The Historical Herbologist

The Historical Herbologist Hello, I'm Kayleigh, also known as The Historical Herbologist!

🌱 Discover, create & connect with nature
🌱 The Herb Society Ambassador
🌱 Workshops, Talks & Apothecary Store
🌱 Learn more πŸ‘‡
🌱www.thehistoricalherbologist.com I am currently studying Herbology at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, with plans to graduate in the summer of 2025. My journey into the world of plants has deepened my interest in the intricate relationships between humans and nature

, particularly through the lens of ethnobotany. I enjoy uncovering how different cultures have utilised plants throughout history and the traditions, skills, and stories that have evolved with them. In addition to my studies, I run seasonal and nature-based events that emphasize slow living, encouraging participants to reconnect with the natural world through hands-on experiences to promote physical and mental well-being. Whether through foraging walks, workshops on herbal remedies and recipes, or crafting with natural materials, my mission is to create spaces where individuals can learn, grow, and cultivate a deeper understanding of the plant kingdom and its applications in everyday life. I've previously collaborated with various brands, organisations, and charitable institutions, including Asics, Walton Charity, and Watt's Gallery, by hosting workshops and events, as well as providing consultation and support for exhibitions and literature. If you're interested in exploring the fascinating world of flora and fauna while learning new skills and traditions, consider joining one of my upcoming workshops and events!

This really has been the merry month of May for me. To top it off, I'm incredibly proud to announce that I have joined t...
26/05/2026

This really has been the merry month of May for me. To top it off, I'm incredibly proud to announce that I have joined the Council of Trustees and Board of Directors for The Herb Society.Β πŸ’šπŸŒ±

I first joined The Herb Society in May 2024 as an Ambassador to help bring people together with a passion for herbs, whether through my workshops, shows, or talks! It's been a joy to meet so many like minded people! πŸ™Œ πŸ₯³

As you may know already, I'm an avid book lover and collector (with some dating back to the 1600s), so I could not be more delighted to be managing the Herb Society book club and book reviews going forward!Β πŸ“™πŸ“–

The Herb Society will be celebrating its 100th year next year and continues to inspire people to explore the wonderful world of herbs. Whether through art and culture, medicine, food, history, or horticulture, it has something for everyone. If you aren't a member already, it's only Β£40 a year with some incredible benefits! Link in bio πŸ”—πŸ‘†

21/05/2026

As ever, the stand at RHS Chelsea Flower Show is nothing short of spectacular and is always a delight to see! πŸ‘βœ¨

Inspiring the nation to look beyond the button (mushroom) by showcasing the amazing array of edible mushrooms you can grow in the UK like Lions Mane, Shiitake, Coral Tooth, Oyster, Chestnut and so much more! πŸ„ πŸ„β€πŸŸ«

Whether you use mushrooms for culinary or medicinal uses, their grow your own kits are so easy to use and so fun!

We're looking forward to stocking them online and instore soon!

A huge well deserved congratulations to for winning the RHS Sustainable Lifestyle Product 2026 for their Meadow Blend T...
19/05/2026

A huge well deserved congratulations to for winning the RHS Sustainable Lifestyle Product 2026 for their Meadow Blend Tea! ✨πŸ₯‡

Certified Wildlife Friendly Herbal Tea
A carefully handpicked mixture of chamomile, rose and lemon balm flowers and leaves from the Seilich meadow.

Seilich products are natural in the truest sense of the word; their ingredients having grown-up freely in a pure and wild place. They are based on powerful Scottish botanicals, handpicked from their wildflower meadow in the Lothians of Scotland. As well as being the source of ingredients, the meadows provide sanctuary for a variety of pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and beetles, so when you buy their products you can be sure that you're supporting nature too! 🐝 πŸ¦‹ 🐞 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Seilich's sustainable Herbal Tea and Skincare is available to buy online in our apothecary store and soon in person too! Link in bio πŸ”—πŸ‘†

Look what arrived today! 😍 πŸ“š 🎭 1906 Flowers from Shakespeare's Garden: A Posy from the Plays by Walter Crane (a man with...
11/05/2026

Look what arrived today! 😍 πŸ“š 🎭

1906 Flowers from Shakespeare's Garden: A Posy from the Plays by Walter Crane (a man with a very marvellous moustache!)πŸ₯Έ

I wonder, if you were personified as a plant, as Walter has done here, what would you choose? 🌿🌱

I love how Crane has personified the plants that Shakespeare references in his plays, and if you've ever been to one of my talks, the illustrations will be very familiar to you.

This beautiful book dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century, in the middle of the Edwardian era. 1906 was also the year the term "suffragettes" was coined, and they held their first march demanding the right to vote! ❎ ♀️

Shakespeare used flowers extensively in his plays to convey feelings, secret messages, and foreshadowing, using the language of flowers well before the Victorian craze of floriography took hold. One of the most frequently referenced passages is Ophelia's flower speech in Hamlet, where she uses the meanings to convey her grief, her lost innocence, and her contempt for the court.Β 

It's not just Hamlet that Shakespeare references flowers; you can also find key motifs mentioned in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo & Juliet, King Lear, Henry IV, The Tempest... I can go on!





When you end up on babysitting duty on David Attenborough's 100th birthday, there's only one thing to pop on the telly! ...
08/05/2026

When you end up on babysitting duty on David Attenborough's 100th birthday, there's only one thing to pop on the telly! πŸ’šπŸŒ±βœ¨

At 7 months, you're never too young to learn from the best! πŸ€“ 🌿 πŸ”Ž

Beltane blessings to you! ✨ πŸ”₯ πŸŒ• My lovely copy of Culpeper's "Complete Herbal" resting in the evening sun on our Hawthor...
01/05/2026

Beltane blessings to you! ✨ πŸ”₯ πŸŒ•
My lovely copy of Culpeper's "Complete Herbal" resting in the evening sun on our Hawthorn.
Be careful where you rest your head this evening.

Much like Samhain, Beltane represents a day where the veil between the two worlds is thin. If you fall into a slumber beneath a Hawthorn or Elder tree, you could be spirited away by the wee folk or the Elder Mother πŸ§šπŸ§™

"The fair maid who,
the first of May,
Goes to the fields at break of day,
And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree,
Will ever after handsome be."
- Charles Welsh 1901

Can you guess where I am? πŸ‘€ πŸ”Ž A little bit of fun, but I'll give you some clues!Most people pay attention to something b...
30/04/2026

Can you guess where I am? πŸ‘€ πŸ”Ž

A little bit of fun, but I'll give you some clues!

Most people pay attention to something bigger instead of these panels...

There are 162 panels featuring botanical illustrations most of which have medicinal use, although there are some ornamentals in there...

Illustrated by hand and have been on display to the public since 1881!

Look what I picked up today! ✨ 🀩 I have loved all the books by ever since I came across them when I first started lear...
29/04/2026

Look what I picked up today! ✨ 🀩 I have loved all the books by ever since I came across them when I first started learning about herbs! 🌱 πŸ’š I can't wait to spend this evening reading Christine's latest book and trying out some new recipes! πŸ“–

In fact ,I love The Herbal Apothecary and The Garden Apothecary so much I have both the Kindle copies and physical copies (plus you can purchase both of them in our online shop! πŸ”— πŸ‘† πŸ›οΈ )

What a gorgeous day and location for today's herbal tea blending workshop at β˜•πŸŒ±It is (not) unfortunate that I ended up ...
24/04/2026

What a gorgeous day and location for today's herbal tea blending workshop at β˜•πŸŒ±

It is (not) unfortunate that I ended up leaving with more herbs than I brought with me to be added to my herb garden 🀭

Don't worry if you haven't made it along to our workshops yet at any of our venues, more dates will be added soon! πŸ‘€ πŸŽͺ 🌱

22/04/2026

Herbal Apothecary () is a corporate member of The Herb Society.

Herbal Apothecary has been supporting medical herbalists for over 30 years. Based in Whitby, North Yorkshire, they produce one of the UK’s largest ranges of high-quality herbal tinctures and fluid extracts, alongside raw herbs, capsules, powders, base creams, and packaging supplies. They also source and supply bulk herbal ingredients.

In addition to their own products, they offer contract manufacturing for herbal medicines, cosmetics, and pet products. Clients can choose from our existing range, packaged to specification, or develop unique formulations for retail or bulk supply. With PhD-level chemists, academic links, and strong professional connections, they’re ideally placed for product development, formulation, testing, and analytical work. They also provide legislative and regulatory support. Services extend to clinical herbalist consultations, plus student placement opportunities & support for herbal medicine students. Orders can be placed online or by phone, with our friendly sales team ready to help.

Members of The Herb Society receive 5% off all Western, Ayurvedic and Chinese Herbs ordered online with Herbal Apothecary - to access the discount code you must be a member. Not a member yet? - What are you waiting for! Learn more about membership - link in our bio πŸ‘†

Find out more about Herbal Apothecary and our other Corporate Members on our website (https://herbsociety.org.uk/corporate-members) - link in our bio.

Happy Earth Day 🌎🐝🌱How lucky we are to share this space with such an incredible range of extraordinary plants and creatu...
22/04/2026

Happy Earth Day 🌎🐝🌱

How lucky we are to share this space with such an incredible range of extraordinary plants and creatures!

One of my favourite things to photograph is insects, (especially bees and ladybirds) going about their daily business,there's just something very calming about watching them πŸ’š 🐝 🐞 🌼

herbologist

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Bisley

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+441483363128

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