The Christopher Hedley Memorial Award for significant contribution to herbal medicine About Christopher Hedley
‘If this plant were a person, would you take it home for tea?’
This award has been set up to celebrate the life and work of Christopher Hedley, herbalist extraordinary. In the vast and fertile borderland where herbs, medicine and magic meet, Christopher was entirely at home. Herbalism today demands the ability to deconstruct a plant into its pharmacological constituents, but we also need to remember that plants are whole beings with their own place in the world, and they have much more to offer than their component parts. Christopher was endlessly inventive in finding ways to bring plants and people together, and always ready to sample the lesser known and out of fashion herbs that grow all around us. In his years of teaching, he inspired thousands of ‘baby herbalists’ to think and feel outside and beyond the curriculum, and to think of herbs as friends and allies, rather than as tools. Often called a wizard by students and patients alike – he was well over six feet tall, with a full beard and a dandelion clock of white hair (though it used to be fiery red) – he brought endless compassion and humour to his work.
The award will be made to honour the memory of Christopher Hedley, FNIMH, and will be awarded annually. Nominations:
The award recognises an individual herbalist who has made a significant contribution to herbal medicine. Examples of this contribution might be through practice, education, community work, research, or environmental work. Any herbalist, whether practicing or retired, anywhere in the world can be nominated to receive the award. Nominations are not restricted to members of any particular professional association. Nominations can be made by any person.
Each nomination should have a proposer and a seconder and should explain how this nominee’s activities have contributed to herbal medicine and why they are worthy of the award.
Nominations should be sent to the NIMH office marked Christopher Hedley Award. Judging of the award will be done by the NIMH Council; the judges decision will be final.
Closing date for 2018 nominations: 31st August 2018