Sarah Frances
Sarah had a rural childhood on the East Anglian coast. Her mother’s homesteading life choices have imbued a lifetime of gardening, gathering, cultivating, preparing and preserving plant produce including remedy making. Working in arboriculture and obtaining Forest School Leader level 3 qualification has enabled the setting up of our ‘Woodlanding’ site at the farm where workshop and events are based.
Sarah also attended the Royal Botanic Gardens at Edinburgh to gain an a Diploma with Distinction in Herbology. This included designing, planting and growing an on-site herbal physic garden for medicinal harvest. Whilst studying in Edinburgh, Sarah began cultivating a herb garden at home in earnest. Subsequently invited to work seasonally at a Biodynamic Herb Nursery, immersive biodynamic practices were learnt in cultivation, seed cleaning, and harvesting medicinal herbs on a day-to-day basis. Gaining vital experience, these opportunities to work within a labour-intensive and incredibly meticulous approach to cultivating medicinal plants are deeply valuable.
Sarah has attended courses in botanical illustration at both RBGE and Cambridge Botanical Gardens, and has an honours degree in Art & Design from Bristol Art School. Being offered a festival residency at Alde Valley Spring Festival led to a permanent workshop placement at the farm - The Herbernaculum Studio. Previous working life was spent 15 years working alongside her partner in their tree surgery business. The work developed a deep passion for the conservation of natural landscapes, coupled with an intimate knowledge of our native flora. During this time, Sarah voluntarily trained with the NDTI to deliver The Families and Personalisation Programme, aimed at improving outcomes for people and families living with learning disabilities in East Anglia. The holistic ‘Seed to Syrup’ ethos of Herbology informs and reinforces her experiences living and working in this field.
Essentially, the natural remedial power of the trees and plant life that surround us is a subject close to her heart, and they have become key players in an increasingly important, holistic approach to family and community life.
Sarah hosts Herber & Co. Woodlanding & Herb Workshops and makes natural plant based soap and shampoo bars with herbs grown and foraged.
A qualified and practising Herbolgist and Forest School Leader with certification in Food hygiene, Outdoor First Aid, and DBS registered.
As a member of the Forest School Association our events are encoded with their philosophy, code of ethics, best practice in terms of health and safety, tool demonstrations, site surveys, insurance cover and inclusivity.
Herbology is the study of botany and the positive actions and qualities associated with specific plants.
These plants can be taken in many different forms such as infusions, decoctions and other liquid preparations and they may be applied topically as salves and balms, massage oils, bath preparations and soaps.
With a deep commitment to the grass roots tradition of plant use, our creative energy and approach to plant lore both informs and enthuses, as shown by the wonderful feedback received…
