AGM 2026
AGM & Annual Conference
17th & 18th October 2026
Location
Chesford Grange Hotel,
Kenilworth,
Warwickshire
CV82LD
Fee
For the weekend event, including Saturday evening accommodation, all meals, refreshments and speakers the cost is usually in the region of £350, although this is subject to change.
Programme
Saturday 18th October
9.30 am AGM
10.00 am Graduation ceremony, dissertation presentation.
10.30 am Refreshments
10.45 am Jess Lucas “Staying Healthy Through The Seasons”
Jess Lucas is a medical herbalist with a diploma in Botano-Therapy which she received in 2001 with the IRCH and has been practising herbal medicine ever since. Jess is a keen forager and has an interest in astrology and runs workshops on foraging for plant medicines. Her talk will include plant medicines in their seasons, the link between astrology and the humours with the seasons and Jess will bring a selection of foraged plants to sample. www.herbalways.net
12.00 Barbara Wilkinson “Why community matters, with 100 years of The Herb Society at the heart”
Without Hilda Leyel there would have been no training for Herbalists and herbs no longer used as medicine. Hilda educated the government who was about to ban Herbal Medicine and Herbalists from working. Barbara is a Medical Herbalist and Trustee of the Herb Society; she qualified with the IRCH in 2012.
1.00 pm Lunch
2.00pm Julia Behrens “Lost in Lyme”
Julia is the co-author of Lost in Lyme (with Daphne Lambert);
This book supports and informs those who are living with Lyme. In this talk Julia will explain Lyme disease, it’s co- infections and discuss her treatment approaches to Lyme, which involve a combination of herbal medicine, medicinal mushrooms, and self-care, including some case studies. She has over 20 years of practice, and was invited to be part of a Lyme Clinic at the Herstmonceux Integrative Health Centre.
https://herbal-consultant.
3.45pm Refreshments
4.00 pm A Celebration of the IRCH – major milestones in our 66 year history.
We have evolved and changed our name over the years, we invite you to join us as we head towards a new future as the Birch School of Herbal Medicine.
David Cypher “BIRCH – the Pioneer Tree”
Why did we choose birch as our new name? It’s an extraordinary tree with fabulous medicine properties. It also has a many myths and folklore surrounding it.
David is a herbalist, qualifying in 2023 and now practicing in the Street & Glastonbury area; he also works on community herb projects. Find him at www.magpieherbs.co.uk
5.30 pm Herbal Quiz – the results!
6.00 pm Finish
7.30 pm Dinner
Sunday 19th October
9.00 am Liz Milham “A Woman of a Certain Age”
– the physical, psychological and social transition of menopause. This will be a wider than usual look at how menopause affects women and the role herbalists can play in supporting this transition.
Liz is a practicing herbalist with a busy clinic in Boyle, Ireland. She is a M4 tutor.
www.lizmilhamherbalmedicine.com
10.30 am Refreshments
10.45 am Neil Allies “ Understanding plants through ancestral words”
How ancient names can help us to better understand plants and their actions
Neil is a M2 student with a background in languages, including Latin.
12.30 pm Lunch
1.30 pm Students/Tutors meetings
CLOSE
More information and booking: Lynda Potts birch.office@gmail.com