Bergitte McGovern, Medical Herbalist

20/08/2026

An awesome catch-up day with exploring ! My first visit, and I was completely blown away by the sheer number of garden ‘rooms’ and incredible plant collections. I also could not think of a better person to experience it with 😊.

There are around 12 acres of cultivated fruit, vegetables and botanical collections to explore – from the extensive vegetable gardens, fruit orchards and berry patches to the Healing Garden, Succulent House, Cycad Collection and Spice House. There is even a Prickly Pear Maze! 🌿🌵🍐

Needless to say, I was in my element!

Craig and I have known each other for about 22 years, and his knowledge of local plants and identification skills never cease to amaze me. My kids got to endure their mum in full plant-geek heaven mode once again 🤓😂.

We visited Stellenbosch afterwards, which felt rather special. I found myself quite emotional showing my kids around the heart of the university campus and pointing out the buildings where I attended lectures for my BSc in Botany and Zoology – as well as showing them the amazing library 🥰.

There was something quite poignant about returning to where so much of my botanical journey began, all these years later, and sharing a little piece of that history with my children. 💚🌿

20/08/2026

This is absolutely crazy...

"The EU is in the process of setting new rules for food supplements — rules the UK has already committed to following. Those rules include:
- Capping Vitamin D at 800 IU. Your skin produces twelve times that in one afternoon in summer sunshine.
- Capping Vitamin B6 at 12.5mg. The World Health Organisation's own upper limit is 100mg.
- Restricting or banning 13 herbal ingredients including ashwagandha, St John's Wort, curcumin (from turmeric), berberine, black cohosh, tribulus, and piperine.
- Restricting medicinal mushrooms as novel foods. We have already lost cordyceps and turkey tail as over-the-counter supplements. The MHRA and FSA restricted them after the EU classified them — exactly the pattern that will now repeat for herbs and vitamins."

Demand UK regain control over food supplements regulation

11/08/2026

A big tick on my personal wishlist! ✔️

As a botanical lover, gin lover and medicine maker, I had the absolute delight of attending a gin-making masterclass at Cape Saint Blaize with a close friend’s daughter.

I quickly realised that I wanted to approach the whole thing like a science and chemistry lesson 🤓 — before reminding myself that I was actually there for pure enjoyment! So I dropped that hat and embraced the full experience. Our tutor was fantastic, and a great comedian too, so a lot of laughter ensued...

My dear cousin gifted me a bottle of Cape St Blaize gin a few years ago, which first introduced me to this rather special local distillery. The bottles are handmade locally, the juniper is organic, and many of the botanicals are grown and sourced locally. Even the logo has a story: an aerial view of the Mossel Bay lighthouse, the home of Cape St Blaize.

So many beautiful strands interweaving — plants, place, people and story.

I left with a truly, deeply personal gin of my own creation — floral notes and fynbos — and, even better, memories to take forward from a beautiful shared experience. 🥰💖💕

01/08/2026

From ginger, fresh lemon and honey (and hot water bottles) to cappuccinos and brunch!

My packed Elderberry Remedy (lots of lurgy fighting ingredients), Echinacea, Vitamin C (high dosing) and Zinc, came in handy along with the above + cinnamon and I bounced back from my cold super quickly 💪😎 and have been having a wonderful time living it up and catching up with family and friends.

There isn't much time left to nab an Early Bird ticket for my Winter Herbal Farmacy workshops at the beginning of September - it's a wonderful opportunity to really grow your confidence in treating winter infections and learning how to make effective herbal remedies to treat. Dosages, cautions and red flags are covered enabling you to enter the autumn and winter prepared and empowered.

🫐 Early bird tickets sales end on the evening of 3rd August, follow the link in the comments below for full details and to book 💪💜🙌

29/07/2026

Two days ago, I swapped an English summer for a South African winter.

There is something quite strange about being transported to the opposite side of the seasonal wheel: exchanging long days and the UK heatwave for shorter days, cool mornings and evenings, people wrapped in layers, woodsmoke in the air, and trees standing quietly against an overcast sky.

Winter looks different here, but it still invites many of the same things: slowing down, keeping warm, nourishing ourselves well, and paying attention to the early signs that our bodies may be asking for a little extra support.

I arrived feeling as though I was fighting off the beginnings of a cold after a very full few weeks before travelling. Rather than simply hoping it would disappear, I reached for the herbal remedies that had travelled with me, alongside those readily available in my family’s kitchen. Rest, a slower pace, warmth and plenty of fluids have also been an important part of supporting myself.

It has been a timely reminder that herbal medicine is not something I only teach or recommend in clinic. It is a practical body of knowledge that becomes part of everyday life: something we can draw upon to care for ourselves and those around us.

With winter only a few months away in the UK, I am looking forward to sharing this practical knowledge during my Winter Herbal Farmacy workshop at the beginning of September. Early bird tickets are available until 3rd August.

15/07/2026

I had the pleasure of working Fordhall Organic Farm a couple of weeks ago, running a ‘Renew and Restore in Nature’ foraging session.

These health and wellbeing sessions are for individuals with a cancer diagnosis, there aim is to make a positive difference to those impacted by cancer. The sessions are funded by Lingen Davies and there are a wonderful variety of activities available, it’s a friendly and welcoming space and the sense of community is palpable.

I will be back at Fordhall this Friday, taking foraging one step further, and rustling up some yummy and nutritious food in the strawbale house kitchen, with those coming along to the sessions on Friday. Nutritional diversity and density is something I am really passionate about and our wild foods and herbs can play a really important part in improving our health and wellbeing.

Do have a look at what is on offer and if you know if anyone who would benefit from these sessions, please do share!

10/07/2026

Two beautiful workshop days in the Herbalist @ Home gardens 🌿

Two weeks ago, I hosted my Herbal Infused Oils and Balms workshop followed by, Herbs for Stress and Anxiety workshop and I am still feeling so grateful for the people who came, the plants we worked with, and the learning that unfolded.

Across the two days, we spent time in the medicinal herb gardens, met the plants where they grow, explored their therapeutic uses, and turned that knowledge into practical remedies to take home — from infused oils, lip balms and healing balms to bespoke tinctures and medicinal vinegars.

These workshops are always about more than simply making something. They are about building confidence, deepening relationship with the plants, understanding how and when to use them, and feeling more able to bring herbal medicine into everyday life.

Some lovely words from those who attended:

“Bee gives you the confidence to have a go and explore all the herbs and plants to improve your own wellbeing.” — Vicky

“Educational, informative, life enhancing, enjoyable and amazing cake!” — Karen

“A wonderful, informative and fun day.” — Denise

“Special place; quite intensive, but opportunity to recheck and ask questions, extensive and expert knowledge of tutor.” — Karen

“It’s a lovely relaxing day spent at a beautiful location learning about the properties of certain plants and how to use them in day-to-day life.” — Alyssa

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined me. It was a joy to share the gardens, the plants and the remedy-making with you.

More seasonal workshops are coming up, including Winter Herbal Farmacy in September — a full day of acute herbal medicine, winter remedies and seasonal treatment skills.

More details coming very soon 🌿

08/07/2026

Cooling peppermint spritz and cold infused herbal water to stay cool in the heat 😎🌞

Please tag a friend who may appreciate this 🥵💙

01/07/2026

Do you grow your own food where you can?
If so, what motivates you to?
What gives you the greatest pleasure?
What do you like the least?
If you don't anymore, what changed for you? A change in circumstance, a change in motivation?

I have had the pleasure of growing lots over the past 18 years! It's been a rich and varied journey. My motivations and pleasures have changed over the years with growing (food and medicine). Through kids getting older and less interested and through the dissolution of my marriage my relationship with growing food for the family home has changed. I observe the shifts and changes. And I am really curious about your personal observations over time and life changes, and would genuinely appreciate your sharing some of your own journey in relation to this 🙏💚

These pics were all taken this evening. Me working solo post dinner, kitchen cleaning up yet to do. Trusty doggo by my side. As always, immense gratitude to the plants, and to my fellow human travellers in this rich journey of life 💖🥗

26/06/2026

The last couple of day have been rich and full as I welcomed individuals to my Garden Insight Sessions 🙏💚

These gardens are an intrinsic part of my practice and dispensary. Sharing them is rich and rewarding and the feedback I have received over the past couple of days has been heartwarming and life affirming. The healing calm and vibrancy of these spaces shining through, along with my passion for plant medicine and natural healthcare. What surprised me was the depth of emotion I felt, sharing aspects of my personal relationship with these plants, which flows through my work and touches others.

Thanks to each of you who came along and made each session as special as it was🙏 🥰🌱🌹🌻🌿