Walking with Trees Booklet

A Special contribution to London Brompton Cemetery

One of the quiet joys of my work is seeing it weave itself into the landscape, where scent, memory, and nature all meet in one place.

So, I was genuinely honoured to contribute to Brompton Cemetery's new booklet, "Walking with Trees."

Booklet

It’s a beautifully considered guide that invites you to explore the rich diversity of trees and plants throughout the cemetery.

Brompton cemetery is one of London’s Magnificent Seven, seven large, Victorian-era burial grounds established in the 19th century to ease overcrowding in the city’s churchyards. Designed with great care and ambition, these cemeteries were intended to be more than just places of rest. They were planned as peaceful, garden-like environments for the public to enjoy. They were rich in symbolism and alive with planting schemes that reflected Victorian interests in botany, spirituality, and the natural world. Trees and plants were never an afterthought—they were an integral part of the original design, chosen for their beauty and deeper meaning.

Brompton Cemetery stands out among them with its rare status as one of the Royal Parks. It is the only cemetery managed by The Royal Parks charity and one of the few in the country recognised as both a working cemetery and a historic public garden. Located between Kensington and Chelsea, it is a place where architecture, planting, and public purpose meet, a living space that holds memory, history, and a surprising amount of biodiversity. Its Royal Parks status affirms its value as a burial ground and a treasured green space for all to explore.

My part in the booklet was sharing insights into the aromatic wellness qualities of pine, cypress, and cedar trees, which I often work with in blends that support grief, rest, or ground the nervous system. Writing about them in the context of a cemetery, where stillness, memory, and quiet reflection are already so present, felt deeply fitting.

It reminded me that scent doesn’t always come from a bottle. Sometimes, it rises from warm tree bark after the rain or from a gust of wind passing through a cypress canopy. These scents speak in a different tone—softer, slower, and rooted in place.

This year has been full of workshops, client work, events, and lovely collaborations like this one. I haven’t had as many chances as I’d like to run my scent strolls in the park, but I’m hoping to announce a few dates soon. They’re such a special way to connect scent with movement and attention, to slow down enough to notice how the air smells near different trees or how your body responds to a shift in season, scent or pace.

Walking with Trees Booklet

You can pick up the booklet from the Visitor Centre at Brompton Cemetery if you're in London. I really do recommend it. Whether you're an aromatherapy enthusiast, a curious wanderer, or someone simply looking for a different way to spend an afternoon, it’s a gentle, thoughtful companion.

Being part of this project reminded me again of why I love offering those walks. It’s not about identifying every tree or naming every note. It’s about making space to feel calmer, more present, and more rooted.

And if you do find yourself walking through the cemetery, pause when you come to the pine. Close your eyes, breathe in deeply, and see what you notice. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to reconnect.