To help promote the launch of the Invisible Food Pack, which has been distributed to every household on the Loughborough Estate (by good friends and excellent distributors, so if you can’t find your pack, look in your junk mail/recycling bag!), there was another Invisible Food walk on Saturday 9th May, starting at 11am at Wyck Gardens. Posters were put up all over the estate to encourage local residents to come and there were some people from the estate and some people who heard about the event from the Transition Town Brixton network.

People pooled their knowledge – and because I’m no expert, I learnt things – here are some random thoughts.

someone from the estate identified ragwort and mentioned that it was poisonous

we found some wild onion on the wild herb garden – which I’d never seen before. Sadly I went back today and 3 of the heads have been cut off? / chewed off? / I don’t know what off? and were left in amongst all the plants. I felt really sad.

Two Uruguaians met each other on the walk. They are both lovely.

We spent 20 minutes just on the patch of plants at the entrance to Wyck Gardens, where there are dandelions, nettles (stinging and dead), ribwort plantains, mallow, yarrow, chickweed, hoary mustard – what else have I forgotten? – and a rowan tree.

Please add comments or other things I’ve forgotten. If anyone wants to come again on the 23rd, there’ll be different food to taste at the end.

 

Here is a list of plants around in April and May, not all of these you’ll find in London. List compiled by Fergus Drennan http://www.wildmanwildfood.com/

April/May wild plant list

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Crataegus+monogyna
                                                           http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4625.jpg
                                                           http://www.ecoflora.co.uk/albums/800340140/index.html
Bramble Rubus fruticosus………http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Rubus+fruticosus
                                                           http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4627.jpg
Japanese Knotweed Polygonum japonicum http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Polygonum+japonicum
                                                                               http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4628.jpg
Wild Angelica Angelica sylvestris http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Angelica+sylvestris
                                                       http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/A-Flowers/Angelica.htm
                                                       Photo
 Stinging Nettle Urtica procera…. http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Urtica+procera
                                                        http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4790.jpg
Burdock Arctium minus ………….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Arctium+minus
                                                       http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4640.jpg
Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Rumex+obtusifolius
                                                                        http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4633.jpg
Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Heracleum+sphondylium
                                                                          http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4634.jpg
Early Dog Violet Viola reichenbachiana ……http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Viola+canina
                                                               http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/V-Flowers/Violet,%20Early%20Dog.htm
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare …………http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Cirsium+vulgare
                                                               http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4647.jpg
                                                               http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/T-Flowers/Thistle,%20Spear.htm
Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata……. .http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Alliaria+petiolata
                                                               http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4806.jpg
Ground Elder Aegopodium podagraria http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Aegopodium+podagraria
                                                                       http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4629.jpg
White Deadnettle Lamium album ……http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Lamium+album
                                                               http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4638.jpg
Wood Avens Geum urbanum………… http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Geum+urbanum
                                                                     http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/H-Flowers/Herb%20Bennet.htm
Red Deadnettle Lamium purpureum… http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Lamium+purpureum
                                                               http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4639.jpg
White Horehound Marrubium vulgare http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Marrubium+vulgare
                                                                picture
Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria …http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ranunculus+ficaria
                                                                http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/C-Flowers/Celandine,%20Lesser.htm
Hoary Plantain Plantago media……… http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Plantago+media
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4643.jpg
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris ……http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Anthriscus+sylvestris
                                                               http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/P-Flowers/Parsley,%20Cow.htm
                                                                     another picture
Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea……. http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Glechoma+hederacea
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4644-1.jpg
Hop Humulus lupulus ……………………http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Humulus+lupulus
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4804.jpg
Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium      . .  …………………………………………………http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Chrysosplenium+alternifolium
                                                                                    http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/S-Flowers/Saxifrage,%20Alternate-leaved%20Golden.htm
Wild Garlic Allium ursinum……………http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Allium+ursinum
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/WildGarlic2.jpg
                                                                    http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/R-Flowers/Ramsons.htm
Red Currant Ribes rubrum…………….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ribes+rubrum
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4650.jpg
Jelly Ear Fungus  Auricularia auricula-judae    ……………………………http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5580~source~gallerychooserresult.asp
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/Jewsear1.jpg
                                                                    http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/Jewsear.jpg
St George’s Mushroom Calocybe gambosa  http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5697~source~gallerychooserresult.asp
Silver Birch Betula pendula …………..http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Betula+pendula
                                                                            http://media.photobucket.com/image/silver%20birch/gardenplansireland/Silver-Birch-Betula-pendula-Beith-G.jpg
Crow Garlic Allium vineale ……………http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Allium+vineale
                                                              http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/G-Flowers/Garlic,%20Crow.htm
Hoary Cress Cardaria draba …………..http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Cardaria+draba
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/Jewsear.jpg
                                                              http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/C-Flowers/Cress,%20Hoary.htm
Dittander Lepidium latifolium ……….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Lepidium+latifolium
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4659.jpg
                                                              http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/D-Flowers/Dittander.htm
Shepherd’s Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Capsella+bursa-pastoris
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_3592.jpg
                                                              http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/S-Flowers/Shepherd%27s%20Purse.htm
Hairy Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta   http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Cardamine+hirsuta
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_1046.jpg
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_3602.jpg
                                                              http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/B-Flowers/Bittercress,%20Hairy.htm
Pink Sorrel Oxalis articulata ………….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Oxalis+articulata
                                                              http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4795.jpg
                                                                     http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/S-Flowers/Sorrel,%20Pink.htm
Stag’s Horn Sumac Rhus typhina…… .http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Rhus+typhina
                                                                    http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/179810772_b9208153b8.jpg?v=0
Reedmace Typha latifolia ……………. http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Typha+latifolia
                                                              image
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa …….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Rumex+acetosa

                                                                   http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_3616.jpg
Ash Fraxinus excelsior ………………… …….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Fraxinus+excelsior
                                                                      http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/haytime-ash-keys-june.jpg
Bristly Ox-tongue Picris echioides ………..http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Picris+echioides
                                                                             http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4662.jpg
Common Daisy Bellis perennis………… ….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Bellis+perennis
                                                                      http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_3582.jpg
Fennel  Foeniculum vulgare………………… http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Foeniculum+vulgare
                                                                      http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4273.jpg
                                                                      http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/F-Flowers/Fennel.htm
Wintercress Barbarea vulgaris…………. ….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Barbarea+vulgaris
                                                                      http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/W-Flowers/Wintercress.htm
Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum………….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Smyrnium+olusatrum
                                                                      http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_3565.jpg
                                                                             http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/A-Flowers/Alexanders.htm
Gorse Ulex europaeus ………………………..http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ulex+europaeus
                                                                      http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/100_0431.jpg
                                                                      http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_3612.jpg
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara                             http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Tussilago+farfara
                                                                             http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/C-Flowers/Coltsfoot.htm
Lime Tilia x europaea………………………… .http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Tilia+x+europaea
                                                                      http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/L-Flowers/Lime,%20Common.htm
Ivy-leaved Toadflax Cymbalaria muralis …http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Cymbalaria+muralis
                                                                      http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4787.jpg
Barberry  Berberis darwinii……………… …http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Berberis+darwinii
                                                                      http://www.buytreesonline.co.uk/assets/images/Berberis_darwinii_01.jpg
                                                                             http://www.korewildfruitnursery.co.uk/Berberis%20darwinii.JPG
Sea Purslane Halimione portulacoides.. …http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Halimione+portulacoides
                                                                             http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4665.jpg
Sea beet Beta vulgaris maritime………. …http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Beta+vulgaris+maritima
                                                                            http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/Seabeet.jpg
Laver Porphyra umbilicalis ………………….http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/porphyraumbilicalis.htm
                                                                      http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4668.jpg
Gutweed  Enteromorpha spp (linza….. ….http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Ulvalinza.htm
                                                                      http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo195/fergusdrennan/IMG_4733.jpg
Egg Wrack Ascophyllum nodosum ………..http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Ascophyllumnodosum.htm
Serrated Wrack Fucus serratus…………… .http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/taxon_fucusserratus.htm
Sea Lettuce Ulva lactuca ……………………..http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Ulvalactuca.htm
Carragheen Chondrus crispus ………………http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/taxon_chondruscrispus.htm
Bladder Wrack Fucus vesiculosus …………http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Fucusvesiculosus.htm
Horned Wrack Fucus ceranoides ………….http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Fucusceranoides.htmhttp://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Mercurialis+perennis
                                                                             http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/M-Flowers/Mercury,%20Dog%27s.htm
Hemlock Conium maculatum …………………….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Conium+maculatum
                                                                             http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/H-Flowers/Hemlock.htm
Hemlock Waterdropwort Oenanthe aquatica .http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Oenanthe+aquatica
                                                                             http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/W-Flowers/Water%20Dropwort,%20Hemlock.htm
Lords and Ladies Arum maculatum …………….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Arum+maculatum
                                                                                     http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/L-Flowers/Lords%20&%20Ladies.htm
Wood Spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides ……http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o882-woodspurge.php
                                                                            http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/S-Flowers/Spurge,%20Wood.htm
Wood Anenomy Anemone nemorosa ………..http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Anemone+nemorosa
                                                                            http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/A-Flowers/Anemone,%20Wood.htm
Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus …………………….http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Iris+pseudacorus
                                                                            http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/I-Flowers/Iris,%20Yellow.htm

Poisonous:
Dog’s Mercury Mercurialis perennis …………..