The Fermented Sloe Olives are inspired by the hedgerows framing the stunning views across the fields and pine forest near my house in Dorset, I made these sloe olives with a simple aim in mind: to preserve this abundant wild, plummy fruit. I wanted to create something a little different…
Category: Plants
This Fermented Wild Garlic Pesto is a fantastic example of lacto-fermentation being used to create something with bags on flavour. It’s also a brilliant way to use up stacks of seasonal greens. One of the endless joys of this recipe is that it’s completely plant-based. The lactic acid produced during…
My heart still skips a beat when I think about the magical world of medicinal plants growing wild around us. Just imagine – countless generations before us have tapped into this natural pharmacy, gathering remedies from trees and meadows for thousands of years! Let me share something wonderful with you…
Evening Primrose / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible The Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a striking wildflower that graces meadows, roadsides, and coastal areas across the UK with its bright yellow, fragrant blooms. True to its name, its flowers open in the evening, attracting night-flying pollinators like moths. Beyond…
The Daisy family, scientifically known as Asteraceae, is the largest family of flowering plants in the world having over 32,000 species! It comprises mostly herbaceous plants especially in the UK, and makes up a huge portion of our most showy and valued flowers. Asteraceae is so large it’s incredibly varied,…
Dewberry/ Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible The Dewberry is an interesting perennial relative of Blackberries and raspberries, Dewberry is common across the Northern Europe and Eurasia. Similar species are found in North America although they typically prefer coastal locations. Common Names Dewberry Botanical Name Rubus caesius   Scientific Classification…
Dog Violet /Spring / Summer / Edible The Dog Violet (Viola riviniana) is a small but beautiful wildflower that adds a splash of purple to hedgerows, woodlands, and grasslands across the UK. Unlike its scented relative, the Sweet Violet, this delicate bloom lacks fragrance, but it more than makes…
Columbine / Spring / Summer / Edible Columbine is a common and distinctive garden plant, and is often seen escaping from gardens and springing up in long grass and verges nearby. Its tall, elegantly curved stems grow up to a metre tall, supporting multi-coloured flowers and later rattling seed pods.…
Bog Myrtle/ Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Bog myrtle thrives in acidic boggy conditions, as the name might suggest.. It is found throughout the Northern hemisphere, From Eurasia and Japan to North America. Common Names Sweet gale, Candleberry, Moor myrtle, Botanical Name Myrica gale   Scientific Classification Kingdom –…
Daffodil / Spring / Summer / Toxic The Daffodil (Narcissus species) is one of the most recognisable and beloved flowers in the UK, signalling the arrival of spring with its bright yellow and white blooms. Often found in gardens, parks, and even wild landscapes, these cheerful flowers are a symbol…