CONSULTANCY SERVICE
CONSULTANCY SERVICE
Denise offers a range of consultancy services rooted in decades of experience across food and organic horticulture. Her food consultancy work is shaped by her long-standing involvement in Ireland’s food community and collaborations with chefs and brands, focusing on creative, modern uses of herbs and wild plants.
She is a specialist in herb garden design for the private and corporate sector, with an emphasis on culinary, medicinal, and sensory planting. With over thirty years professional experience running a certified organic specialist herb nursery, she offers advice on all things ecological, from organic growing to rewilding projects.
People We've Worked With
FOOD CONSULTANCY
Denise is a founder/member of the Fingal Food Circle, a collaborative network of food and drink producers, and hospitality businesses based in Fingal, County Dublin. She is a long-standing member of Slow Food Ireland and was one of the early members of the Temple Bar Food Market in Dublin.
She has collaborated with many Irish chefs and industry professionals, including a project with Hendrick’s gin, where she incorporated wild botanicals into bespoke cocktails using their signature gins. Her work places a distinctive focus on creative, modern uses of herbs and wild plants and is particularly suited to brands and projects seeking something original and authentic.
FOOD CONSULTANCY SERVICES
- Food writing for articles, blogs and publications
- Seasonal content creation – recipes, guides, features
- Collaboration with brands on wild botanical-led campaigns
- Recipe development using herbs and wild plants
- Bespoke wild food menu creation
- Botanical cocktail and drinks development
- Wild themed food and drink promotions
HERB GARDEN DESIGN
Denise has extensive experience designing herb gardens for a wide range of settings, from hotels and heritage sites to private homes and community spaces. Her designs are both practical and visually appealing, tailored to the needs of the client while maximising the potential of the space.
Projects have included work for BrookLodge Hotel in Co. Wicklow, Drimnagh Castle in Dublin, and Ballintubbert Gardens in Co. Laois, as well as numerous school and community gardens. Denise specialises in creating culinary, medicinal and sensory gardens that are both beautiful and functional, supporting wellbeing, education, and biodiversity.
HERB GARDEN DESIGN SERVICES
- Traditional herb garden design
- Culinary herb garden design
- Medicinal herb gardens
- Sensory gardens for wellbeing and accessibility
- Wild edible and native plant gardens
- School and educational garden planning
- Site assessment and planting plans
- Advice on plant selection, layout, and maintenance
ORGANIC GROWING ADVICE
Denise is a pioneer in organic horticulture in Ireland, having established The Herb Garden in 1995 as the country’s first certified organic plant and seed nursery. Her expertise is grounded in decades of hands-on experience, combined with her role as an approved organic advisor for The Organic Trust.
She has guided significant organic conversion projects, including work with BrookLodge Hotel in Co. Wicklow and with Trevor Sargent during his time as Minister for Agriculture. Denise’s approach emphasises soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable growing systems that work in harmony with nature.
ORGANIC GROWING ADVICE SERVICES
- Organic conversion guidance
- Herb and vegetable growing advice
- Organic growing for biodiversity
- Training workshops and advisory sessions
- Ongoing consultancy and project support
WILDFLOWER MEADOWS AND REWILDING
Denise’s work in rewilding and meadow creation is rooted in her own experience transforming The Herb Garden into a thriving, biodiverse ecosystem. Her approach encourages the return of native flora and fauna, creating habitats that support pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
Through careful planning and an understanding of natural processes, she has successfully established a variety of meadow types, from decorative and perennial meadows to fully rewilded lawns and woodland or wetland environments. Her work demonstrates how rewilding can be adapted to suit gardens of all sizes, from small plots to larger landscapes.
WILDFLOWER ADVICE TOPICS
- Wildflower meadow design
- Rewilding plans for gardens and community spaces
- Decorative meadow planning
- Wildflower lawn creation and advice
- Woodland and wetland gardens
- Site assessment and management guidance
- Advice on sourcing native Irish seeds, plants and bulbs
Testimonials
What our participants say about their learning experience at The Herb School
Contact US
Please leave us a brief message with your enquiry and we will get back to you!
Email denise@theherbschool.ie or fill out the form below.
