The 2025 Power of Plants festival was a weekend of learning, celebration, and connection, marking a significant milestone for several new graduates and current students of herbal medicine.
Held under summer skies, the event brought together practitioners, students, and herbal enthusiasts from across the country to celebrate the future of herbal medicine.
A special moment during the festival was the public affirmation of three Lincoln College University Centre BSc (Hons) Clinical Herbalism 2024 graduates: Sarah Farrow, Jody Knapp, and Corin Sadler, who took their professional affirmations in front of peers and long-standing members of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH).
This ceremony signified their formal transition into professional membership of the Institute, highlighting the importance of community and tradition in the practice of herbal medicine.
Two of the graduates, Sarah Farrow and Corin Sadler, were also honoured with prestigious student awards:
Michael Burns Award for Outstanding Final Year Student – Corin Sadler
Dorothy Carroll Award for Outstanding Final Year Student – Sarah Farrow
Several students also received awards in recognition of their academic achievements:
Henry Potter Award for Best First Year Student – Amelia Gillard (now progressing to Level 6)
Herbs in a Bottle Award for Pharmacy – Federica Pantaleo (now progressing to Level 6)
Herbal Trust Award for Promotion of Herbal Medicine – Elle Shuttleton (2024 graduate)
The festival itself was packed with inspirational talks and workshops led by some of the UK’s most respected herbal practitioners, catering both to professionals seeking high-quality CPD and to members of the public curious about herbs and their healing potential.
Evenings were no less magical, with live music under the stars in the main tent near the popular Pestle and Mortar bar. Many festival-goers later gathered around the woodland fire pit, where music and storytelling carried on into the night - creating a truly enchanting and memorable atmosphere.
Katie Dobiesz, Lecturer in BSc (Hons) Clinical Herbalism at Lincoln College, said: “This was a fantastic three days of celebrating Clinical Herbalism and it was so special to be with students from all levels of our degree programme.
“Everyone was so enthusiastic and honoured to be on the course and I felt very humbled by their comments about how happy they felt with the training.
“We also talked to many people who want to study herbalism and many of them said they would like to study on our BSc in the future.”
A highlight of the weekend was the strong interest in Lincoln College University Centre’s BSc (Hons) Clinical Herbalism degree course - currently the only degree of its kind remaining in the UK. This rigorous academic programme continues to set the standard for herbal education.
The weekend left many feeling inspired, connected, and hopeful about the future of herbal medicine.
Interested in studying herbal medicine? Applications for the BSc (Hons) Clinical Herbalism degree are still open for September 2025 entry. Learn more or apply today.
