Two Wonderful Weeds walks coming up on Wednesday 2 July; booking necessary,  for further details see the Events page on this website:

11 a.m. Wander around the Battersea Arts Centre, in Lavender Hill, London, SW11, discussing plants found on local pavements.

Report:  After a spell hot weather, we were pleased to welcome the cool  rain which arrived earlier in the day, but which had almost ceased by the start of our walk.  Six people turned up and we spent about an hour slowly wandering around the perimeter of the Arts Centre, discussing some of the wild plants growing there.  These included common morning-glory (Ipomoea purpurea, native to North America and known to have been naturalised on this site since at least 2021), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia, also native to North America, a small, but healthy plant growing here on disused steps) and shaggy soldier (Galinsoga quadriradiata, native to South America, but now a frequent pavement ‘weed’ in south London).

‘That was lovely!’

6.30 p.m.   Walk around Vine Road Recreation Ground, London, SW13.

Report:  By the time this walk started the damp weather experienced earlier in the day had moved elsewhere and 15 people, including four children, gathered on what was a pleasant balmy evening.  Starting with common mallow (Malva sylvestris) we slowly worked our way around the site and finished by discussing the uses of ash (Fraxinus excelsior).  Ripe black berries were sampled, and everyone appears to have enjoyed themselves.

‘It went very well with lots of happy attendees.’

Image:  upper, common morning-glory at rear of the Battersea Arts Centre; lower, ripening blackberries on Barnes Common, adjacent to Vine Road Recreation Ground.

Edited 16 January 2026