All about plants and how they can help our souls

Who we are and how we can help you

We are a community of gardeners and healers.

We create gardens and run nature-inspired events that focus on nature as a balm for the soul and society.

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Gardening and health conversations

Look out for the 12th December release date for Lara’s interview on Gardeners World Podcast

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I’m Lara and I’m really glad you are here

Our mission is to create beautiful spaces and share natural ways for people to feel better. My nature connection helps give me peace of mind and I know that it can help many other people too.

About

The way it’s meant to be

I am an RHS trained garden consultant, designer, plants-woman and herbalist. Me and my team renovate and maintain gardens and we run The Botanic Shed School of Nature, a Personal Development School for Women where gardening and spirituality meet to support mental health. A place where we develop the skills to develop resilience and balance, to be happier and to be able to support the men in our lives.

I want women to live their lives using biophilia as their leading language. The way it’s meant to be. So we can better support ourselves and help the boys and men around us open their hearts and help us create lives that are aligned with mother nature, abundant with truth and harmony.

Service is in our DNA

Gardening Consultancy

Learn More

Smiles at work
Norreys design
Ashampstead Common pots
Compost bin building
Newbury design
Pangbourne planting

Real Life Love

School of Nature

Learn More

Kitchen garden retreat
Woodland retreat
Cotswold nature walk
Gong bath
Kitchen garden retreat
Foraging on retreat

PLANT CHALLENGE

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PLANT CHALLENGE ⋆

Join the 40 plants-a-week challenge

Meet some of the Team

Lara Cowan

FOUNDER
RHS certified horticulturalist, garden consultant and designer with 15 years experience. Trained in wild meadow management and herbal medicine. Certified geomancer and earth energy healer. Speaker on BBC radio Oxford and Gardener’s World podcast.
Kim Nichols

DESIGNER
Japanese and zen garden design specialist with 25 years experience. Speaker at the Horticultural Society and The Johannesburg International Flower Show. Specialized in traditional and contemporary Japanese, oriental gardens and meditation gardens.
Tehya Cowan Hadley

DESIGN ASSOCIATE
Creative planting planner, plants-woman and propagation hobbyist with 5 years experience growing herbaceous perennials and shrubs. Special interest in ferns and clematis. Studied agro-forestry and therapeutic gardens at University of Sussex.
Niamh Kendall

HORTICULTURAL CONSULTANT
RHS certified horticulturalist, vineyard owner, Thrive gardening charity volunteer, currently studying Horticulture Masters Degree
Karuna Priya

MINDFULNESS COACH
Masters Degree in Buddhist Studies from SOAS, University of London. He serves as an interfaith chaplain to Imperial College London and Royal College of Arts.
Dr. Jas Gill

MEDICAL ADVISOR
An award-winning GP in North West London. She is a GP with Special Interest in Cardiology at The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Lara's story – neurodiversity and nature

For Lara, nature has been an ally to support post-traumatic stress disorder, neurodiversity and accompanying symptoms. She shares her story and the healing space she has created for others in an article published by Thrive ‘The gardening for health charity’.