Monday 1 June, 11 a.m.:  Wonderful Weeds at the Chelsea Physic Garden London.

Report:  Eight people turned up to this event, hoping to discuss the uses and folklore of ‘weeds’ in an almost weed-free garden.  However we were able to find sufficient plants, some of them cultivated and some of them intruders, to occupy a happy hour.

Monday 1 June, 7 p.m.:  Prison  Bank Wild Flower Hunt, Wandsworth Common, London.

Report:  11 people gathered for this annual event first held in July 2021.  Although we moved the date forward to early June due to recent hot, dry weather we were too late to find grass vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia) in flower, although greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) was not yet flowering.  Initially wild flowers tended to be rather scarce so we concentrated on grasses.  Later flowers became more abundant and we enjoyed a pleasant hour, the threatened rain holding off until later in evening.

‘Nice walk and very informative.’

Tuesday 2 June, 11 a.m., Pavement Prowl, Battersea Arts Centre, London.

Despite heavy rain during the night and earlier in the morning, and a tube strike, six people gathered outside the Centre for this event.  As filming was taking place inside there was, inevitably a profusion of vans and other vehicles outside, never-the-less we were able to enjoy a wide variety of plants.  These included water bent (Polypogon viridis), a grass native to southern Europe which has become widespread and common in London in recent years.  However we were unable to find common morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea), native to North America, which has been known on this site since 2021, and apparently set fertile seeds in 2025.

‘Thank you for the walk, it’s incredible how much biodiversity we have on our doorstep.  I had no idea.’

Image:  Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), native to North America, Battersea Arts Centre, June 2026.