Deep winter is a time of transformation, when the long nights begin to darken and only a few red berries linger on the bare branches of gardens and woodland paths.
As the season turns, join us for a mindful event celebrating nature and ritual with a ceremony dedicated to the hawthorn berry and its role in Scottish design and traditional ecological knowledge.
Hawthorn, an important symbol of eco-design in Scotland, is also one of the ancient Ogham trees. For centuries it has been valued for both its practical uses and its symbolic meaning, representing protection, healing, and connection between worlds.
Led by herbalist Clare McQuade, with an introduction by ecologist Laia Rovira-Craven, the event begins with a guided look at hawthorn designs in our galleries. We then move into the Garden Futures exhibition for a gentle ritual of tea sampling and storytelling, accompanied by live harp music from Sian Shepherd.
Recommended for ages 16+. Children aged 10–16 may attend when accompanied by an adult.
About the contributors
Claire McQuade is the founder of stoneroot, a practice integrating modern scientific knowledge of the body and herbal medicines with energetic understanding and ancient spiritual practices.
Laia Rovira-Craven is a Freshwater Ecologist, based at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. She is passionate about helping people reconnect with the natural world and the local traditions our ancestors passed down through generations, guiding us towards more sustainable ways of living.
Sian Shepherd is a harpist and piano teacher based in Edinburgh. She loves to share her passion for music with others through her teaching and by performing on the Clarsach (Celtic small harp), Scotland's oldest traditional instrument.
