Obsessed with Hamnet? Plant the magical herbs seen in the film

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

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’s 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.

One of the secrets behind the film’s stunning herb gardens was the collaboration between Dr Kim Walker and renowned herb grower Jekka McVicar. "She’s got this really great skill, which I don’t have, which is about growing, growing and making things look good. I’m more of a forager and how to use things, and she’s really excellent about what was grown and how to grow it. So it’s quite a good team," Walker explained.

The power and symbolism of herbs

In Hamnet, herbs are more than mere props - they are symbols of healing, memory, and connection to the land. Dr Walker describes the film’s atmosphere as “blending folklore, medicine, and emotional symbolism”. She reveals that in the story, Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes Hathaway, is portrayed as a healer whose inherited herbal knowledge shapes her family’s fate. This deep connection to nature is something Dr Walker encourages us to rediscover.

Choosing the right herbs

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. “A Hamnet-inspired garden would include lots of aromatics, including rosemary, fennel, violets… 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, thyme, lavender, and garlic”.

She also highlights the importance of allowing some wild plants to flourish: “I 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”.

Bringing ancient rituals into modern life

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, an Anglo-Saxon poem invoking the healing powers of nine plants. “It’s 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… it was a timing thing. So you knew when your herbs were ready, when you were processing them”.

She encourages us to embrace this sense of ritual and connection: “If you do have a garden even, or if you don’t 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”.

Start your own Hamnet herb garden

Whether you have a sprawling plot or a simple window box, you can bring a touch of Hamnet’s 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, “There’s always something lovely in having access to herbs that you can use fresh”.

Ready to reconnect with ancient wisdom and create a garden that soothes, heals, and inspires? Listen to our podcast episode with Dr Walker wherever you get your podcasts.

Who is Dr Kim Walker?

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. “Usually I’m asked to make sure that the herbs used in film scripts are going to be accurate and perhaps supply some things, but it’s very rare I get to go on set,” 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.