Introduction to the Human Microcosmos through Anatomy and Physiology
with Alix Stokes, M.Ost; GOC

Saturday 12 th September 10am – 3pm (with comfort break)


Exploring the planetary archetypes and their expression in living Anatomy & Physiology and the process of healing. This online seminar will be both theoretical and practical. 
This is a unique opportunity for anyone wanting to develop their interest in A&P outside the confines of the usual textbooks.
Alix is the BIRCH School A&P tutor. He is a practicing osteopath with an interest in herbal medicine and a passion for sharing A&P in an exciting way. He lectures and teaches osteopathy and body sciences in the UK and Germany and is also the first British registered osteopath to gain a diploma in anthroposophical medicine.
www.alixstokes-osteopathy.com

COSTS:
BIRCH students & members – TBC
Guests – TBC
A CPD certificate can be forwarded on request

17^th & 18^th  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 19^th 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

Summer School 2026

Friday 31st July – Sunday 2nd August – Pyworthy, near Holsworthy, Devon

 PROGRAMME

Friday 9am – 5pm

Materia Medica for M2, 3 & 4 students, guests and members

Phytochem is Phun!

Tutor: Abi Jackson, BSc Hons, MNIMH

Abi Jackson is the  medical herbalist, holistic facialist, and founder of The Sage Apothecary. She began her training in New Zealand before gaining a 1st class hons degree in Clinical Herbalism at Lincoln College. She is a member of NIMH. https://www.thesageapothecary.com/

Anatomy & Physiology for M1 students, guests and members

Tutor: Alix Stokes, M.Ost

Introduction to the human microcosmos through anatomy and physiology. Exploring the planetary archetypes and their expression in living A&P and the process of healing.

This will be both theoretical and hands on practical.

Alix is a practicing osteopath with an interest in herbs and passion for sharing A&P in an exciting way.

Saturday 9am – 5pm

Naturopathy for M1 & 2 students, guests and members

Tutor: Helen Gray, DBTh, MIRCH

Treating everyone as an individual – food intolerances and specialised diets.

Many people have trouble with their GI tract and digestion, which may be the underlying cause you are looking for when treating them. We will look beyond gluten intolerances and examine other suspect foods your client may be having trouble with. This workshop will include discussions and practical tasks. Please bring a week’s food diary with you.

Helen is a practicing herbalist and forager based in Bristol & Stroud. She is a M3 tutor.

https://www.facebook.com/malagomedicinals

Clinical Skills for M3 & 4 students, members & practicing therapists

Tutor:  Amanda Frescura, BSc Hons, Ph.D, DBTh, MIRCH

Session 1: Longer term case management

Session 2: Treating elderly patients

Both sessions will include looking at real case histories.

Amanda is an IRCH herbalist, tutor & practicing herbalist, she is also an amazing ballet & flamenco dancer and teacher.

https://www.the-herbal-practice.co.uk/about

Sunday 9.30am – 4.30pm  

Materia Medica Foundation for ALL students, guests and members

Session 1: Medicinal Forest Garden – Walk & Talk. The session will include a Powerpoint presentation, walkabout, practical examples, handouts and group discussion.

Tutor: Anne Stobart

Author of The Medicinal Forest Garden Handbook: Growing, Harvesting and Using Healing Trees and Shrubs in a Temperate Climate. Anne is an experienced medical herbalist, herb grower, and co-founder of the Holt Wood project transforming a conifer plantation using permaculture design ideas into a medicinal forest garden. She has researched in the history of herbal medicine and published articles and books about seventeenth-century household medicine and recipes. Anne is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, UK.

Session 2: The Wonder & Joy of Making Tinctures – theory & practical.

Tutor: Jeremy Griffiths, DBTh, MIRCH

Jeremy has a busy practice and shop in Worcestershire, where he also runs walks in the local area. He is the IRCH President and a clinical training tutor.

  https://www.facebook.com/thegreenmanherbalapothecary

Please also refer to individual information regarding specific seminar attendance requirements – this will be in a later email.

Costs:

Early bird bookings £100/day by June 30th.

£130 per day including refreshments, vegetarian/vegan lunch & materials etc.

To confirm your place a (non-refundable) deposit of £25 per day is required.

For more information please contact the Director of Studies:

Diana Lee, BEd, DBTh, DBFR, FIRCH – education@birchshm.co.uk

Please use the booking form.  office@birchshm.co.uk

 Booking form 2026 summer school