What is a Plant Walk?

Plant walks have been organized by herbalists for a very long time. A plant walk can be guided or self-led but is when a walk is taken with the specific intent of identifying plants along the path. Walks can be themed around flowers, medicinal herbs or native plants. The focus on the plants brings a certain presence when walking and also helps you to orient and connect with local landscapes and build your plant knowledge. When guided by an herbalist, you might learn both common and latin names for the plants and then if they have any unique features that help with identification, interesting facts and traditional or medicinal uses. When self-led, it’s helpful to have a plant guide that will include the plants found in the place you find yourself. Plant walks can be held in botanical gardens, parks, along water ways, in the countryside, mountains or even in the desert.