The guardian and healer of muscles and bruises Arnica’s delicate flowers seem slightly dishevelled and fragile when, in fact arnica is a very vigorous plant, which grows up to 40 centimetres tall, yet easily survives strong mountain wind. This external resistance is a clear indication of the strong structural forces that arnica carries. Extracts from arnica have been shown to have an antiseptic effect and they promote blood circulation, relieve pain and speed up the healing process - helping with blunt injuries such as bruises or bumps. | From Field to Shelf Arnica is an alpine plant and for this reason it does not thrive in our lowland Derbyshire soil at ‘The Field’. Instead, Weleda obtains Scottish-grown and biodynamically cultivated arnica from the herb gardener, Duncan Ross. Each year Duncan makes a ten-hour drive with a freshly-harvested crop. The day before the crop arrives, Duncan and four other gardeners are busy, carefully lifting each arnica plant, roots and all (planta tota), washing the roots and removing any discoloured and broken leaves. The plants are then placed upright in boxes, with their roots in fresh water, ready for the journey to Weleda Head Office. In the cool twilight hours, he sets off transporting around 100 kilos of whole fresh plants. | Weleda pledges to plant a million trees In 2021, Weleda’s Centenary year, we decided to mark this incredible milestone and celebrate Weleda’s 100 year history, whilst simultaneously looking to the future, by pledging to plant a Weleda forest in collaboration with the environmental charity TreeSisters. The aim of this long-term project is to plant one million trees to combat climate change. The Weleda vision is to plant a magnificent forest of trees. Not a single location but a forest of a million trees planted around the world where trees are needed most urgently - to reclaim endangered rainforest, prevent flooding or soil erosion, protect natural habitats, support local communities in some of the poorest countries in the world, and empower women in the workplace. TreeSisters funds tropical reforestation projects globally with a focus on initiatives either run by women or supporting women around the world. |
