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What I Do

I’m Annie Gardner, a Totnes-based herbalist, postnatal doula, coach, educator, massage therapist, and sleep coach with over 25 years of experience. I’m deeply passionate about supporting the health and wellbeing of women, babies, and children.

I’m dedicated to helping women navigate hormonal challenges, gynaecological conditions, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and the transitions of perimenopause and menopause.​​ For families, I bring years of experience treating babies and children with herbal remedies and teaching parents how to address common issues at home through my workshops.

Let’s work together to find the support that’s right for you!

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 Annie Gardner, Herbalist & Women’s Wellness Specialist 

❝ I love the way we were gently brought deeper into connection with the plants—so supportive, so honouring of our own unique experience! ❞ 

Ambuka L
Autumn Plant Allies for Women participant

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The Path I Took

I live in an intentional community in the Totnes area with my partner and three children. Here’s a bit about what inspires me and how I ended up doing the work I do. As a child, I had the freedom to explore the countryside around where we lived. I spent time learning to identify the herbs and flowers in the wild, and nature became both my refuge and my teacher. I grew up in a family where women gave birth at home, breastfed well into the toddler years, and turned to homeopathy, herbal remedies, and anthroposophical medicine when we were ill. The mothers in my life modelled a natural, intuitive approach to parenting that felt deeply connected to nature. This experience of holistic living instilled in me a confidence in the innate wisdom of the body and in alternative methods of treating illness, which led me to pursue a career in holistic health. My love for plants eventually led me to study herbal medicine, alongside workshops in shamanism, Soulcraft (Anima’s Valley Institute), Plant Spirit Medicine, and Intuitive Herbalism. I have always found peace and solace in nature, enjoying wild camping, vision quests, and spending four months immersed in a beautiful women’s retreat centre in New Mexico. As a teenager, I was drawn to parenting and began reading extensively on the subject. As a mother, I deepened my interest in non-violent communication, attachment parenting, and Hand in Hand parenting through workshops. My desire to support mothers and parents led me to train as a postnatal educator and doula. I have since expanded my expertise to include pregnancy massage, holistic sleep coaching, and the Closing the Bones ceremony. My aim is to support parents through pregnancy, birth, and parenthood in a way that helps them stay resourced and have a greater capacity to love and care for their children. I believe it truly takes a village to raise a child, and I bring this awareness of interdependence and community support to my work. I see parenting as an act of radical activism—helping to raise the next generation of resilient, compassionate, and conscious adults who care for themselves, others, and the Earth. I’m passionate about supporting women through life transitions, such as menarche and birth. I do this through my involvement in a mother-daughter group, offering massage, the Closing the Bones ceremony, plant connection sessions, and group workshops. I also offer Plant Allies for Women workshops, drawing on my personal experience of being part of a Women's Journey Group (with Fiona Shaw), my own women’s circle, ancestral healing, ceremony, and menstrual cycle awareness (with Nikki Chambers). If you’re interested, I’ve included a list of my qualifications and further training below.

My Herbal Medicine Training

BSc Hons in Herbal Medicine, 2001-2006
with The Scottish School of Herbal Medicine
(4-year degree program, including 500 clinical hours)

Herbal Medicine for Fertility, Prenatal Preparation, Pregnancy, Childbirth and Post-natal Support, 2006
with Caroline Guyett and Jackie Davis

Herbs for First Aid and Acute Illness, a workshop and voluntary work at festivals between 2001-2006 with Dedj Leibrant

Goethean Observation, 2001 & 2019 with Margaret Colquhoun & Liz Turner

Plant Spirit Medicine, 2002 with Pip Waller

Soul Retrieval, 2003 with Pip Waller

Body Diagnosis, 2007 with Margi Flint
(from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective)

The Tissue States, 2019 with Mathew Wood

Cherokee Medicine, 2022 with David Winston

Intuitive Herbalism Introduction & Foundation, 2021 with Nathan Hughes

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❝ The tinctures and remedies Annie provided, alongside the consultations, aided greatly in supporting the gentle home birth that I had dreamed of! In the tenderness of my postpartum period, I was so deeply trusting of Annie’s knowledge. Her kindness, skill and generosity were soothing balms within my experience. I have since recommended her to many friends! ❞ 

Rose R

My Massage Training

ITEC Diploma in Anatomy, Physiology & Therapeutic Massage, 2002

ITEC Diploma in Aromatherapy, 2003

Diploma in Pregnancy Massage with Holistic Therapies Trainings Academy, 2021

Postnatal Support Training

Birthing Wisdom Holistic Trainings: Postnatal Educator & Doula, 2020

Babyem Holistic Sleep Coaching, 2021 with Lyndsey Hookway

Closing the Bones Ceremony Workshop and online course 2021 with Sophie Messenger

Other Training

Non-violent Communication Camps, Family Retreats & Workshops,
2011-2013

Parent Peer Leadership, 2012 
with BayNVC, 9-month programme

Hand in Hand Starter Course & Workshops, 2013 & 2021
with Hand in Hand Parenting

8-Week Mindfulness Course, 2014 with The Sharpham Trust

Women’s Journey Group, since 2019 with Fiona Shaw at Birthing the Soul

Mother Daughter Lodge mentoring/training with Eartha Love at Map of Womanhood School in holding our girls lodge for three years.

Soul Quest, 2005
Soulcraft Intensive, 2022
Wild Mind Intensive, 2023

with Animas Valley Institute
Theatre of the Wild Kate Joyner (Animas guide)
Soul Pilgrimage 2024-2025 Claire Milne, Rebecca Card (Animas guides)

❝ I’ve been receiving massages from Annie for a few years, and she is truly exceptional. Her style is the perfect balance of gentle and firm, and she has an incredible ability to find and work out knots with precision. She creates a serene environment and ensures everything, from the oils to the music, is perfect for me. Annie respects the quiet during sessions while checking in to make sure I’m comfortable. Her kindness, care, and expertise always leave me feeling deeply relaxed and rejuvenated. I highly recommend her! ❞ 

Joy

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