Botanic Shed

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Botanic Shed Botanic Shed creates sanctuaries - we are a community of gardeners and healers developing gardens and running events. Lara Cowan

Through expert design, consultancy, and nature-based experiences, we reconnect people with the healing power of the natural world. Botanic Shed membership will help you move towards a brighter future, by focusing on the power of nature. You will collaborate with world-class members, and learn to heal and grow through a range of nature-based therapies and ideas. Through nature connection, we hope to help you to build new neurological pathways to sooth your mind and protect your well-being whilst empowering your existing personal strengths. "If every person could take a non-negotiable 1 hour out of each day and spend it outdoors in nature, deepening that innate connection we have with it then stress and depression levels would plummet."

In case you missed her…this is one of the wonderful of the shorter Aster’s Aster novi-belgii ‘Winston Churchill’ She (de...
14/10/2026

In case you missed her…this is one of the wonderful of the shorter Aster’s

Aster novi-belgii ‘Winston Churchill’

She (despite being called Winston) produces masses of rich, deep cerise-red blooms with golden centres, creating an electric display from late summer into autumn. Upright, branching stems form a strong, leafy clump that brings structure as well as impact, while its nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies. The saturated flower tones hold their intensity well, making it a standout choice for cutting gardens and mixed perennial displays. Reliable and eye-catching, it adds rich colour at a time when the garden is starting to wind down. Ultimate height and spread: 80cm (31in).

Welcome to my day backwards. I feel that a good sound bath, should be a weekly routine for the human race. You simply ca...
13/10/2026

Welcome to my day backwards.

I feel that a good sound bath, should be a weekly routine for the human race. You simply can’t reach this level of calibration / harmonisation for the cells in the body. A nice walk by the river and meeting a little chap called Vince the Patterdale puppy doesn’t go a miss either. Then there’s the highlights of a warm October day across a few gardens…pumpkins are ready to harvest and mushrooms are cropping up. What felt like unexplainable merhhh that last week felt like…that feeling has lifted and I feel high as a kite on what seems like a second summer and a good dose of crystal bowls and gongs.

12/10/2026

Who is this woman? A beaming light…holding a flame for the challenge to help people care about soil. The way we have been led to treat soil and biology with such excruciatingly degrading and deathly measures is bonkers but it’s got to stop here and now. We need to feed and nourish ourselves well to be well, to prevent disease, and we need to feed and nourish the soil…she’s calling out for help. I always say, nature is yearning for connection with us as much we yearn for connection and belonging in the world.
Claire here is talking about SHAPE the Soil Action Health Plan and taking soil education to schools with compassion. Amen sister. Love your energy .remackenzie

To learn and share what needs sharing please follow Claire and watch her film Six Inches of Soil.

Other educators and place to read: .life


SAD defying Sunday pumpkin festival at Hardwick Festival - spending time in the presence of the organic king Tolly (Ian ...
11/10/2026

SAD defying Sunday pumpkin festival at Hardwick Festival - spending time in the presence of the organic king Tolly (Ian Tolhurst). This event is the highlight of the year for me…amongst all the places I go…this place steals my heart…actually the is steals the hearts of all the family. A very large dose of joy.

Did you read the article by Clover Stroud about snatching joy snacks in Good Housekeeping UK? She quotes me on some of my tips…and I should have added to it..a visit to this place.

Love Lara xx

World mental health day means more to me these days than they did before I realized just how ill I had been while trying...
10/10/2026

World mental health day means more to me these days than they did before I realized just how ill I had been while trying my best everyday to help other people feel happier and do better. I sought out trauma therapy eduction to share it with others, then the day came when I found out I had suffered for 20 years with PTSD. And I realized how very easy it is to hide serious mental health issues. So be kind. To everyone always. Beneath their brave face there may be a struggle you can help with a gentle smile and calm words of connection and encouragement.
Today I chose to share these photos of the most formidable woman in mental health that I have meet this year. Grace Blest-Hopley Neuroscientist and psychedelic researcher blew the roof off mental health speeches at the Big Brue Festival in Bruton, Somerset last month. It was an honour to listen to and even better to meet and chat afterwards. There have been many things that have supported my nervous system over the years (qigong, gardening and mindfulness) but since my diagnosis in 2021 I have gone deep on therapy, on plant spirit connection and on forest bathing but I have also discovered the power of psylocibin as a calming agent. And there’s more to tell on this story line…involving my Grandfather. A story for another night.


10/10/2026

Nature preaching from the seaside in

Nature restores us. It’s in our DNA to feel home and safe and cared for when we are close and connected to Mother Nature.

Ancient traditions know it.

Modern science has had to prove it for sleeping humans to wake up and remember.

Attention Restoration Theory (ART): Unnatural, built up environments require of our brains some heavy directed attention (ignoring ads, avoiding traffic, multitasking) which depletes the prefrontal cortex. Nature engages soft fascination (watching leaves, listening to water, natural fractal geometry) which rests this focus system and allows it to replenish. When you have a choice how to spend your time….spend it in your mother’s arms…in the arms of Mother Nature. Amen.

All my love,
Lara
The Nature Preacher 😉😘

This is one of the most beautiful trees with brightly coloured summer flowers - aptly named The Golden Rain Tree. Its La...
09/10/2026

This is one of the most beautiful trees with brightly coloured summer flowers - aptly named The Golden Rain Tree. Its Latin name is Koelreuteria paniculata and it comes from China (including Inner Mongolia), Korea, and Manchuria. When we started working at this garden there was a self-sown Willow that was growing right up against it affecting its shape. Unfortunately no one had noticed but we did and we removed the willow and encouraged the tree to balance out again. She’s given this gardens owners four years of joy. They moved house this week so our last visit was quite emotional.
SWIPE left for a photo of the flower buds from The RHS

Go out and grab that sunshine moment! This is me behind the camera at home this morning. Heaven.
08/10/2026

Go out and grab that sunshine moment! This is me behind the camera at home this morning. Heaven.

A few of our clients have sold their houses recently and sent some amazing messages of thanks. One of our garden design ...
07/10/2026

A few of our clients have sold their houses recently and sent some amazing messages of thanks. One of our garden design and management clients is actually moving this week so this week is the last week we work with them, after 5 years. I’ve helped them create a garden in memory of her late father and a pot garden that she has loved too. It’s been wonderful and now it’s a new chapter for them and us…we’ll miss the garden a lot!

We have helped move the pots and plants they want to keep and take cuttings of roses and salvia. They move to a rental in Appleton, Oxfordshire where they can use our pot care instructions to keep these beauties going.

The lady wrote the most lovely letter to me last night and I wanted to share the joy with you all. X

Hi Lara,

I just wanted to say what a pleasure and privilege it’s been working with you and I so hope that we get to work together again at some point in the future maybe when we’ve bought the next place.
You really have been such an important part of this home. You really are incredibly talented and I’ve loved what you’ve created for us. I so hope the next people appreciate and maintain it.
This morning I sat outside drinking my coffee early before they arrived and there was a beautiful woodpecker on the ornamental apple tree and two ducks on the pond. It was the sweetest thing and I’m going to miss it so much.
I’ve loved working with you and wish you all the very best in everything that you’re building. I hope we keep in touch and I’m pleased we’re taking a small part of it with us.
A huge thank you from us. ###

What a joyful letter!

Sending you all lots of love,

Lara

We have come to of the most heavenly healing spots in the UK…our favourite Welsh hotel….Druidstone, Pembrokeshire. The e...
03/10/2026

We have come to of the most heavenly healing spots in the UK…our favourite Welsh hotel….Druidstone, Pembrokeshire. The energy here is beyond peaceful…

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