From Mud to Medicine - Observation Project
Idle Women
Idle women are creating the first Physic Garden dedicated to women and girls in the UK. Dedicated to the ‘art of healing’ our garden is being created through seasonal programmes of free workshops and activities.
Visitor Information
Physic Garden & Selina Cooper Narrow Boat
Bottom of Hargreaves Street
Nelson
Lancashire
BB9 7DB
On street parking is available on Hargreaves Street, the garden is to the left down a short path at the end of the road. Look out for Selina Cooper.
Please check details on idle women website or social media for dates and times of workshops and contact us if you would like to arrange a visit at any other time.
Get involved
Volunteering opportunities / Upcoming events
MEDICINAL PLANT STUDY GROUP
Monthly meet up for women to explore medicinal plants at the idle women physic garden, Nelson, Lancashire.
WEEKLY MEDICINE NURSERY (gardening group) at Idle women Nursery, Woodnook Accrington
& MONTHLY SOCIAL EVENTS at the Common, Bullough Park, Accrington, Lancashire
Details and free booking: http://bit.ly/iwprogramme
HERBALIST-IN-RESIDENCE AUG-NOV details to follow
Get in touch
Photos of the site
Selina Cooper arrives
Saturday, February 16, 2019
plant study - cleaver vinegar
Sunday, February 17, 2019
celebrating the start
Monday, February 18, 2019
Drystone walling in the wet
Thursday, March 7, 2019
plant study - spring tonic soup
Sunday, March 17, 2019
plant study - spring tonic soup
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Plant study - Ramsons
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Our wall in progress (so proud!)
Friday, March 29, 2019
Votes for Idle Women!
Friday, March 29, 2019
Pear tree about to blossom
Friday, March 29, 2019
Planting an edible hedge
Sunday, March 31, 2019
a universe in a box
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Outreach Nettle Pesto Workshop
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Outreach nettle pesto workshop
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Plant study - nettle pesto
Sunday, April 14, 2019
The new poly tunnel
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Thanks to your votes and support!
Friday, April 19, 2019
Willow Workshop
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Willow Workshop
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Hebridean basket weaving
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Sadening vandalism
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Which spice or plant are you?
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Goethen plant study technique
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Goethen plant study technique
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Making daisy bruise balm
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Making daisy bruise balm
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Sad to say goodbye
Saturday, June 1, 2019
Eid Mubarak!
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
New site for the Medicine Nursery
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Clearing the new beds (garlic!)
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Storing Garlic
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
enjoying the abundance!
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Exploring new nursery site
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Sudanese Injera with nettle
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Making elderflower syrup
Sunday, June 23, 2019
June plant study - flowers!
Sunday, June 23, 2019
A banquet in the garden
Sunday, June 23, 2019
preparing seed beds
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Propagation from cuttings
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Medicine Nursery planning
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
Never too much mint!
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Finding places to belong
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Textile artist Emma Blackburn
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Planting some favourites
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Plant textile workshop
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Plant textile workshop
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Selina Cooper and the Plantains
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Tinctures & Sudanese delights!
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Illustrated notes
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Chickweed itch balm
Thursday, August 8, 2019
St Johns Wort oil infusion
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Finding Mullein
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Herbalist in residence arrives
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Meadowsweet & nettle seeds
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Meadowsweet
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Plant printing and soap making
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Plant printing and soap making
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Plant printing and soap making
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Plant printing and soap making
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Motherwort at the Nursery
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Squeezing elderberries
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Elderberry winter syrup
Tuesday, September 24, 2019What we've been up to
| What we did | When we did it | How many people took part | Who was there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Study Day with herbalist Dedj Leibbrandt - revising the years to make a poster and making elderberry syrup. | 22/09/2019 - 13:00 | 12 | Mixed ages |
| Plant Nursery planning | 10/09/2019 - 11:00 | 4 | Mixed ages |
| Plant dying, printing and soap making and a bit of canoeing | 29/08/2019 - 12:00 | 14 | Mixed ages |
| Grow Wild filming visit and Plant study - Looking at Meadowsweet and trying some new illustration techniques | 22/08/2019 - 12:00 | 8 | Mixed ages |
| Taster day at the Physic Garden for new local women to get to know us | 15/08/2019 - 11:00 | 13 | Mixed ages |
| Taster day at the Physic Garden for new local women to get to know us | 08/08/2019 - 11:00 | 15 | Mixed ages |
| Drop in taster day at the Physic Garden for new local women to get to know us | 01/08/2019 - 11:00 | 18 | Mixed ages |
| Plant Study Day - Looking at Plantain and making a spit poultice, tincture in alcohol, tincture in glycerine and a herb vinegar. | 28/07/2019 - 16:45 | 11 | Mixed ages |
| Outreach gardening group at the Medicine Nursery - walk to the horizon | 24/07/2019 - 10:30 | 13 | Mixed ages |
| Medicine Nursery - public gardening group | 16/07/2019 - 10:30 | 3 | Mixed ages |
| Plant textiles - artist led workshop at the boat and Physic Garden | 25/07/2019 - 13:30 | 7 | Mixed ages |
| Plant textiles - artist led workshop at the boat and Physic Garden | 18/07/2019 - 13:30 | 8 | Mixed ages |
| Plant textiles - artist led workshop at the boat and Physic Garden | 11/07/2019 - 13:30 | 9 | Mixed ages |
| Medicine Nursery gardening group | 09/07/2019 - 16:30 | 4 | Mixed ages |
| Outreach gardening group at the Medicine Nursery - finding a place to belong | 10/07/2019 - 10:30 | 13 | Mixed ages |
| Outreach gardening group at the Medicine Nursery - preparing seed beds and propagation by cuttings | 10/07/2019 - 10:30 | 14 | Mixed ages |
| Medicine Nursery - public gardening group | 02/07/2019 - 10:30 | 4 | Mixed ages |
| Outreach gardening group at the Medicine Nursery - clearing beds and weeding | 26/06/2019 - 11:30 | 11 | Mixed ages |
| Our medicine Nursery was relocated to a new site offered by the council after extensive vandalism. First workshop | 24/09/2019 - 10:30 | 5 | Mixed ages |
| Plant Observation day - learning about roses and elderflower, how to make a medicinal syrup and enjoying a Sudanese lunch. | 23/06/2019 - 13:00 | 14 | Mixed ages |
| Great Get together at the Nursery in Accrington - a mixed event for the whole community | 22/06/2019 - 12:00 | 126 | Mixed ages |
| Outreach gardening workshop in partnership with Humraaz specialist support service | 19/06/2019 - 11:30 | 12 | Mixed ages |
| Eid Celebration - Delicious BBQ lunch with transport provided for women and children at the nursery site in Accrington. | 04/06/2019 - 12:00 | 35 | Mixed ages |
| Plant Study - Learning Goethen plant study technique to meet plants in the garden and the medicinal properties of daisy to make bruise balm | 19/05/2019 - 13:00 | 9 | Mostly adults 25+ |
| Outreach cooking workshop at Lancashire Women Centre making nettle pesto with service users and sharing with staff | 03/04/2019 - 12:30 | 15 | Mostly adults 25+ |
| Initial work to set up allotment site ready to begin weekly sessions in June (multiple days) | 18/04/2019 - 10:00 | 6 | Mostly adults 25+ |
| Installed our new poly tunnel that will be used as a medicinal plant nursery and horticulture classroom for the allotment project | 18/04/2019 - 10:00 | 8 | Mostly adults 25+ |
| Willow workshop - learning the many types of willow, it's medicinal properties and a Hebridean weaving technique | 04/05/2019 - 10:00 | 9 | Mostly adults 25+ |
| Plant Study Group - Making nettle Pesto, learning about cultural nettle use and recipes from all over the world | 14/04/2019 - 13:00 | 22 | Mixed ages |
| Plant study group - the spring tonics -gathering nettle, cleavers, ramson & dandelion to make a spring tonic soup | 17/03/2019 - 13:00 | 11 | Mostly adults 25+ |
| Plant Study Groups, getting to know cleavers and making cleaver infused vinegar | 17/02/2019 - 13:00 | 6 | Mostly adults 25+ |
| Women & kids planed 500 edible hedgelings - hazel, rose, elder, oak, cherry surrounding a new space for women in Accrington - The Nursery. | 31/03/2019 - 22:45 | 96 | Mixed ages |