Useful Links

This is my very favourite website. Everything that the eco-gardener could ever need all in one place. Lots of great ideas and sensible advice from a very friendly bunch of people who know exactly what they're talking about.

Wiggly Wigglers is an award-winning, natural gardening company. Based on Lower Blakemere Farm in rural Herefordshire they''ll

- help you compost your waste with their bestselling wormeries, bokashi systems and garden composters

- bring your garden to life with wildlife friendly wildflowers and native hedging

and that's just for starters! There's much more in the Wiggly store, so please take a look around. Sign up for discounts, and look out for the 'Deal of the Day'

There are currently over 20 million battery hens in the UK producing cheap eggs for the consumer. Most of these eggs are used in the processed food industry and therefore are ‘hidden’ from view just like the hens in their cages. The aim of the BHWT is :

To see diminishing demand for battery eggs and increasing demand for British free range production

To see a strong and high welfare conscious egg industry in the UK where all natural behaviours are met

To see consumers take responsibility for what they eat, supporting and encouraging British farmers who work to high welfare standards

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust was founded in response to growing concerns about the 'plight of the bumblebee'. Three species are already extinct in the UK and several others have experienced dramatic declines. The Bee Conservation Trust aims to prevent further declines, and to raise awareness of the problems bumblebees face. Over 3,200 members range from enthusiastic and concerned amateurs right through to internationally renowned research scientists all sharing a common affection for these affable insects and a desire to see them conserved for future generations. No bees, no pollination, NO HERBS! Join today

National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH): Founded in 1864, this is the oldest association of practising herbalists in the western world. This is the site to visit if you want to find your nearest professional medical herbalist or are interested in training to become a herbalist.

American Botanical Council (ABC): dedicated to promoting the safe and effective use of medicinal plants through education and scientific research.

European Herbal Practitioners Association: Representing professional herbalists throughout the European Union, the EHPA are working to protect the rights of practitioners and consumers of herbal medicine, setting the standards of training, practice and quality of herbal medicine.

Herb Research Foundation: A source of accurate, science-based information on the health benefits and safety of medicinal plants.

Henry Doubleday Research Association: Europe's largest organic membership organisation dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food.

The Herb Society: The UK's leading society for increasing the understanding, use and appreciation of herbs and their benefits to health.

Ayurveda Pura - for Quality Ayurvedic Products The Essence of True Health & Inner Balance. Based on Ayurveda, the 5000 year old holistic knowledge of India, Ayurveda Pura brings to you a line of superior quality health & beauty products

Barwinnock Herbs in Scotland sell a wide range of organically grown culinary, medicinal and aromatic plants. Plants may be ordered by email or post, or you can visit the nursery from April to October, 10am to 6pm.

Herbs from Wales have a large selection of dried herbs. The nursery has special open days - check the website for details.

Suffolk Herbs: The most comprehensive stockist of organic seed varieties in Europe. Order seeds, gifts and other goods online.

Seed Parade: Top quality herbs, vegetable and flower seeds at bargain prices. Amazing selection of heirloom, traditional and rare varieties

Dragon Herbarium in Oregon, USA have a wide range of herbal products available to buy online.

Plantlife: This charity carries out practical conservation work, influences legislation and promotes the cause of wild plant conservation. Their goal is "a world in which the riches of our wild plant inheritance are not diminished by human activity or indifference but are recognised, cherished and enhanced". They need your support.

Worldwide Fund for Nature: Known worldwide by its panda logo, WWF's mission is to protect the biological diversity that we all need to survive.

Arbor Cura: Tom Fellows runs a small tree surgery business in Brighton, East Sussex. Unfortunately, in this line of work he is asked to remove far more trees than he is ever asked to plant. Consequently, Tom recently set up TREE-CYCLE, whereby a native tree species is planted for every tree removed from a customer's garden. Take a look at his website and give him your support.

Woodsmoke specialises in wilderness bushcraft and survival skills training - Woodsmoke is known for its pioneering bushcraft courses, adventurous expeditions and professional approach to teaching classical wilderness skills.

Helmsley Walled Garden in North Yorkshire is a beautiful five acre walled garden. Dating from 1758 and set against the spectacular backdrop of Helmsley Castle in the grounds of Duncombe Park, the garden is gradually being restored to its former glory. Originally built to supply the Duncombe estate with fruit, vegetables and cut flowers, it was abandoned in the 1970's until, in 1994 extensive restoration started to bring it back to life as a fully working kitchen garden. Having recently been successful in a 'Peoples Millions' funding bid, plans are under way for exciting new features including a Garden of Contemplation and Physic Garden in 2009.

Spanish Reflections offer a unique opportunity to recharge your physical and spiritual batteries in the natural beauty of Los Cerezos on the edge of the Sierra de Cazorla National Park in Spain. Visit their website for full details of their holistic breaks.

For those of you in the Northeast USA, go Foraging With the Wildman : Learn about edible and medicinal wild vegetables, herbs, greens, fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, and mushrooms with NYC's favorite naturalist, "Wildman" Steve Brill. Find out about his public Wild Food and Ecology tours in local parks, and the work he does with kids. Read excerpts from his books, enjoy his botanical artwork and vegetarian recipes, and find out what happened after he was arrested and handcuffed by undercover NYC park rangers for eating a dandelion in Central Park!

Flora Celtica: This is an international project coordinated by the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, documenting and promoting the knowledge and sustainable use of native plants in the Celtic countries. Research is being conducted into the traditional knowledge and contemporary uses of native flora. The database which has been generated can be accessed and contributed to online.

Alternative Veterinary Medicine Centre (AVMC): I receive quite a few emails from people seeking advice on natural remedies for their pets. Whilst I would like to be able to help I must stress that I have no veterinary qualifications whatsoever and am aware that certain food/herbs that are perfectly safe for humans to take may cause an animal harm. Dosage is also difficult to calculate. However, Chris Day, an experienced holistic vet in Oxfordshire, has a very informative website and may well be able to answer your questions.

Native American Ethnobotany: Daniel Moerman's vast database on the use of plants by almost 300 Native American communities took 25 years to compile. It is now available to consult online. Over 4000 species of plants are represented together with their uses as food, medicine, dyes, fibres and building materials.

Unani Herbal Healing: Unani Medicine as a healing system was founded by Hakim Ibn Sina, known as Avicenna in the West. Unani Healing can be traced all the way back to Hippocrates.

SUMA Wholesale Co-op: Suma is the UK’s largest independent wholefood wholesaler-distributor. Specialising in vegetarian, fairly traded, organic, ethical and natural products, they also have their own successful brand of food and non-food products. As a radical workers’ cooperative, they have dedicated the last 30 years to providing quality products and unparallelled customer service backed up with their uncompromising passion for ethical trading. Whether you're an existing customer, a newcomer, or a job-hunter, hungry for more information about what they do and how they do it, this is the place to start.

The Bear Co-op in Todmorden is the place to visit for fair trade and organic local produce, environmentally friendly household products, and natural remedies and supplements. If you are in the area, check out the Bear Cafe for delicious home-cooked vegetarian food.

Peter J. Hosey Photography is a UK-based website devoted to images of cultivated and wild flowers and fungi. Peter is based in Coventry and all the photos have been taken in Britain, representing the diversity of British flora.

Tummy Trouble is a non-profit public interest website focused on stomach and abdominal aches and pains; the causes, symptoms and relief.

Todd Caldecott is a clinical/medical herbalist and Ayurvedic practitioner providing clinical and education services in the Greater Vancouver area and beyond.

Herb Expert is a public interest, non-profit website focused on growing and cooking herbs

John Hool, Herbalist - An established, respected family business at Ashburner Street Market in Bolton, Lancashire, Hools specialise in medicinal and culinary herbs and spices, food supplements and homoeopathic remedies. Online ordering available

Purple Sage Botanicals is proud to be associated with the following companies. Please click on the logos for more information.