Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Chris Smith, Owner of Pennard Plants, and heritage context from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Explore herbs at their summer peak, through scent, flavour and form.
Learn how to grow, harvest and use herbs with confidence.
Take home tea blends, cuttings and a deeper understanding of herbs in daily life.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend a summer day moving between kitchen garden, borders and table in this immersive herb masterclass at The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip.
Working directly with plants at their seasonal peak, you’ll explore how herbs grow, how they behave and how they can be used beautifully. From structured garden sessions to hands-on preparation and some tasting, the day moves between observation and application.
Guided by Chris Smith’s deep horticultural knowledge, you’ll be encouraged to engage all your senses. The focus throughout is on understanding herbs as living materials, shaped by season, place and care.
Asterion & Co. will frame the experience with a concise contextual session on the cultural life of herbs, from monastery gardens to modern kitchens, grounding the day in a wider tradition of use, craft and regeneration.
What you will learn
Understand herbs at their summer peak and how to read them
Differentiate between Mediterranean, native and shade-loving varieties
Design herb gardens for year-round structure, scent and interest
Propagate herbs through seed sowing and softwood cuttings
Harvest, dry and store herbs for long-term use
How the days unfold
Warm welcome and introduction
Guided exploration of the kitchen garden and herb borders
Sessions on scent, structure and seasonal behaviour
Seated garden lunch and time to pause
Afternoon practical sessions on propagation and preservation
Afternoon tea in the garden
Closing discussions and guidance for home application
What you’ll leave with
Herb samples for cooking and drying
Cuttings with propagation guidance
A planting guide and seasonal herb calendar
Greater confidence in growing, using and designing with herbs
A restorative experience of learning and connection
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Masterclass Details
Date: Friday 17th July 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Pricing: £215 per person
Includes: Full tuition, all materials, refreshments throughout the day, seated seasonal lunch, herb cuttings, plants and samples for home preservation, propagation notes and growing guides
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass brings together Chris Smith’s lifelong expertise in growing and selecting herbs with Asterion’s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ approach, creating an unhurried, sensory exploration of plants at their seasonal peak.
About Chris Smith
Chris Smith is the founder of Pennard Plants, one of the UK’s leading nurseries for heritage and edible plants. For over two decades, he has specialised in varieties chosen for flavour, resilience and character, with a particular focus on herbs, vegetables and fruit suited to British gardens.
Known for his depth of knowledge and practical approach, Chris teaches with clarity and generosity, helping gardeners understand not just how to grow plants, but how to work with them seasonally and successfully.
Learn more about Chris and Pennard Plants in The Asterion Journal.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Chris Smith, Owner of Pennard Plants, and heritage context from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Explore herbs at their summer peak, through scent, flavour and form.
Learn how to grow, harvest and use herbs with confidence.
Take home tea blends, cuttings and a deeper understanding of herbs in daily life.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend a summer day moving between kitchen garden, borders and table in this immersive herb masterclass at The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip.
Working directly with plants at their seasonal peak, you’ll explore how herbs grow, how they behave and how they can be used beautifully. From structured garden sessions to hands-on preparation and some tasting, the day moves between observation and application.
Guided by Chris Smith’s deep horticultural knowledge, you’ll be encouraged to engage all your senses. The focus throughout is on understanding herbs as living materials, shaped by season, place and care.
Asterion & Co. will frame the experience with a concise contextual session on the cultural life of herbs, from monastery gardens to modern kitchens, grounding the day in a wider tradition of use, craft and regeneration.
What you will learn
Understand herbs at their summer peak and how to read them
Differentiate between Mediterranean, native and shade-loving varieties
Design herb gardens for year-round structure, scent and interest
Propagate herbs through seed sowing and softwood cuttings
Harvest, dry and store herbs for long-term use
How the days unfold
Warm welcome and introduction
Guided exploration of the kitchen garden and herb borders
Sessions on scent, structure and seasonal behaviour
Seated garden lunch and time to pause
Afternoon practical sessions on propagation and preservation
Afternoon tea in the garden
Closing discussions and guidance for home application
What you’ll leave with
Herb samples for cooking and drying
Cuttings with propagation guidance
A planting guide and seasonal herb calendar
Greater confidence in growing, using and designing with herbs
A restorative experience of learning and connection
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Masterclass Details
Date: Friday 17th July 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Pricing: £215 per person
Includes: Full tuition, all materials, refreshments throughout the day, seated seasonal lunch, herb cuttings, plants and samples for home preservation, propagation notes and growing guides
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass brings together Chris Smith’s lifelong expertise in growing and selecting herbs with Asterion’s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ approach, creating an unhurried, sensory exploration of plants at their seasonal peak.
About Chris Smith
Chris Smith is the founder of Pennard Plants, one of the UK’s leading nurseries for heritage and edible plants. For over two decades, he has specialised in varieties chosen for flavour, resilience and character, with a particular focus on herbs, vegetables and fruit suited to British gardens.
Known for his depth of knowledge and practical approach, Chris teaches with clarity and generosity, helping gardeners understand not just how to grow plants, but how to work with them seasonally and successfully.
Learn more about Chris and Pennard Plants in The Asterion Journal.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
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