This month’s herb is little known to most people in England; although still native to the UK, it is found in the Northern latitudes and high mountains of Europe, Asia and America. In the British isles it is common in Scotland, on heaths and barren places in hilly districts, especially in the highlands and can be found as far south as Yorkshire and on the hills of the north-west of Ireland.

February is the month to collect the rhizomes for couch grass. Being a gardener I know this plant can be a real pest, difficult to clear and doesn’t have much of a place in anyone’s garden! Being a Herbalist, I love it! I have a special place my garden where I let it grow to its little heart’s content not just for collecting but also out of respect for this great plant healer.

This winter has been unusually mild so far and nature is confused, I have seen fields of Daffodils, Primroses in hedges and many other spring plants popping up in December! The Periwinkle is one plant that I am never surprised to see, its cheeky little blue face sneaks into any season. I find it in the frosts of winter and the drought of summer, somehow it is always there, not always in abundance but constant.

It has been a year since my first herbal blog last December and my herbal year has come full circle, once again celebrating the festive season. This December I have chosen the noble pine tree of which there are many species. The Pines, being evergreen trees are pillars of green in the woods and hedgerow, the only colour in the dullness of winter, reminding us of the green that will return in all its glory in the spring.

While scrunching through the dry colourful tapestry of autumn leaves in November, there are treasures to be found under the horse chestnut tree. I like to prize them from their spiny pods while they are still new to the day. These beautiful, shiny, rich ruddy brown conkers still bring me joy when I find them fresh, as they did when I was small, as they still do and have done, for millions of children and adults alike across continents.

With its flat toped mass of creamy-white delicately fragrant flowers which are followed by large, drooping, purplish-red, shiny, juicy and generously abundant berries. Elder is a familiar plant which plays a large part in the make up of the typical British countryside. This is a common herb and well known to most people. It is found in hedgerows, woods, coppices and waste places throughout England, Ireland and the whole of central and southern Europe.

September is the month of fruition and with so many medicinal fruits, nuts, berries and seeds to choose from this month, I was at a loss as to which one to use. So there I was, sitting at my desk looking out onto my garden and the beautiful Devon countryside thinking which one to use. I found myself dodging about trying to see past this enormous plant for a better view, and then it hit me, it was staring me right in the face … Fennel!

I could not let a British summer pass without giving a mention to the Rose. Its sweet uplifting fragrance and delicate beauty has long held this plant close to our hearts. The phrase English Rose is still used today to describe the typical beauty of an English girl. There are a great many varieties of rose used in healing, culinary arts, beauty products and crafts; many more which have been bred simply to adorn the great British gardens.

Lemon balm is not one of our most beautiful herbs to look at, but what it lacks in appearance it certainly makes up for with its most wonderful sent. Its refreshing, light lemony fragrance encapsulates the warm summer days in which it flourishes, it makes a most refreshing light tea which is perfect for these long summer days served hot, or cold with a little ice. The light lemony taste is best when the tea is made from freshly picked herb.