Questions and Answers
Do I need to live nearby?
No! You are welcome to join the apprenticeship no matter where you live, just be sure to make suitable arrangements for joining our in-person sessions. If you are using public transport, we recommend checking dates and timings carefully, as rural services do not run as frequently. Some students choose to share a portion of the journey, especially from York; however, students are ultimately responsible for making their own travel arrangements.
We are located in a quiet rural village just an hour's drive from York with independent accommodation within the village and camping and caravan accommodation in nearby seaside town, Bridlington. There are ancient monoliths and serene private beaches nearby, so plenty of peace, nature and history to explore. As the apprenticeship progresses, some of you may want to find accommodation to share. There’s an extra bit of magic that happens when you can create a special home away from home and enjoy extra after-hours conversation with your fellow cohort members.
How much time do I need to commit outside the gatherings and guided audio teachings?
As much or as little as you want! We do strongly recommend you plan to pace yourself with our guided audio teachings between our live online integration sessions to get the most out of our conversations and jot down your thoughts and reflections in your coursebook, but there are otherwise no formal assignments, papers to write, assigned readings to do or exams to revise for. Whatever you feel inspired to read, do or make beyond our sessions is completely up to you and very welcome for discussion and questions within the cohort. It's your journey!
Which energetic systems will we be working with?
As the original medicine, herbal medicine spans all cultures, continents and civilisations. We are fortunate so many of these ancient lines of observing the natural world - both plants and people - are intact today and that we are able to explore and consider so many valuable perspectives that contribute to our better understanding of how all of nature can thrive together. Each practising herbalist finds their own inspiration and creates their own alchemy, and you will, too. On this course, you will have the opportunity to explore the energetics, concepts and terminology of both Western herbal medicine and Ayurvedic perspectives, intimately woven together in a way that facilitates embodied, elemental and experiential learning. Curious to learn a bit more about how we work with Western and Ayurvedic energetic systems? Read more here.
What is the teaching like?
The learning experience we offer is blended in many ways, making our approach to teaching and learning unique amongst herbal medicine schools in the UK. Our intention behind how we structure our herbalism apprenticeship is to provide a blend of the best aspects of traditional learning methods, delivered in a way that meets us in our modern lives, so you are well held by us and can relax into your journey. We combine in-person gatherings, guided 1:1 audio teachings, live online integration sessions and an heirloom coursebook for written records and reflections to deliver teaching that is elemental, embodied and experiential and, perhaps most importantly, means your learning is woven into your daily life, rather than requiring you to dedicate many hours to staring at a screen.
Is catering provided?
Yes! Catering for our in-person gatherings is included in the apprenticeship fees, and there will be plenty of herbal tea available to drink when we are together.
When and how do I apply?
Applications for the 2026 Year One cohorts are currently closed. Join our waiting list to be notified when 2027 dates are announced and applications reopen.
Our application process is simple and straightforward, intended to give us a sense of who you are, what is inspiring you and what you are hoping to gain from your experience to help us determine if our school and the journey we offer is a great match for you. As you work through your responses, just be yourself. There are no prerequisites or official requirements for joining our course.
We aim to let you know the outcome of your application within one week.
If successful, you will be offered a place on one of our first-year cohorts. All places are offered and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please note submission of an application is non-binding and does not guarantee you will be offered a place on our upcoming cohorts.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes! You can pay a non-refundable deposit of £497 with the remaining £1500 due in full on 30th November 2026 or split the cost into five equal instalments of £399.40. Instalments for all payment plans are charged automatically in accordance with the timing of the plan. The final payment for deposit plans, when offered, is charged automatically in full on the specified date. For the five instalments plan, successive payments are charged automatically on the same date of the initial payment for the following four months. If you have any questions about timing and payment plans, please contact us.
What if I can’t make all of the dates?
Live participation is warmly encouraged, as there is a real richness in learning together and engaging in shared inquiry in real time. That said, the course is intentionally designed to support real lives.
All live online integration sessions are recorded and made available for you to revisit, or to engage with in your own time if attending live isn’t possible on a given date.
Our guided 1:1 audio teachings and core teachings of our in-person gatherings are pre-recorded for future reference for all students and in case anyone is unable to attend a gathering due to unavoidable circumstances.
Our community gatherings are not recorded to encourage the open exchange of ideas and the free flow of participation.
All recorded materials are available in your student portal, which is accessible via desktop and mobile browsers, so you can listen and learn wherever and whenever suits you - with a cup of herbal tea, on a walk, out in the garden, or as you're going about your day-to-day tasks and travels.
We invite you to be present to your learning journey in a way that feels sustainable and grounded. If there are occasional diary clashes that are unavoidable, please don’t let that deter you from applying. You will still be fully supported within the apprenticeship. If you have any questions at all, do feel free to contact us and ask, as we want the learning experience to be right for you.
Is there an opportunity to progress beyond the first year?
Yes! Whilst continuing on is completely up to you, two further years of development are available after completing the first year of the apprenticeship so you can continue to go deeper into your exploration of herbalism, health and your body. You can explore what the second and third years of the journey look like here and here. You can also download our full curriculum guide, which shares the details of the herbal learning journey we offer across all three years.
Is this a certification/qualification course?
This apprenticeship and its successive years have intentionally not been designed as a formal qualification because we believe the wiser we become in ourselves, our homes and our communities, the more we are able to lift each other up to create a stronger society organically. There are many brilliant clinical training courses available across the globe; however, not everyone wants to complete 500 clinic hours, conduct a research project and sit exams. Whilst not everyone wants to become a clinical herbalist, many do want to develop a high level of skill and knowledge for personal reasons - and that's the journey of empowerment we love to provide. Wondering if you need a qualification for how you'd like to work with the knowledge and skills you gain with us? Read more here.
For any further questions, do feel free to contact us and ask.
