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 All at the Weald and Downland open Air Museum, Singleton. West Sussex
www.wealddown.co.uk
Email: courses@wealddown.co.uk
Tel: 01243 811464
Herbs for a cottage garden.
Friday May 25th.
Photo by permission Weald and Downland open Air Museum.
When is a flower not a flower? When it is also a herb. Discover the hidden uses of familiar garden flowers from the herbaceous border. The importance of fragrance, beauty, and, above all, usefulness when choosing plants to grow, continued from the Medieval period to the Industrial Revolution. Forgotten uses will emerge as we explore all aspects of growing, maintaining and harvesting traditional, popular garden plants. These will include Lilies, Hollyhock, Golden Rod, Roses, Mallows, Soapwort, Dahlias, Aquilegia, Sunflower, Iris and the smaller Violets, Houseleek etc. Samples of wines, dyed materials, remedies and skincare products will inspire a choice of designing your own ideal border or plot for personal needs or making recipes.
9.30-4.30pm. £50.
 15th Century herbs in Daily life.
Friday 15th June 2012
Photo by permission Weald and Downland open Air Museum.
From household accounts, cookery recipes and leechbooks comes a wealth of information and recipes using herbs as flavourings, colourings, preservatives, fragrances, medicines and pest repellents. In making recipes participants will learn balancing herb flavours in sweet and savoury dishes, and complimentary herbs in medicinal teas . Scented water for washing, blending fragrance and protection in strewing herbs and decorating the house for special occasions, will bring the past to life. Sage, parsley, garlic, tansy, pot marigolds, rosemary, saffron, and wormwood are some of the herbs used and discussed on the day.
9.30-4.30pm. £50.
Secrets of the Stillroom
Saturday 16th June 2012.
At the hub of the large houses over the centuries from Tudor to late Georgian periods was the stillroom. In early times, often a separate building in the gardens for safety and easy access, later part of the house, this was where all manner of herbs, fruits and sweetmeats were prepared. Distilling waters for cosmetics and medicine; drying and powdering herbs for mixtures; making lotions and cream, salves, candied fruits, syrups, honeys and medicinal tinctures and liqueurs, were all part of the daily round. Preserves needed to be stocked for the winter months, which made the summer doubly busy.
This day seeks to give a fragrant and busy experience of the tastes, scents and textures experienced across the centuries, coming to identify herbs of importance and making original recipes. Herbs to be featured on the day will include roses, pot marigold, angelica, marshmallow, rosemary, sage, smallage and lovage.
9.30 - 4.30pm. £50
 Herbs for Health
Saturday June 30th.
Sunday July 1st - Reserved day.
From the cottage herbaceous border of the past we identify suitable herbs to supply home remedies for a small medicinal garden today. Guided by medical herbalist Christina Stapley, this is a day to learn about practical and safe home use of herbs.
Follow the stages of gathering to drying and storing for use in herb teas, foot or handbaths and soothing pillows. Learn how to preserve fresh herbs in honey or honey syrups, oils or vinegars. Historical and modern recipes provide applications in treating everything from insect bites to sore throats or diarrhoea. Effective traditional herbs featured include marshmallow, elder, fennel, chamomile, lemon balm, houseleek, sage, thyme, lavender and more.
9.30 - 4.30pm. £50.
 The Beauty Closet in the 18th Century.
A day of informative fun, exploring the beauty secrets of ladies from the past following the perennial quest to be the most admired at social gatherings. We will look at the relationship between cosmetics of the day, hair styles and costume. The notion of exactly what constitutes beauty varies over the ages, but as we make original recipes we will find several remain relevant today.
From distilled herbal waters for the complexion to depilatories, hair and dental care, there will be a fascinating choice of beauty aids to discuss. Some we will make and try ourselves. Ingredients include the expected, the exotic and the plain surprising. We will use familiar herbs such as rosemary, lavender, sage, southernwood, angelica and fennel, together with gum resins, orris and liquorice roots, orange flower and other Aromatic Waters; frankincense and myrrh. From hair colourings to sweetening the breath and softening and treating the feet- there will be something for everyone, with creams, washes, colourings and powders.
Saturday 14th July 2012. 9.30 - 4.30pm. £50.
 Herb walk around the Museum.
Sunday July 15th.
Photo by permission Weald and Downland open Air Museum.
By popular request this day gives the opportunity to explore not only the numerous gardens in the Museum, but many out of the way places between. On a relaxed, guided tour with a difference, Christina will unlock the secrets of herbal folklore and uses of plants growing in the woods, hedges, alongside tracks and by the water. There is sure to be some wildlife in evidence as a bonus. There will be details of medical applications of the herbs, past and present alike, edible weeds, dyes, pest repellents and more.
Whether your interest is in botany, beauty, fragrance, flavours for cookery, times of gathering, safe use, recognising dangerous plants, or country lore – there will be fascinating discoveries for all. The wide range of habitats at the Museum will ensure an interesting day with an occasional opportunity to rest.
9.30 - 4.30pm. £50.
 Introducing plants to Young People.
Saturday 25th August 2012.
Photo by permission Weald and Downland open Air Museum.
From the earliest times plant recognition – whether of foods or medicinal herbs, has been vital for the survival of mankind. Today our children’s lives are centred on computing technology, largely unconnected with the natural world around us. Few young people are able to identify even 6 wild herbs. In order to reverse this trend we need to capture their interest by helping them to identify, experience and come to value, plants. We will explore their scents, unique and often amusing characteristics. We will delve into their stories and herbal uses for material to draw children in and make preserving specimens as a record for the future an attractive idea.
On this day expect to gather herbs, explore their stories through folklore and uses, note their beauty or eccentricity and learn to preserve samples as a record. This will be a great workshop for grandparents, teachers, and anyone caring for children.
9.30-4.30pm. £50.
Let Food Be Your Medicine.
Friday 14th September 2012.
From the beginnings of Western medicine in ancient Greece this instruction on food was followed for many centuries. We find diet given importance in Roman health advice with heating and cooling foods and those good or bad for different organs specified. This theme continued into the era of the medieval health handbooks.
In the last century the emphasis changed to the chemistry of foods and led into taking vitamin supplements. This day is about more than simple nutrition. It includes food quality, diets for specific conditions, the role of herbs in reducing sugar and salt and adding digestive and supportive properties together with vitamins and minerals. Herbs featured will include lovage, savory, sage, sweet cicely and rosemary. Living foods with sprouted seeds and herbs better known as spices will be included in simple recipes to offer delicious tastes from past and present. Here is a medicine which does not need sugar to make it acceptable, it is medicine to enjoy.
9.30 - 4.30pm. £50.
 An A-Z of Medicinal Trees.
Saturday September 15th.
Come and explore the woods, folklore and historical herbal recipes containing products from trees. A walk in the Museum grounds offers us familiarity with identifying native and introduced trees. The scope of the day widens this list to include North American and exotic additions to our historical Pharmacopoeia. Through pictures, products and making recipes we will look at the use of fruits, blossoms, leaves, barks, roots, wood, sap and resin to make medicines, splints for broken limbs, and even provide fuel for heating the recipe. Over millennia trees have also given foods, wines, spices, incense, dyes, inks and basketry materials. Adding a rich folklore enhances the day. Find out about the uses of ash, hawthorn, birch, elder, lime, horse chestnut, oak and willow. From America, sassafras, prickly ash and slippery elm. Not forgetting spice trees producing cloves and cinnamon and gum resin sources, Boswellia, Commiphora and Guaiacum.
9.30-4.30pm. £50.
Warming Winter Remedies.
Saturday 15th Decemeber 2012.
Comforting and easing the ills and chills of winter has always been part of the role of busy housewives and mothers. The woman’s role in the home has changed dramatically in the last century. However, the need to lift your own spirits and health, together with those of your family; remains the same as the dark nights close in. Herbs, spices, a little alcohol and preserved autumn fruits will be combined to make tempting recipes which are effective and enjoyable.
Recipes on this day, both historical and modern, will address the effects of winter from rheumatic aches and pains to coughs, colds and low spirits from too little sun. Making a delicious punch, health giving liqueurs, jellies, sweets and syrups are part of the workshop. Also advice on how to protect against winter infections, through supporting the immune system and general health. Herbs and spices included will be elderberry, bramble, bilberry, haws, hips, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, elecampane, peppermint, hyssop, rosemary and garlic.
9.30-4.30pm. £50.
 Christmas Herbal Decorations.
Sunday December 16th.
Photo by permission Weald and Downland open Air Museum.
This is a day to unwind from the stresses of preparing for Christmas as you enjoy making home decorations with natural materials. A Christmas wreath has a base of traditional greenery, enlivened with spices, herb seed heads, dried flowers and fruits, offering the opportunity for a unique effect. A natural table decoration reflects the tradition of bringing in the Yule log. This log is decorated with woodland fruits and a candle of your choice. Fun to make woodland animals and birds to hang from the tree use a selection of natural materials. A sleepy fur snowman can be filled with soothing herbs to delight young and old alike, or you can make a cinnamon sled carrying sacks of myrrh and frankincense, pulled by chenille reindeer.
9.30-4pm. £50.
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