Contributors

Ramsey Affifi is Lecturer in Science (Biology) Education and Environmental Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. http://ramseyaffifi.org

Soraya Bishop’s background is in Ecology and Conservation, community gardening and grassroots organising. She enjoys joining these many dots together into the web of community herbalism. She is a core member of Grassroots Remedies Co-Operative and is also part of the Scottish Radical Herbalism Network. hello@grassrootsremedies.co.uk

Hazel Brady’s background is in IT, but she has always loved plants and since retiring has expanded her knowledge, especially around herbs. She completed the Diploma in Herbology at RBGE under Catherine ConwayPayne. Retirement has also given her the opportunity to develop another of her interests —an artistic practice centred in drawing and painting.

Dr Audrey Cameron, a polymer chemist, is now a Teaching Fellow in Science Education at Moray House School of Education and Sport. She teaches on the PGDE Secondary Education (Chemistry) and PGDE Primary Education (Science) courses.

Ruth Crighton-Ward has had a long interest in plants and nature, although her first career was in Stage Management. After 18 years working in a variety of Scottish theatres, she decided to go into gardening. She took her RHS Level 2 in Horticulture, as well as a Certificate in Practical Horticulture at RBGE. In 2014 she started her own gardening business, which has proved successful. In 2018, alongside her full- time work as a gardener, she returned to the RBGE for a Diploma in Herbology.

Amanda Edmiston was raised in stories; her mother is a professional storyteller, her dad was a toymaker, her grandfather a sculptor, her gran a repository of traditional remedies and folklore. After studying law, then herbal medicine, Amanda began to blend facts, folklore, traditional tales, history and herbal remedies into unique works. Based in rural Stirlingshire, you can follow her on Facebook, @HerbalStorytell, and find more of her works at www.botanicafabula.co.uk

Sutherland Forsyth is the Learning Curator at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. He has worked in public engagement in a range of heritage, educational and environmental organisations, including the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Historic Royal Palaces, and the Auckland Project.

David Hughes is an organic gardener, fruit and veg enthusiast, plant nutritionist, terpine whisperer, seed collector, green librarian and half decent in the kitchen. Most often found disturbing the peace in the woods of East Lothian, or more occasionally wandering in unimproved pastures looking quizzically at things, David looks to explore landscapes, people and their relationships with the plants that surround them by examining the esoteric sides of herbology through conversation, experience and silly wee stories.

Marianne Hughes began following her interest in complementary medicine after a career in Social Work Education and voluntary work in Fair Trade. Starting with Reflexology & Reiki, she progressed into Herbal Medicine. The evening classes at the RBGE got her hooked and she completed the Certificate in Herbology and, more recently, the Diploma in Herbology. Her current interests and joy is experimenting with herb growing in her own garden, in a local park and alongside other volunteers in the RBGE Physic Garden. marianne@commonfuture.co.uk

Dr Jake King works as a toponymic researcher for Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba, the organisation responsible for providing authoritative forms of Gaelic place-names for use in things such as publications and bilingual signage. He is the author of a number of articles about place-names, as well as the author of the Scottish Natural Heritage `Gaelic in the Landscape' series. www.ainmean-aite.scot

Dr. Ella Leith is an ethnologist and folklorist who studied in Scotland and now lives in Malta. She particularly loves folktales and the storytelling traditions of linguistic and cultural minorities. @leithyface

Claire MacKay qualified as a Medical Herbalist in 2011 from Edinburgh Napier University. She lives in the Scottish Highlands, where her clinic and apothecary are based, and is passionate about the traditional native use of medicinal plants in Scotland. She was consultant herbalist to the Outlander TV series and regularly appears in the media as a specialist on the traditional use of medicinal plants in Scotland.

Richie McBride is passionate about nature and the living world. Previously a fire station commander, he retired to study as a tree surgeon and tree surveyor. He currently lives and works on a smallholding in North Wales, growing fruit and veg, milling trees for craftspeople, and making cider.

Khadija Meghrawi is a medical student who believes that a doctor's job isn't just to heal the diseases of bodily systems, but to also heal those in the systems around us. She is Chair of her University’s BME network and co-led the formation of the BAME Medical Students Group, to increase racial representation in the curriculum at Bristol Medical School. Previously the President of Students for Global Health Bristol, she now advocates nationally for refugee and other minority patient group representation at the British Medical Association (BMA).

Nathalie Moriarty is an Accredited Practitioner with the Institute for Outdoor Learning and a graduate of the RBGE Diploma in Herbology. She works full-time for Scottish Forestry co-ordinating the ‘Branching Out - Positive Mental Health through Nature’ programme. She is passionate about working with nature to help people lead happier and healthier lives.

Maddy Mould is an illustrator from Lancashire, living in the Scottish Borders. Her work is heavily influenced by her interests in nature, folklore & history. She likes to illuminate the magic of everyday things, through both art, and a little bit of kitchen witchery.

Joseph Nolan practices Herbal Medicine in Edinburgh, at the UK’s oldest herbal clinic, and specialises in men’s health and paediatrics. He is a member of the Association of Foragers, and teaches classes and workshops related to herbal medicine making, wild plants, foraging, and natural health. You can find him on Facebook and Instagram @herbalmedicineman, and on his website: www.herbalmedicineman.com

Kyra Pollitt is a graduate of the Diploma in Herbology at the RBGE. When not editing Herbology News, she works as a translator, interpreter, writer and artist. She lives on the Isle of Harris, where she is busily planning and growing a garden. www.actsoftranslation.com

Duncan Ross is the founder of Poytnzfield Herb Nursery, growing over 400 species/ varieties with an emphasis on Scots native and medicinal plants from all over the world. He is passionate about helping people lead healthier lives through growing and using herbs. www.poyntzfieldherbs.co.uk