The Herb Garden

To the east of Jarrow Hall, behind the Hive cafe, sits the Herb Garden. The first part draws on the structure of a typical medieval physic garden and is based on the Plan of Saint Gall – a famous medieval architectural drawing of a monastic compound dating from the early 9th century.

Plants are chosen based on Anglo-Saxon and medieval varieties suitable for our soil and climate. Many of these herbs are even used for ingredients at Hive Coffee Company. The garden was initially designed by Rosemary Cramp and Richard Kilburn in 1978, and is now cared for by a small team of volunteers. The site tries to attract bees and butterflies which help pollinate and birds to help reduce slug and snail damage to the plants. Over the years, volunteers have gradually improved the site from it’s original usage as a hard surface tennis court. There are approximately 160 different kinds of herbs, and the majority of plants are normally grown from seed, cuttings or kind gifts. 

Further information regarding the plants and their various uses, for medical, chemical, dyeing and charm-making has been assembled by our volunteers and is available upon request. Throughout the year our volunteers offer guided tours of the garden on Thursday mornings. 

The Herb Garden provides visitors with a space for quiet contemplation and is full of scents, birds and insects. If you would like to become a volunteer, visit our Join Us page for more information.