Lady's Bedstraw - Gallium verum

For years this hummock was mown within an inch of its life throughout summer. The past 3 seasons it has been left to grow and is now a dense flower meadow sitting surrounded by car-park. Well done our Rob! Lady's Bedstraw has thrived and now scents the air  from Cyclewise to the Visitor Centre with its coumarine perfume. This scent, it appears, is a flea repellent and so it was used to stuff mattresses. (We have found no fleas on the hummock, so it must work.) Its cousin, Heath Bedstraw (Gallium Saxitile) sprawls white flowered and without odour on the opposite side of the road and behind, the raspberry spikes of Rosebay Willow herb (Chamaenerion angustfolium) provide a an intense colour contrast. It makes for quite a pleasing walk from the car to the office!