One woman's Hogweed, another person's free food
Today, the sun shone continually from 10 am until 8pm, which was remarkable after the many dull,overcast, days we have experienced this August.
We went to our local wildlife area to remove the seed heads of the thuggish hogweed growing in our wildflower meadow, before they drop their seeds ready to regenerate next year. We hadn't got far when a young couple appeared who were foraging for the seeds of hogweed and wild carrot for making biscuits, and other delicacies! They had spotted our profusion of hogweed a couple of weeks ago, and serendipitously returned today when we were happy to help them gather supplies.Last year they set up a cafe /shop in Winchester, which I have yet to visit, called Proudfoot and Co which produces unusual drinks and food made from the wild and natural ingredients they have foraged. I think I must pay them a visit, (bearing a gift of a bag of hogweed seeds!) .
As hogweed seed heads are not the most photogenic plant part, I have blipped a photo of Marsh Woundwort Stachys palustris which I found down by the river. Apparently it too is edible and certainly woundwort, as the name suggests, was used for medicinal purposes. The flowers are very popular with bumble bees. I too find it attractive, and if my garden were cool and damp, rather than dry chalk downland, I would consider introducing it there.
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