Self heal (Prunella vulgaris) Self heal is a member of the dead nettles and has the familiar square stem. It seems to favour some sun and grows abundantly in the fields surrounding our woodland camp. It’s an edible plant containing vitamins A, C and K, and can be eaten raw in a salad or used to […]
Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) Ground ivy has the typical square stem of the dead nettle family. We find it both within the woodland and in some of the surrounding fields, so it seems to tolerate both shade and sun. And mostly we find it creeping along the ground, but sometimes growing more upright. It’s also known as ‘ale […]
Dandelions (Taraxicum officinale) Dandelions are abundant in much of the world, and that is certainly the case in the UK. There are many sub-species within the genus, but exactly how many is a matter of debate amongst botanists. They have been used in herbal remedies since pre-history. All parts of the plant are edible; they […]
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) Comfrey is a plant which you might recognise if you’re a gardener. Many people on our wild foods and herbal remedies courses tell us that they use it as a fertiliser. You simply put the plant into a bucket of water for a month or so to produce a dark brown sludge which […]
Mallow (Malva sylvestris) is a common plant in southern England and Wales and can be found along the sides of roads and railways as well as on waste ground. As always, be careful if collecting near a road; we’ve found this plant in particular to take in exhaust fumes that you can taste in the leaves […]
Yarrow (Acillea millefolium) As an infusion : Colds and flus; high blood pressure; tones varicose veins; prevents blood clots; tension; weak digestion. As a salve : Cuts, abrasions and minor burns. We made some yarrow salve at the weekend. Nicola picked the yarrow a few months back and left it in a brown paper bag to […]
