Pilewort or Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna)

Pilewort or Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna), flowering between January and April; these lovers of damp woodland pathways, stream banks and ditches, can be found in gardens, meadows and shady hedgerows, and even Narnia, yes, Narnia! ✨

Ficaria verna growing on the bank of a field edge

An important nectar source for early emerging insects from hibernation, such as Queen Bumblebees 🐝

Lesser celandine were used to treat haemorrhoids, hence “Pilewort” and scurvy, due to being high in Vitamin C.

All in all, they are a pretty cool plant!

Thanks for reading! 😊

Alder (Alnus glutinosa)

Dwelling in moist places; Alder grow near rivers, ponds, lakes and in wet, swampy woods, also known as Carrs.

Their flowers were used as green dye, to colour and camouflage the clothes of outlaws, like Robin Hood and to also colour the clothes of fairies πŸ§šπŸ»β€β™‚οΈ

Flowering between February and April, Alder catkins provide an early source of nectar and pollen for Bees, and the seeds are eaten by Goldfinches, Siskins and Redpolls.

The pale wood turns a deep orange after being cut, giving the impression of bleeding. So, in the past, many people feared them and the Irish thought it was unlucky to pass one on a journey πŸ˜…

The roots have nitrogen-fixing nodules, conditioning the soil and improving soil fertility on former industrial wasteland and brownfield sites.

Alder leaf beetles (Agelastica alni) feed on the leaves of alder trees. They’ve become common in parts of England and Wales since 2004.

It was said that a few Alder leaves placed in the shoes before a long journey would cool the feet and prevent swelling πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™‚οΈ

Being a tough species of tree, their wood doesn’t rot when waterlogged, instead it makes them harder and stronger. Plus, mature trees can reach a height of approximately 28 metres and live to around 60 years.

Thanks for reading ✌🏻

A Greener Childhood

. . .I remember more countryside, more greenspaces, more woodland, more birdsong, more sightings of wildlife, such as rabbits, foxes and badgers.

Sunny days. Less pollution, less superficial ideas and materialism.

Fun was exploring and adventures outdoors; the new park, or going to a country park – for the first time.

Everyone cared about nature, everyone wanted to see it, talk about it.

The environment is for all ages, all stages of life.

I remember a greener childhood. . .

Day 30 – 30 Days Wild

There we have it, 30 Days Wild! Today is the last day of Random Acts of Wildness πŸ₯³ So I am looking back over the past 29 days, and in this post I am sharing my highlights πŸ’š

My first drawing in 15 years!

Thanks for visiting! πŸ€™πŸ» x

Day 22 – 30 Days Wild

It’s the beginning of National Insect Week, so there was only one thing for it! Get out & film (video below) some cool Insects!

#30DaysWild

I was happy to find some obliging Butterflies πŸ¦‹

Thanks for visiting πŸ’š

Day 17 – 30 Days Wild

Went for a walk around my local Wood and Green-belt today, when I was out a storm rolled in 🌧️

Rather than head home, I decided to stay out a bit, to listen to the rain & thunder whilst outside β›ˆοΈ

Thanks for visiting! πŸ’š

Day 14 – 30 Days Wild

This morning I unsure what to do, thankfully a friend reminded me that I’m passionate about Green-belt & suggested I make a video (below) regarding its benefits.

Thanks for visiting πŸ’š

Day 11 – 30 Days Wild

Today I have decided to share a wild moment from my past 🐦 😊

Thanks for visiting! πŸ’š

Day 8 – 30 Days Wild

Today I tried to get better footage of the House Sparrows sand-bathing, but had technical issues with my camera & not quite getting the right angle.

So I decided to watch some live webcams online & settled on the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project website! 😍 πŸ¦‡

Maybe I will try again tomorrow with the House Sparrows πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™‚οΈ

Thanks for visiting! πŸ’š