DID YOU KNOW THAT there is a wealth of healing in the countryside? After the disappointment of finding we could not have our cookery demonstration as the speaker had been gored by a bull on her farm(!), we were fortunate to welcome Annabel Todd of Thornton who is a qualified medical herbalist.

She entertained us with an absorbing talk on ‘Leicestershire’s Natural Pharmacy' in which she explained the healing properties of many common plants and weeds. The common nettle for example has many uses as does the dandelion while other plants have only one healing property. Elderberry is our native Echinacea as it can lessen the symptoms of colds and flu and we were given a recipe which could be stored in the freezer and used at the first sign of a cold. Annabel showed pictures of the plants and warned us only to use herbs we were sure that we recognised as some toxic ones are easily confused with beneficial ones eg hemlock which looks similar to yarrow. Some of the herbs can be dried and made into tea but others are too bitter and these are made into a tincture.

One member said afterwards that this was one of the best talks we had had, as it was both interesting and useful.

By Pam Wilson