The Kennels

MEMBERSHIPS

Umbel...ievable: Why the Humble Cow Parsley is Just the Beginning

06th May 2026

It lines our lanes, softening hedgerows and brightening verges from Chichester to the South Downs but if you've ever dismissed cow parsley as just a weed, you're missing one of the most extraordinary stories in the plant kingdom. 

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On the evening of 21 May at The Kennels, renowned horticulturalist Marina Christopher is pulling back the curtain on the Apiaceae family and once you know what's hiding in plain sight, you'll never look at a country walk, a kitchen garden, or a florist's bouquet the same way again.

More than a pretty umbel

Yes, cow parsley is there. But so is your carrot. And your parsley, dill, fennel and coriander. The Apiaceae (also known as the Umbelliferae or the carrot family) is one of the most ecologically and gastronomically important plant families on Earth. From the humble scots lovage clinging to coastal clifftops to the angelica towering over damp ditches, this is a family of extraordinary range.

It is also a family of dramatic contrasts. Some of its members feed nations. Others are among the most poisonous plants in the British countryside. The same elegant, feathery silhouette that signals "supper" can also signal serious danger and knowing the difference has fascinated botanists, herbalists and apothecaries for centuries.

Why it matters in your garden and beyond

This family does something few others can match, it works extraordinarily hard for wildlife. Those flat-topped flower heads, the umbels that give the family its old name, are insect motorways. Hoverflies, parasitic wasps, beetles and a host of specialist pollinators depend on them. Grow a few well-chosen members in the ornamental border and you are not simply adding beautiful, architectural foliage, you are actively supporting pollinator and beneficial insect populations.  

An evening in expert company

Marina Christopher has spent decades immersed in this world. After postgraduate research in botany and ecology, she founded Phoenix Perennial Plants - a nursery that has contributed to multiple RHS Chelsea Flower Show 'Best in Show' gardens and is known for its commitment to chemical-free, ecosystem-focused growing. Marina lectures with live plant material rather than slides, making her events genuinely hands-on and immediate.

On the night, she'll be bringing real specimens of common and uncommon species and discussing what makes each one tick. The evening closes with an open Q&A where you can ask about your own garden, specific species, chalk-soil challenges, or anything else on your mind. She'll also be bringing plants, tools and propagation sundries available to purchase on the evening.

Tickets are £25, book yours here.

This is a Members event at The Kennels, open to all Goodwood Sporting members and places are limited. If you've ever wanted to understand what's growing in your hedgerow, improve your garden's value for wildlife, or simply spend an evening in the company of someone who genuinely loves plants and knows them inside out, this is the one to book.