury, Cheshire 30th March – 3rd April 2026 appeared first on Woodside Apothecary.

Junior Herbalist Club, Monday afternoon monthly class for home ed children, Prestbury, Cheshire

Cath Couzens — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 16:52:38 +0000

7th July 2025

Due to demand I have created a JHC Level One class specifically to suit home education schedules, which will take place from Monday 15th September 2-3.30pm once a month at Prestbury Village Hall,

JHC is the only herbal medicine course created for children which is recognised by the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. It is delivered by fully qualified medical herbalists who’ve undergone specific training to teach the course.

The classes are fun and relaxed with the children using magnifying glasses to look at the herb, making simple remedies to take home, trying herbal teas, creams, balms and glycerites to try new flavours and get to know the plants. We aim to get out in the warmer months to identify the plants growing and to harvest herbs too.

Children uner 8 require a parent or guardian to stay with them and although children of 6 years have attended, it does suit slightly older children. Level Three has a minimum age os 12 years old.

Junior Herbalist Club – Notes for Grown Ups

Junior Herbalist Club (JHC) was started in 2014 as a local scheme in Lancashire and has proven to be both popular and successful with children unwilling to leave at the end of Level One, so Level Two and Three has now been created.

All sessions are run by myself, a qualified Medical Herbalist who has undergone specific training in order to be able to deliver this course. Ten lessons are delivered over the week and at the end of the week the children are given certificates of attendance and a badge and can ‘graduate’ into Level Two if they’d like to.

At the end of each session the children are given a worksheet to complete so they develop a portfolio of learning.

By the end of the course, we hope that the children will be able to:

– Correctly identify many of the common medicinal plants growing in their gardens, parks, hedgerows and streets and that they will be able to distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous plants.

– Know the medicinal properties of many common plants.

– Understand how to use some of these plants in first aid and how to use some plants for making medicines.

– Enjoy listening to the stories and tales of folklore and history surrounding the plants and herbal medicine.

– Know how to cultivate and harvest plants whilst respecting their environment and all of nature.

The cost for the classes will be £210 for the whole course, covering 10 classes, payable in advance to secure your child’s place. This covers all tuition, equipment, herbs and materials, plus a folder, worksheets and everything the children make to take home.

Email me to receive further details and to register your child!

I look forward to seeing you for Level One Junior Herbalist Club in September.

Cath

Cath Couzens, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

hello@woodsideapothecary.com

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Junior Herbalist Club Summer School in Prestbury, Cheshire 11th-15th August – SOLD OUT

Cath Couzens — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 09:55:52 +0000

9th June 2025

Due to demand I have created a JHC Level One Summer School which will take place from Monday 11th to Friday 15th August at Prestbury Village Hall, with two classes each morning from 9.30am-12.00pm.

Junior Herbalist Club – Notes for Grown Ups

At the end of each session the children are given a worksheet to complete so they develop a portfolio of learning.

By the end of the course, we hope that the children will be able to:

– Correctly identify many of the common medicinal plants growing in their gardens, parks, hedgerows and streets and that they will be able to distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous plants.

– Know the medicinal properties of many common plants.

– Understand how to use some of these plants in first aid and how to use some plants for making medicines.

– Enjoy listening to the stories and tales of folklore and history surrounding the plants and herbal medicine.

– Know how to cultivate and harvest plants whilst respecting their environment and all of nature.

The cost for the Summer School will be £210 for the whole week, covering 10 classes, payable in advance to secure your child’s place. This covers all tuition and materials and worksheets to take home.

Email me to receive further details and to register your child!

I look forward to seeing you for Summer School!

Cath

Cath Couzens, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

hello@woodsideapothecary.com

The post Junior Herbalist Club Summer School in Prestbury, Cheshire 11th-15th August – SOLD OUT appeared first on Woodside Apothecary.

New herb workshop ‘Into the Essence of Herbal Infusions’ at Plumleys Garden Centre, Cheshire

Cath Couzens — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:13:56 +0000

6th June 2025

New Cheshire herb workshop!

Join me on Thursday 3rd July at Plumleys Garden Centre for a herb workshop to learn all about herbal infusions and how I work with plant medicine in my dispensary.

You’ll blend your own herbal tea to take home after experiencing a whole host of tea tastings using all the senses. So often people say to me that they just don’t know what flavours they like and this is a great way to taste a selection of different herbal teas!

During the workshop you’ll also learn about some folklore and historical methods of working with the selection of seasonal herbs. In addition you’ll learn tips on harvesting, drying and storing herbs for teas and what to look out for when you’re buying or creating your own blends.

Why not bring a friend or one of the family – this event also makes a lovely gift for someone.

Tickets are £35 per person and must be booked in advance. You can book a space for this herb workshop here:

https://buytickets.at/woodsideapothecary1

So join me for a morning of herbal infusions, tea tastings and blending your own tea to take home from 11am-12.30pm on Thursday 3rd July at Plumleys Garden Centre.

I look forward to meeting you,

Cath

Cath Couzens, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

hello@woodsideapothecary.com

The post New herb workshop ‘Into the Essence of Herbal Infusions’ at Plumleys Garden Centre, Cheshire appeared first on Woodside Apothecary.

Into the Heart of Rose Workshop, 14th June, Prestbury, Cheshire

Cath Couzens — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 13:16:45 +0000

30th May 2025

Join me for a sensory workshop to learn all about Rose and how I work with this beautiful plant medicine in my dispensary.

During the morning you’ll discover the folklore, magic and historical associations of Rose, as well as experiencing an Organoleptic tea tasting, using all your senses to experience with this heart opening plant.

You’ll have the opportunity to sample different preparations of Rose including syrup, glycerite and teas and make a Rose spice blend to take home, as well as learn how to make Aromatic Rose Water.

Refreshments will be served during the morning and there’ll be plenty of delicious herbal teas during the session.

Everyone will go home with a bag of Apothecary Rose petals to make their own tea.

Why not bring a friend or one of the family – you can also buy gift vouchers.

Bring your notebook or journal to take notes, or an art journal and pens/art materials to record your experience.

You can book your ticket here:

https://buytickets.at/woodsideapothecary1/1508070

I’m looking forward to welcoming you into the heart of Rose.

Cath

Medical Herbalist

Founder, Woodside Apothecary

hello@woodsideapothecary.com

The post Into the Heart of Rose Workshop, 14th June, Prestbury, Cheshire appeared first on Woodside Apothecary.

Votes needed – Woodside Apothecary is a Regional Finalist as Best Wellbeing Specialist in Cheshire!

Cath Couzens — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 08:41:54 +0000

4th April 2025

I was thrilled this week to find out that several people have nominated Woodside Apothecary for the Best Wellbeing Specialist in Cheshire in the Muddy Stiletto Awards – I’m a regional finalist!

With Woodside Apothecary being a fledgling business less than three years old, this really means the world.

It was so tough re-training for five years and it meant a lot of sacrifices along the way, but I love being a herbalist and supporting people with their health, introducing them to herbal medicine.

I’d be so grateful for any votes you could send my way, I don’t have a physical shop to share my news, so would appreciate your help!

Having more awareness of herbal medicine and how it can help would be amazing.

Head over to this link to place your vote, the link is also on my Facebook and Instagram.

https://cheshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/awards/vote/

Voting closes at 1pm on 15th April.

Thank you ❤️

Cath

Medical Herbalist, MNIMH

Founder, Woodside Apothecary

hello@woodsideapothecary.com

Click Here to Book a 1:1 Hour

The post Votes needed – Woodside Apothecary is a Regional Finalist as Best Wellbeing Specialist in Cheshire! appeared first on Woodside Apothecary.

Junior Herbalist Club Cheshire – new intake September 2025

Cath Couzens — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 09:22:04 +0000

April 2025

Dates are now in the diary for the next intake of Level One Junior Herbalists Club, starting again in September 2025!

The aim of Junior Herbalist Club (JHC) is to let children learn about the healing and medicinal plants all around them in a safe and supervised environment, whilst covertly incorporating core subjects including English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Botany, Latin and Cookery. JHC also helps children to gain confidence, improve fine motor control and develop a new skill set.

Junior Herbalist Club (JHC) is a course for children which runs for 90 minutes, once a month, for 10 months of the year. My lessons run at Prestbury Village Hall, Cheshire from 1.30-3pm one Saturday a month. The children are taken on a journey of discovery, engaging all their senses with playful practical skills. A great way of engaging children is through making ‘lotions and potions’ to take home.

JHC Leaders undergo specific training and must be members of a professional association in order to deliver classes. Currently I’m the only Medical Herbalist offering Junor Herbalist Club classes in Cheshire.

JHC has been planned so that each month the children build on their knowledge and skills. We start off with Lavender, a well-known and easily identifiable plant, and progress on to making sun-teas, infused oils, poultices, cordials, bath-bombs, and lip balms.

At the end of each session the children are given a worksheet to complete so they develop a portfolio of learning.
By the end of the year, we hope that the children will be able to:

Correctly identify many of the common medicinal plants growing in their gardens, parks, hedgerows and streets and that they will be able to distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous plants.
Know the medicinal properties of many common plants.
Understand how to use some of these plants in first aid and how to use some plants for making medicines.
Enjoy listening to the stories and tales of folklore and history surrounding the plants and herbal medicine.
Know how to cultivate and harvest plants whilst respecting their environment and all of nature.

If you would like to register your child for the enxt intake fo Junior Herbalist Club, please email me for booking form details.

I look forward to welcoming your child to Junior Herbalist Club later in the year!

Cath

Medical Herbalist, MNIMH

Founder, Woodside Apothecary

hello@woodsideapothecary.com

Click Here to Book a 1:1 Hour

The post Junior Herbalist Club Cheshire – new intake September 2025 appeared first on Woodside Apothecary.

Are you a herbalist looking for business and marketing support?

Cath Couzens — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 14:12:51 +0000

Business mentoring for newly qualified herbalists and how to grow your practice.

Are you a recently qualified herbalist looking to develop your business and reach potential patients?

Maybe you’ve been in practice for longer, shied away from marketing your business and now need some support reaching new audiences?

You’ve found it here! I understand the challenges of launching a business and developing a successful practice.

I set up my very first company 20 years ago, focused on sales, marketing and PR which has helped me to grow my own herbal practice.

Now I can help you with the business challenges of how to launch and grow your herbal practice.

You can benefit from a 1:1 ‘ask me anything’ business support hour which is on Zoom, or book me for a longer project. Whether it’s how to develop a mailing list, launching workshops, writing a press release or growing your practice with new audiences – I can help you reach your potential.

Book a 1:1 using the link below or drop me an email and we can arrange a virtual chat discovery call with a herbal tea!

See you soon,

Cath

Medical Herbalist, MNIMH

Founder, Woodside Apothecary

hello@woodsideapothecary.com

Click Here to Book a 1:1 Hour

The post Are you a herbalist looking for business and marketing support? appeared first on Woodside Apothecary.

Autumn Equinox Herb Workshop – Into the Heart of Rose, Saturday 21st September

Cath Couzens — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 12:30:55 +0000

Join me for a sensory workshop for the Autumn Equinox to learn all about Rose and how I work with this beautiful plant medicine in my dispensary.

During the morning you’ll discover the folklore, magic and historical associations of Rose, as well as experiencing a tea tasting, using all your senses to experience with this heart opening plant.

Rose is historically known to support the physical and emotional heart, traditionally worked with for grief, anxiety and digesting emotions You’ll have the opportunity to sample different preparations of Rose including syrup, glycerite, teas and tinctures. I’ll also show you how to make your own Rose Water and you’ll get hands on and make your own Rose sugar to enjoy at home.

Everyone will also make up a bag of Apothecary Rose petals to take home.

Refreshments will be served during the morning and there’ll be plenty of delicious herbal teas during the session. Why not bring a friend or one of the family – you can also buy gift vouchers if you’d like to buy a present for a loved one.

Bring your notebook or journal to take notes, or an art journal and pens/art materials to record your experience.

I’m looking forward to welcoming you into the heart of Rose.

Cath

Medical Herbalist, MNIMH

Founder, Woodside Apothecary

Payment is in advance, T&C’s can be found under FAQ’s on the website.

Click Here to Book

The post Autumn Equinox Herb Workshop – Into the Heart of Rose, Saturday 21st September appeared first on Woodside Apothecary.

New Cheshire herb workshop – Learn how to make the winter tonic ‘Fire Cider’ (non-alcoholic)

Cath Couzens — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 14:07:35 +0000

Do you want to support your health for the winter months?

Join me this autumn to make Fire Cider and learn about all the powerhouse ingredients.

During the workshop I’ll talk you through the steps and we’ll make the Fire Cider together, you’ll learn about all the herbs we work with the science and the folklore and be given details on what to do next after the workshop.

Herbs will include Thyme, Rosemary, Garlic, Chilli, Ginger, Turmeric, Citrus, Onions and more.

This is a fun, hands on workshop and you’ll leave with lots of new knowledge and your jar of Fire Cider to enjoy over the winter months.

The dates are:

Saturday 5th October – in person at Prestbury Village Hall (10.00am-12.30pm)

Thursday 7th November – online, all the ingredients and equipment you need will be sent out to you (UK only) (7.00pm -8.15pm)

Saturday 9th November – in person at Prestbury Village Hall (10.00am – 12.30pm)

Tickets are £45 and you can book your space by emailing hello@woodsideapothecary.com or clicking the link below

I’m looking forward to welcoming in the winter season with you!

Cath

Payment is in advance, T&C’s can be found under FAQ’s on the website.

Click Here to Book

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