Plants

Sorrel

As a medicinal and garden herb, common sorrel has been used since the ancient days of Greece’s Dioscorides and Rome’s Pliny the Elder in … Continue

Plantain

Plantain belongs to a big family of plants called Plantaginaceae. Greater and lesser plantain is also known as common plantain and ribwort plantain respectively. … Continue

Garlic mustard

Garlic mustard is a common wild herb in Britain and Ireland. Its leaves exude a garlicky smell when bruised or chopped, although the plant … Continue

Cleavers (goosegrass)

Introduction Cleavers earned its name thanks to the sticky plant’s tendency to ‘cleave’ to human clothing or animal fur. However, this common weed is … Continue

Rosehip (Dog Rose)

Dog Rose (also known as Rosehip), is a climbing wild rose with white-pink flowers and a soft subtle scent. Its deep orange-red fruit, the … Continue

Stinging Nettle

Stinging Nettle is a surprisingly helpful plant in food and medicine despite its stinging hairs, as seen below. Scientific Name Urtica dioica Family Urticaceae … Continue

Elder

Elder is a valuable wild edible tree or shrub. Its berries have a cornucopia of uses. Scientific name Sambucus nigra Family Adoxaceae Botanical description … Continue

Chickweed

Introduction Chickweed is a familiar garden weed recognisable by its tiny white flowers. The seeds were once fed to birds, which is how the … Continue

Sloe (Blackthorn)

Sloe also known as Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is a thorny hedgerow plant with dark purple berries often sought after in autumn to make warming … Continue

Water Pepper

As I write this, I am sitting on a bench. Opposite me is a large patch of water pepper. I write with an ancient, primitive … Continue

Laver

Laver seaweed has traditionally been harvested in Scotland, Wales and Ireland to make laverbread, and cultivated in countries such as Japan, Hawaii and the … Continue

Purple Loosestrife

Purple loosestrife can be used as food and medicine. Below you’ll learn the parts used, harvest time, nutrition and other ways humans use this … Continue

Bramble (blackberry)

Introduction A popular bramble fruit, blackberries are often picked in late summer to autumn to make jams, jellies and pies. Bramble is one of … Continue

Wild Garlic (Ramsons)

The leaves of wild garlic (Allium ursinum) harvested before flowering have a delicious, sweet and pungent taste. Excellent raw in salads and as pesto. … Continue

Lesser celandine

Lesser celandine belongs to the buttercup family. The bright yellow flowers appear briefly in early spring. The plant has a long history as a … Continue