Many local fields which had barley earlier this summer have now been planted with a mixture of two plants as green manure.  I was unfamiliar with the white and pale pink flowers and discover that it is buckwheat.  Green manures are fast growing crops which are often used as their roots prevent soil erosion and suppress weeds and are later dug into the ground releasing their nutrients back into the soil. I think buckwheat is seldom grown for food in Britain but it is in other countries and I intend looking for some to try.  Meanwhile the fields have a light whitish appearance as the buckwheat grows taller.