Roy Vickery will be leading a walk discussing Wild Plants – their Uses and Folklore, on Wandsworth Commmon, London, on Sunday 20 August 2017, starting at the ticket office of Wandsworth Common station, at 2.30 p.m., and probably continuing for about 75 minutes.  The starting point is two stops away from London Victoria, and one stop away from Clapham Junction, station.  There will be a voluntary collection in aid of local Green Party funds.  All are welcome.

Report: Five people enjoyed a 75 minute stroll around  the Common.  We started by admiring the yellow flower-spikes of a species of mullein (Verbascum) which has decorated the grassy areas of the Wandsworth Common station for many years.  A North American name for mullein was Quaker rouge.  When Quaker girls were not allowed to wear makeup they would dry mullein leaves and rub them on their cheeks causing them to redden.  We also examined wild carrot (Daucus carota), known in North America as Queen Anne’s lace – the central red flower is said to be stained when the Queen pricked her finger while lace-making.  Other species discussed included daisy (Bellis perennis), hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) and alder (Alnus glutinosa).

£18 was donated to local Green Party funds.  The next walk in this series will be on Saturday 23 September; see the Events page on this website.

Image: examining wild carrot, © Tricia McGrath.