As the days lengthen and the Garden begins to stir, join us for an atmospheric evening of food, folklore and seasonal ritual with writer and kitchen witch Laura May.

Set within the ancient surroundings of Chelsea Physic Garden, London’s apothecary garden and forming part of our Folklore ReRooted programme, this folklore feast celebrates the return of light and the awakening of green. Across cultures and centuries, herbs, flowers and simple ingredients have carried stories of healing, protection and enchantment. In this immersive supper, each dish becomes a way into those traditions.

The evening begins with a small ceremonial toast to the returning Green Man, followed by a sequence of seasonal dishes inspired by the hedgerow, the herb garden and the folklore of spring. Along the way, Laura will share stories of plant magic and forgotten kitchen traditions, revealing how recipes themselves can become small acts of ritual and intention.

Expect food and a touch of the otherworldly as you move through an evening that is part supper, part storytelling circle. You will leave not only nourished, but with a renewed sense of how food, plants and gathering together can honour the turning of the seasons.

Menu

• Wormwood tea elixir to toast the returning Green Man
• Black Garlic Focaccia with Wild Garlic Herb Dip paired with a Carmelite and Lemon Gimlet
• Hedgerow Sushi, with pickled magnolia petals, lady’s smock vinegar and seasonal foraged herbs, served with Hawthorn Blossom Syrup Fizz
• Nettle Hummus with seasonal crudités
• Rosemary and Sweet Violet Cake, served with a Sweet Violet Arnold Parma
• Hibiscus infused port

Throughout the evening, Laura will share the folklore of the plants featured in the meal, including hawthorn and the faerie traditions of the hedgerow, the protective symbolism of rosemary, the quiet power of nettle and the ancient stories carried by wild garlic.

Please note: All dishes are egg-free, dairy-free and meat-free. There will be non-alcoholic versions available. However, we cannot guarantee nut-free, sesame-free or gluten-free. If you have any questions regarding allergies, please contact

About Laura May

Laura May is a writer, kitchen witch and folkloric food enthusiast. She is the author of Kitchen Magic: 65 Enchanting Recipes for a Cosy Witchy Kitchen, a book that blends herbal folklore, magical theory and traditional knowledge with practical recipes for everyday enchantment.

Drawing on the histories of witchcraft, folk medicine and plant lore, Laura’s work explores how the wisdom of our ancestors can still nourish, protect and empower us today – one meal, one spell, one cup of tea at a time.

Through her workshops, writing and immersive events, and through an online community of more than 400,000 people, Laura invites others to rediscover the kitchen as a sacred space connected to the rhythms of the natural world.