Green alkanet, Pentaglottis sempervirens. Flowering in early spring but staying through the summer months, it’s a popular plant for bees, Green alkanet has beautiful little bright blue, white throated flowers. Its pointed oval leaves are covered in stiff little hairs which are slightly prickly to the touch. WT. Photo: Stephen Middleton
Groundsel, Senecio vulgaris, Also known as ‘Old-man-in-the-spring’. The seed heads led to its Latin name, Senecio, derived from the word for ‘old man’ – pull the white, fluffy seeds from the flower head and they leave behind a bare, dotted ‘scalp’.
Hart’s tongue, Phyllitis scolopendrium. These plants are unusual in being ferns with simple, undivided fronds. The leaf resembles the tongue of a hart, (hart is an old word for deer). It’s often featured on ancient-woodland-indicator plant lists as a species which can help identify old woodlands and ecological continuity. This fern was recommended as a medicinal plant in folk medicine as […]
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum. One of the commonest wildflowers on Parkland Walk, coping admirably through dry spells and in dry, gravelly or stony ground. Herb robert is a food plant and nectar-source for many invertebrates including bees, hoverflies and the barred carpet moth. It was traditionally used as an antiseptic, as well as to treat stomach upsets and nosebleeds. Its […]
Ivy, Hedera helix. Ivy is a genus of 12 – 15 species. On the ground they rarely gain more than 20cm in height but when climbing can reach 30 metres above the ground. Juvenile leaves have the familiar palm like shape but as the plant matures the leaves become more rounded. Dense ivy is excellent for insects and birds. The fruit […]
Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica. Native to Asia, Japanese knotweed is listed by the World Conservation Union as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. If you come across it on the walk, leave it well alone as it is easily spread. We are working hard to eradicate it and have reduced its presence by about 95%.
Common knapweed, Centaurea nigra. Also known as ‘black knapweed’, Resembles a thistle. It is in bloom from June to September and is a huge favourite of all kinds of butterflies, including common blues, marbled whites and meadow browns.
Fallopia japonicaLesser burdoch, Arctium minus. Large and bushy flowers are prickly and pink to lavender. Flowers can easily be mistaken for thistles, but bordoch can be distinguished by its extremely large leaves (up to 50cm) and hooked bracts. After the flower head dries, the hooked bracts attach themselves to clothes and animals in order to transport the entire seed head. WT
Lesser celandine, Ranunculus ficaria. One of the earliest spring flowers. It flowers from March until May, and is sometimes called the “spring messenger”.
Maiden’s hair, Asplenium trichomanes. Both the scientific name and another common name “spleenwort” are derived from an old belief, based on the doctrine of signatures, that the fern was useful for ailments of the spleen, due to the spleen-shaped sori on the backs of the fronds. “wort” is an ancient English term that simply means “plant”. Photo Andy Lewington, cambriancavingcouncil
