About Lisa
The Useful Plant Company was founded by Lisa, a Scottish Botanical Herbalist with studies in Herbology at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Permaculture with Graham Bell and sustainable plant identification with Grass Root Remedies.
Her curiosity of Scotland’s plants grew from time spent volunteering on archaeological sites in Perthshire, where she saw first-hand how deeply plants are woven into our history and daily life. That connection between people, plants, and place continues to shape her work today.
Lisa’s approach is practical, informed, and grounded in respect for Scotland’s landscapes. Each walk, workshop, and consultancy project is designed to share reliable knowledge about useful plants: how to recognise them, understand their value, and use them responsibly in modern life.
Our Area of Expertise
Terraceuticals: Landscape Medicine
Did you know that medicine does not need to be consumed in a pill, balm or syrup to ellicit therapeutic effects? Or that heading outside to healthy spaces in nature can positively affect our heart, immune system, sleep, mental health and wellbeing?
Lisa’s research introduced the term terraceuticals, defining it as:
“The study and practice of landscape medicine: recognising the reciprocal relationship between ecological health, biodiversity health and human health.”
Just because a space is natural, does not mean it is healthy. This research explores how biodiverse, terpene-rich landscapes can act as natural health systems for all living communities, both human and wildlife.
This concept underpins the mission of The Useful Plant Company: to translate academic research into accessible, experiential learning that introduces landscape medicine to all.
“My Goal: To share the principles of terraceuticals through education and experience, inspiring people to rediscover Scotland’s useful and medicinal plants, and to cherish biodiversity for future generations.”
— Lisa, Founder of The Useful Plant Company
Our Sustainable Foraging Principles
At The Useful Plant Company, we believe that the path to recognising, understanding, and using Scotland’s wild plants begins with learning to protect them.
Our approach is rooted in responsibility: each leaf or flower collected is part of a much wider community of life.
By following these principles, we help ensure that the herbs and landscapes we depend on continue to thrive for generations to come.
Leave No Trace
Harvest with care and humility. Take only small amounts from the wild, concealing any cut stems or foliage and backfilling any small holes left from root gathering. A well-harvested site should look untouched to anyone passing by.
Consider Wildlife
After gathering, rest your basket in a quiet garden spot for an hour to allow insects to crawl free. This small act honours the shared lives within each handful of leaves or flowers.
Harvest Only in Abundance
Take from plant populations that are clearly thriving. Never pick rare or isolated species, and never take more than one-third of any plant community. Always leave enough for both the plant’s regeneration and the wildlife that depends on it.
Harvest Only What You Can Identify
Know each plant before you pick it: never munch on a hunch! The plant kingdom is rich and diverse, but not all herbs are safe, some are deadly when mistaken for their lookalikes in fact. Always trace each stem to its base before harvesting, and learn to recognise plants by sight, scent, touch, and habitat
Permission and the Law
In Scotland, the right to roam allows for responsible access and the collection of wild fruits, nuts, and seeds for personal use. This right does not extend to uprooting plants or harvesting from protected sites. Always seek permission on private land and never pick from nature reserves without written consent.
Foraging is a privilege that depends on our collective respect for landowners and the law.
Take Only What You Need
Know your purpose before you pick. If your recipe calls for flowers, leave the stem and leaves intact. Avoid taking bark or roots unless truly necessary: a pruned branch will serve just as well as bark from the trunk, with less harm to the tree.
Leave Pioneers and Seeders
If you encounter only a few plants of a species, let them grow and spread. Nature rewards patience; abundance takes time.
Choose Clean, Healthy Plants
Harvest only from unpolluted areas and avoid sites near roads, grazing, or chemical use. Select strong, vibrant specimens free from disease or infestation. Healthy herbs create healthy remedies.
At home, sort your harvest: keep the best for internal or medicinal use, and use any damaged material for external, household or garden preparations.
Our Commitment
The Useful Plant Company is dedicated to teaching sustainable, safe, and ethical foraging on all of our walks and workshops. We share best practice so that everyone who learns develops a lasting respect for Scotland’s ecosystems: one that balances knowledge with care. By foraging thoughtfully, we not only gather plants but help ensure that our wild spaces remain abundant, resilient, and thriving for generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find more of our frequently asked questions in our helpful section. Let us know if you have a question not answered here and we will do our best to help.
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A plant education company based in Highland Perthshire offering guided walks, workshops, and consultancy celebrating Scotland’s useful and medicinal plants.
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We use the term to describe plants with a history of use: for healing, nourishment, craft, or connection to Scotland’s people and landscapes.
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Across Highland Perthshire including Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Aberfeldy, and Blair Atholl, with both indoor and outdoor workshops throughout the year, whatever the weather.
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Not at all. Our walks and workshops are designed for complete beginners and plant enthusiasts alike. All you need is curiosity and a love of nature.
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Our sessions are informal, educational experiences rather than accredited qualifications, but they provide a strong foundation in plant identification, foraging ethics, and natural remedy making.
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We welcome collaborations in education, wellness, heritage, and sustainability. Please get in touch to discuss potential partnerships at lisa@theusefulplantcompany.com
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All of our walk and workshop guides are fully trained at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as well as having the following qualifications:
Outdoor First Aid
Mental Health First Aid