Rowan McOnegal - Growing Herbs for Scent (A Practical Session)

Rowan has advocated the living tradition of herbal medicine through teaching practical courses, writing and lecturing. She aims to raise awareness of environmental issues, to teach people about the qualities of common, easily found plants to make simple remedies, thus empowering people to look after themselves and to nurture and value their environment – to care for the soil.

Having studied herbal medicine at the School of Herbal Medicine (Phytotherapy), and botany at the University of Birmingham, Rowan qualified as a medical herbalist in 1990. Privileged to have learnt from Christopher Hedley (her first teacher), Carol and Stephen Church, Carole Guyett and many others, she was a consultant Medical Herbalist for many years, growing and making most of her own medicines, whilst teaching others to do likewise.

Rowan has created gardens; photographed, drawn and painted plants; established a comprehensive photographic library of herbs and wildflower portraits that has been used internationally; travelled extensively to research traditional uses of herbs, and been fascinated by the role plants have in shaping cultures.