11 a.m. – 12 noon, Games with Common Plants, Westminster Quaker Meeting, Children’s Meeting.

Report:  Five small children and their carers were entertained for about 50 minutes, making ‘granny jump out of bed’ with bindweed (Calystegia silvatica) flowers, making noises by holding privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) leaves between their thumbs, and blowing bubbles through wheat (Triticum aestivum) straws – we had hoped to use dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) flower-stalks but could not find any suitable ones.

2.30 – 3.30 p.m.,  Wildflower Walk, West Norwood Cemetery.

Report:  About  20 people turned up to spend 80 minutes wandering around the cemetery and discussing some of the many wild plants which grow there.  These included red valerian (Centranthus ruber),  a native to the Mediterranean area,  cultivated as an ornamental in Britain since late in the sixteenth century, before escaping into the wild in the second half of the eigthteen century,  becoming more widespread as a wild plant late on the twentieth century, and gathering a good many local names.  Other plants examined included yarrow (Achillea millefolium), bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and white clover (Trifolium repens),  the flowers of which several participants remembered sucking for their nectar.  Although the primary purpose of the walk was to enjoy the cemetery and its wildflowers, £27.64 was donated to the South London Botanical Institute.  Thank you everyone.

For further details of both see Events page on this website.