September started with a visit to sunny Scarborough for the Folklore Society’s 13th Legendary Weekend, which covered ‘Medicine & Healing in Legend & Tradition’,  and which proved to be the usual good mixture of interesting talks.  A talk on the use of dock (Rumex) leaves to treat nettle (Urtica dioica) stings seemed to be well received, and most participants contributed information about their knowledge of this widespread (in Britain and Ireland) cure.   Thanks to Jeremy Harte for organising these enjoyable events.

Later in the month the Society for Folk Life Studies annual meeting, in Cardiff, was attended, and visits to the St Fagans National Museum of History and Cardiff Bay enjoyed.

29 items of information from 27 informants were added to the Archive, meaning that it now contains 7847 items of information from 2329 contributors. 7229 searches were made of the website.

Some progress was made on Vickery’s Folk Flora, but the initial attempt to design its dust jacket has been rejected, as although it was attractive neither of the plants depicted were native to Britain and Ireland, commonly cultivated, or featured in the book.

Image: figurine of woman in Welsh costume with daffodils (Narcissus), purchased in Cardiff, September 2018.