A Walk Around Britain

Here be a selection of plants growing at the moment that are useful ones to know.

Our slow  journey of getting to know the plants started with carrying books of plant pictures wherever we went. Soon enough we knew the names and some uses for the more common hedgerow plants, and what had been a dull green swathe of weeds transformed into an abundant,alive,useful and ever exciting new realm to explore.

Once you start looking, and finding whats what, you will begin to relate with the growth around you, how it changes, how it can help you and how you can help it.

We will give uses of these plants in future posts. For further information about them, visit the Plants For A Future database and type the name into the search bar.

The plants are in alphabetical order.

Click on the images below to see them closer.

Comfrey

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Common Comfrey with purple flowers now appearing. Some types of Comfrey have pink or white flowers.

It grows in hedgerows, woodland edges and gardens in dappled shade.

Do not confuse with Foxglove which has similar leaves but very different flowers. Get to know the smell and texture of the leaves to tell them apart.

Cuckoo Flower   (Lady’s Smock)

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Abundant at the moment, this fair pink flower grows in hedgerows and meadows in sandy and clay soil.

This plant grows on walls and has purple flowers which i will take a picture of soon.

This plant is part of the Chenopodium family, most of which are good edibles. You might know Fat Hen, the sister of Good King Henry. It makes a good salad when the leaves are young, and can be lightly steamed as it gets on a bit.

Ground Ivy

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With purple/pink little flowers, this plant covers the ground in hedgerows and meadows. The leaves smell mint like. It likes loamy and heavy clay soil.

Hairy Bittercress

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This tasty nibble grows in walls and moist banksides. Good in sandwiches.

Honesty

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Honesty, known for it’s translucent, paperlike seed  discs in autumntime and it’s enchanting pink flowers in the spring.

It is said that it’s presence in gardens reflects the integrity of the gardener.

It likes to grow on banksides, in gardens and on meadow fringes.

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Grows beside the path, known as Lord of the Ways.

Have a look at the PLANTAIN PROFILE for more information.

Scurvy grass was dried out and taken to sea by sailors to help cure them of scurvy. It is common near the coast.

Some people say its edible but we think it tastes like glue.

Scurvy Grass, Mid-motorway, 6th April 09

Scurvy Grass, Mid-motorway, 6th April 09

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These pictures were taken in the middle of a dual carriageway near Petersfield.