Weald and Downland Living Museum Ticket Portal

Saturday 02 August 2025

On this introductory day, you will have the opportunity to learn about types of bees and how they live and bee friendly flowers. You will see different types of beehives and their component parts and discuss where you can (and can’t) keep bees. There will be an introduction to honey bee management and the beekeeping year, including the issues of swarming, pests and diseases as well as the honey crop and other hive products. Also discussed will be the cost and time commitments as well as the risks and responsibilities to keeping bees, to enable you to make an informed decision as to whether this is a craft you wish to pursue. This day will not include visits to live bees, but will be supported by extensive pictorial material.

Saturday 27 September 2025

Learn to make cosmetics containing natural honey and beeswax. You do not need special equipment and can make these recipes in your kitchen. Dr Sara Robb will demonstrate how to make All Natural Beekeeper's Soap with Rose and Lavender using her no-cure method. Made with honey and beeswax and topped with petals, this beautiful bar is safe to use the same day it's made. We will also make Honey Hand Cream with Raspberry Seed Oil, a non-greasy emulsion, to keep your hands in tip-top condition. Super Serum with Honey and Hyaluronic Acid, our final product, is a fantastic facial product made with raw honey. Come along and make your own Super Natural Formulations.

Sunday 28 September 2025

Honey and beeswax have played an integral role in the history of pharmaceuticals prepared by medics and chemists. This workshop with Dr Sara Robb will explore how bee products serve as substrates and active ingredients in early medicines. Examples of these products will be examined, including wax plasters and historic skin treatments. We will discuss the miraculous case of Thomas Marigold, a Londoner "cured" from leprosy by a blend of olive oil, honey and beeswax called cerate. These early pharmaceuticals were precursors of the products we know as cosmetics and many are still available on the shelves today. Learn to make a few of these formulations, including a dietary supplement called oxymel, the honey cerate Mr Marigold used, and a historic skin cream.

Tuesday 17 June 2025

Archaeology is constantly providing more information on this subject up and down the country. From stone stamps describing eye ointments and giving us the oculist’s name and often main ingredients, to the lay-out of a military hospital and votive offerings in temples of healing. Written sources are also available, from the wooden writing tablets found at Vindolanda fort on Hadrian’s wall to the recipes of Scribonius Largus, a surgeon who was stationed in that same area in the first century.

The focus of the day will be wide, taking in living conditions and common health problems, beliefs about health and making recipes from the period. Herbs will include myrrh, saffron, frankincense, pepper, long pepper, stoechas lavender, parsley, juniper, wild carrot, orris root and cumin. Recipes will concentrate on treatments for common problems of the period, for the eyes, throat, coughs, stomach pain etc. Dental care will also be considered from toothpastes to treatments.

Thursday 19 June 2025

As the changing climate gives us longer periods of heavy rain and consequent flooding, while at other times abnormally warm or hot and dry conditions pose other challenges, guidance will be given on plantings to combat the worst effects. Harvesting times are altering and it is being noted that the more successful birds and insects which depend on plants for food, are beginning to adapt to these.

Herbs suitable for wetland conditions such as meadowsweet, willow, marshmallow, gypsywort, bogbean, sweet gale, sweet flag and medicinal ferns will be included in the suggested herbs for bog gardens, ponds and damp, shady areas.

Although until now herbs in general have coped well in a variety of conditions, observation has revealed that some may do better if not planted in traditionally helpful sites. Certain herbs, such as marigolds, formerly set in full sun, may do better in partial shade. There will be discussion and sharing of experience as to what may be helpful as we face each new year. Thought will be given to supporting herbs suited to the hotter climate and drought resistant herbs such as houseleek, and orpine as well as to soil composition and health. Organic pest control in the absence of frosts is an added feature.

Wednesday 18 June 2025

In ancient Greece three ‘capacities’ were understood to govern the patient’s body. These are the brain, described as the reasoning capacity, the heart, or vital capacity providing innate heat, and the liver, the nourishing capacity. They would be given first consideration and, if necessary, they would be strengthened with treatments before giving strong medication, purging or letting the blood of the patient. We still recognise the importance of the health of the brain, heart and liver and this day will be devoted to looking at conditions affecting those three organs, together with herbs in recipes to support them.

Some herbs on the day for the brain are rosemary, Spanish sage, betony, ginger and ginkgo. Conditions discussed will include poor memory, trigeminal neuralgia, headaches, dementia from various causes and Parkinsons disease. Some herbs for the heart and circulation are hawthorn, limeflower, bilberry, motherwort and rose. Advice on conditions affecting the heart will include high and low blood pressure, high cholesterol, and some common problems arising from poor circulation. For the liver, some herbs will be dandelion, milk thistle, artichoke, agrimony and vervain. Liver conditions will include jaundice, cirrhosis and gallstones.