Wildlife of the Bollin Valley
What to Look Out for in May and June
Late Spring flowers are still blooming (often in woodland), while early Summer ones are coming out.
Common Dog Violet
Lady's Smock or Cuckoo Flower
Common Spotted Orchid
The tubers are full of a highly nutritous starch like substance, once widely drunck as "salep", carried as susistence rations in sailing ships.
Lesser Periwinkle
From the Latin "to bind" because of its trailing stems. Known as "cut-finger " in Devon; homeopathically used to staunch bleeding.
Tormentil
One of our safest and most powerful native aromatic astringents (invigorates, checks bloodflow, resists fluid secretion). Also used for tanning in the Western Isles and Orkney, where tree bark is scarce.
Wood Anemone
Herb Bennet or Wood Avens
The name is a corruption of "Herba Benedicta" - blessed herb - supposed in medieval times to ward off evil spirits and venomous beasts.
Germander Speedwell
Its corolla of blue petals is so loosely attatched it drops easily - hence local names "Farewell" and "Goodbye"
Marsh Marigold
Its scientific name, Caltha palustris, means "marsh cup". "Marigold" dates from Medieval use in Church as a flower of the Virgin. Another name - Sosequia - refers to the fat that it opens at sunrise and closes at sunset.
Sweet Cicely
One of a large family, many grown as herbs, eg coriander, chervil, caraway, angelica, fennel, lovage. Found often near old buildings - an escaped pot herb?
Primrose
Darwin found there are "pin and "thrum" types of flowers to help cross-pollenation. Pin flowers' stigmas stick up above the pollen, thrum, vice versa. Visiting bees tend to transfer pollen of the other type.
Sanicle
From the Latin "I heal" its power was proverbial in the Middle Ages. "Qui a la Bugle et la Sanicle fait aux chirugiens la niche" (With bugle and sanicle, you'll send surgeons packing). Remember to identify flowers, don't pick them, take the book to the flower.