YEAR 1 STARTER COURSE
STEP 8: ADDITIONAL SUMMER TASKS

2. Start Preparing For The Herbarium Project

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HERBARIUM PROJECT

The herbarium project aims to assess student’s plant identification skills (botany), ethical plant collecting, drying and mounting skills as well as knowledge and research of local medicinal plants.

You are required to collect THREE medicinal herbarium specimens in each year of year 1 and year 2 . These specimens can be from any WILD herb, shrub, vine or tree as long as you can find a medicinal reference for its use and they are not rare or protected.

During your Botany seminars, you will be taught more in-depth information about the herbarium project and how to successfully create your own herbarium, which will serve as an invaluable resource in your herbal studies.

A herbarium (plural "herbaria") is a collection of pressed, dried plant specimens organised in a systematic way to aid identification and research. Each herbarium sheet has a single plant on it with additional collection data on an attached label. 

Herbaria are kept as sources of information on where plants are found, what ecological niche and habitats they live in, conservation status, and to provide genetic and chemical material. These mounted specimens are kept loose in folders, not bound together (to allow reordering as data changes) and ordered by family, then in folders by genus, species, and then location.

Examples of herbarium include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, (c. 8.3 million specimens), the Museum of Natural History in Paris (c. 8 million) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh (C. 3 million). Some local medicinal museums (e.g. Manchester Museum) and botanical societies (e.g. South London Botanical Institute; RHS Garden Wisley) also have collections. If you wish to visit a herbarium, look to see if one local to you offers tours.

In a herbalist’s context, a herbarium collection can be a useful tool to aid identification, both for getting to know a plant but also to refer to the specimen in the future. Collecting specimens and creating herbaria is also an exercise in getting to know the local flora. Finally, it is a fun and rewarding project to complete. Most herbal schools ask students to complete their own herbarium, and reflects the medical training process that all medical students also undertook until the early 20th-century.

what is a herbarium?

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summer task

If you have some time available over the summer months, consider gathering a few herbs from your local area and spend some time learning about the herb and practicing the art of pressing plants. This can be a rewarding and educational experience, allowing you to connect with nature while building your herbal knowledge BEFORE THE START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR COMMENCES.

equipment needed

HERBARIUM PRESS - MADE OR BOUGHT

  • Make a press (see videos below)

  • Or… improvise with use large flat books or baking trays and bricks.

  • Find a good quality press on ebay or etsy

  • Corrugated cardboard (from old boxes; corrugated is necessary for airflow)

  • Newspaper (ask for the left over ones at a local newsagents/train station)

  • Thick paper or blotting paper for pressing/drying

  • For mounting: For mounting, you will receive more info during seminar time, and the opportunity to buy mounting materials.

make your own plant press 

GUIDES

foraging guidelines

    • Buy a good plant identification book. We recommend this one.

    • Familiarise yourself with local plant species, particularly those you intend to collect. Identify those best suited for your herbarium collection.

    • Always ensure that you can correctly identify the plants you gather, as some may be toxic or harmful. Use herb identification books or apps for assistance. If unsure about a plant's safety, do not harvest it.

    • Observe the growth cycles of herbs in your area. Different plants will be available at various times of the year. Regular walks can help you track seasonal changes and increases in biodiversity.

    • Identify locations where wild herbs grow abundantly. Look for unspoiled natural areas that are not subjected to pollutants or chemicals. Parks, riverbanks, hedgerows, and your own garden can be good choices.

    • Be aware of local regulations regarding foraging. Some areas may have restrictions on collecting certain plants or may require permission. Respect these laws to protect natural habitats.

    • Be familiarise yourself with the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.

    • Please do not collect protected or rare plants, stick to well known weeds.

    • Roots are ideally collected, but may only be collected with landowners permission. If it is a wild plant on public land, avoid collecting the roots as this would contravene the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.

    • When collecting herbs, only take a small amount from each plant to avoid depleting populations. Follow the principle of "take only what you need," and always leave enough behind for wildlife and future growth.

    • Advocate for ecological responsibility by spreading local seeds and encouraging wildflower patches. Contributing to local green growth supports both plant diversity and wildlife

  • You will need:

    • A notebook and pen

    • Jeweller’s tags

    In your collection notebook, please record:

    • Collection number: Unique to each plant, use a jeweller’s tag to tag the plant with a number that matches your notebook data.

    • Location: Use a location and, ideally a GPS number, which can be found on any maps app on a smartphone.

    • Description: Data that may be lost on drying such as height, colour and smell.

    • Habitat: Describe the habitat that it was growing in, including any plants it grew by (if known).

    See label template below for other data you will need to discover.

foraging EQUIPMENT

  • ID books of your choice. A floral key, such as Rose & O’Reilly is essential. Photographic ones can be helpful to start such as:

    • Rose, F., & O’Reilly, C. (2006). The wild flower key: How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland. Penguin Books.

    • Phillips, R. (Any edition). Wild flowers of Britain. Pan Books

    • Cuttle, S., & Spencer, R. (Any edition). Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland. Kyle Books.

  • Baskets are ideal because they allow a good airflow around plant material which prevents sweating and fermenting. 

  • Linen bags are also breathable, many can be carried. Good for folding up in a bag or pocket or bag for sudden foraging opportunities.

  • In contrast to baskets and linen bags, these are not always ideal because they cause sweating and/or fermentation if herbs are kept in there for longer periods. However, plastic bags and tupperware are useful for gathering berries to keep your basket clean.

    A plastic bag is also ideal for elderflowers. The flavour of elderflower is concentrated in the pollen which drops off easily, and plastic bags help retain this. If using a bag to collect elder, keep the top open.

  • Scissors are ideal for easy snipping of things like nettle tops

  • Secateurs are ideal for tougher branches

  • Hand lens are good for admiring and identifying your herbs.

  • Opinel is a popular brand as they are foldable and multicoloured, but as the blade can be locked they are not legal in the UK. You may carry a folding or fixed blade under 3 inches legally, or over 3 inches if you have a good reason. It is sensible to be aware of these issues. See Selling, buying and carrying knives - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

  • Ideal for digging up roots where it can be done sustainably and legally. Please see the Legal Considerations section.

BASIC PLANT COLLECTING & PRESSING

labelling your specimens

Start practicing how to label your herb specimens correctly and accurately. Use the example label provided below as your guide to ensure consistency and clarity. The font used for the labels should be Arial at a size of 12pt.

No need to print these yet, these will come later after you have guidance in seminar regarding mounting.

Scientific name: Betonica officinalis L. 

Common synonyms: Stachys officinalis L. (Trevis.)

Common names: Wood betony, betony, bishop’s wort

Family: Lamiaceae

Description: 40-cm high, light scent when crushed, flower dark purple/magenta, 4 stamens paired in upper hood of corolla. Basal rosette of crenate leaves.* 

Location: Amwell Lane, North edge of allotments SG12, 51°47'25.4"N 0°00'10.6"W

Habitat: Sloping, open meadow, full sun, growing with various grasses (Poaceae), daisies (Bellis perennis L.) and selfheal (Prunella vulgaris L.)

Sustainability/conservation status: Widespread native in England. BSBI Red List: least concern.

Collector No.: 0001 Date Collected: 15 June 2025    Student No.: Leave blank (you will receive your student number in September)

HOW TO STORE YOUR HERBARIUM

Storing a herbarium collection properly is essential for preserving plant specimens and ensuring their longevity. By following these storage practices, you will ensure your herbarium remains a valuable resource for research and education for years to come.

    • Ensure that all specimens are fully dry and pressed before storage. Excess moisture can lead to mould growth and degradation.

    • Label each specimen accurately, including the species name, collection date, habitat, and collector’s information.

    • Mounting of specimens happens after the plant has dried use A3 acid-free paper (minimum 187 gsm) for mounting specimens. This prevents the papers from yellowing and degrading over time.

    • You do not need to worry about mounting at this point, please wait for guidance during seminars.

    • Store herbarium pressings in a cool, dry location, away from direct sunlight and fluctuating temperatures.

    • Store and handle specimens flat and face up.

    • When handling specimens, use clean, dry hands or wear gloves to minimise oil and dirt transfer.

    • Avoid excessive handling to reduce the risk of damage to delicate specimens.

    • Conduct regular inspections of your herbarium to monitor for any signs of deterioration, such as fading or insect damage.

    • Update labels when necessary, ensuring that all information remains current and legible.

    • Consider creating a digital catalogue of your herbarium. Photograph specimens and store information electronically for additional preservation and accessibility.