{"id":982,"date":"2026-03-16T19:48:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/?p=982"},"modified":"2026-03-16T19:48:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:48:07","slug":"obsessed-with-hamnet-plant-the-magical-herbs-seen-in-the-film","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/?p=982","title":{"rendered":"Obsessed with Hamnet? Plant the magical herbs seen in the film"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the Hamnet film currently captivating audiences and sparking fresh interest in Shakespeare\u2019s world, viewers are falling in love not just with the story but with its rich, plant-filled landscape. The film\u2019s evocative use of herbs – woven through scenes of healing, family life and folklore – has inspired many people to look at their own gardens differently.<\/p>\n

Behind this botanical authenticity is Dr Kim Walker, a medical herbalist, biocultural historian, and researcher at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, who worked as the film\u2019s herbal consultant. Her expertise ensured every plant seen on screen reflected the traditions and meanings of the time – and her insights can help you recreate that same sense of herbal magic at home.<\/p>\n

One of the secrets behind the film\u2019s stunning herb gardens was the collaboration between Dr Kim Walker and renowned herb grower Jekka McVicar. “She\u2019s got this really great skill, which I don\u2019t have, which is about growing, growing and making things look good. I\u2019m more of a forager and how to use things, and she\u2019s really excellent about what was grown and how to grow it. So it\u2019s quite a good team,” Walker explained.<\/p>\n

The power and symbolism of herbs<\/h3>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

In Hamnet, herbs are more than mere props – they are symbols of healing, memory, and connection to the land. Dr Walker describes the film\u2019s atmosphere as \u201cblending folklore, medicine, and emotional symbolism\u201d. She reveals that in the story, Shakespeare\u2019s wife, Agnes Hathaway, is portrayed as a healer whose inherited herbal knowledge shapes her family\u2019s fate. This deep connection to nature is something Dr Walker encourages us to rediscover.<\/p>\n

Choosing the right herbs<\/h3>\n

\"Lavenders<\/p>\n

If you want to create your own Hamnet-inspired herb garden, Dr Walker recommends focusing on aromatic and medicinal plants that have stood the test of time. \u201cA Hamnet-inspired garden would include lots of aromatics, including rosemary<\/a>, fennel, violets\u2026 but other things that were used for treating bubonic plague, that are useful, beautiful, and very aromatic and can be used in food and medicine are things like all of the aromatic herbs: sage<\/a>, thyme<\/a>, lavender<\/a>, and garlic<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n

She also highlights the importance of allowing some wild plants to flourish: \u201cI would allow some weeds to grow. So allow those mugworts, those plantains, those daisies to pop up, in nod to that ancient remedy. And [they’re] good for the pollinators as well\u201d.<\/p>\n

Bringing ancient rituals into modern life<\/h3>\n

\"Sage<\/p>\n

One of the most captivating aspects of Hamnet is the way ancient herbal rituals are brought to life. Dr Walker shares the story of the Nine Herbs Charm<\/em>, an Anglo-Saxon poem invoking the healing powers of nine plants. \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful poem that each plant of the nine herbs has a whole paragraph and researchers think that because the poem says you have to recite this three times\u2026 it was a timing thing. So you knew when your herbs were ready, when you were processing them\u201d.<\/p>\n

She encourages us to embrace this sense of ritual and connection: \u201cIf you do have a garden even, or if you don\u2019t have a garden, but you have a windowsill, we can grow some aromatic herbs and having something that you might like to brew into a tea and be able to have a little ritual where you sit down, make yourself a herbal tea, think about how that plant was used historically\u201d.<\/p>\n

Start your own Hamnet herb garden<\/h3>\n

\"Essentially<\/p>\n

Whether you have a sprawling plot or a simple window box, you can bring a touch of Hamnet\u2019s herbal magic into your life. Focus on classic aromatics like rosemary, sage, thyme, and lavender, and do not be afraid to let a few wild plants grow. As Dr Walker says, \u201cThere\u2019s always something lovely in having access to herbs that you can use fresh\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ready to reconnect with ancient wisdom and create a garden that soothes, heals, and inspires? Listen to our podcast episode with Dr Walker on Spotify<\/a> or wherever you get your podcasts.<\/p>\n

\n

Who is Dr Kim Walker?<\/h3>\n

\"Dr<\/p>\n

Dr Walker is not just a scholar; she is a hands-on herbalist with experience consulting for films and working directly with directors and actors on set. \u201cUsually I\u2019m asked to make sure that the herbs used in film scripts are going to be accurate and perhaps supply some things, but it\u2019s very rare I get to go on set,\u201d she explains. For Hamnet, she was deeply involved, spending weeks foraging, preparing remedies, and teaching the cast how to handle herbs authentically. Her commitment to historical accuracy and her passion for plants make her advice invaluable for anyone looking to create a herb garden with depth and purpose.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the Hamnet film currently captivating audiences and sparking fresh interest in Shakespeare\u2019s world, viewers are falling in love not just with the story but with its rich, plant-filled landscape. The film\u2019s evocative use of herbs – woven through scenes…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":983,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/982"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=982"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/982\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}