Verges, Nectar bars & Corridors

A Gatekeeper butterfly feeding on Wild Basil

If we’re talking about horticulture, there has to be plants in there somewhere and sometimes the best displays are unplanned. I came upon these verges on the Cowdray Estate in West Sussex. Although sadly not organic, they do have a policy of actively avoiding using chemicals and the results show.

With over 97% of the country’s meadows disappearing since the 1930s, a good species rich verge is a critical source of nectar for bees, birds, bats, butterflies and a whole host of insects. It can support over 700 species of wildflower, that’s around 45% of the total flora of Great Britain! It’s not just about providing the perfect nectar bar; a verge can act as a wildlife corridor, a bit like a natural road network, allowing invertebrates and mammals to travel safely.

A lot of local councils have begun to review the way they manage their verges and this, combined with the actions of enlightened farmers, who understand about the importance of pollinators and biodiversity, means that you’ll see a whole host of wildflowers as you’re whizzing along country lanes.

Knapweed, Travellers Joy, Lady’s Bedstraw

Wild Marjoram

Cow Parsley and Bellflower amongst grasses (with some Hawkweed in the background – I think)

I love the romance of these wild flower names which often give a simple description (think Hairy Bittercress or Ladies Fingers) or refer to its growing habit (Bog Rosemary). I quickly got distracted researching the Rosebay Willowherb – I had no idea it had so much going on!

Rosebay Willowherb

This is such a common flower, it grows all over the UK; you see it on heathlands, along railway lines, the sides of mountains and any patch of waste ground. It’s known as a pioneer species as it is one of the first to colonise barren areas, like derelict bomb sites from the second world war, where it was called ‘Bombweed’. Or on the rough ground around coal mines, locals often called them ‘Pit Daisies’. In the USA, it is one of the first plants to appear after a forest fire, hence the name ‘Fireweed’.

Allegedly, all parts of the plant are edible, although I have yet to try it. The flowers can be used to make syrup to add to ice creams or jellies. The pith can be scraped out and has a texture and taste not dissimilar to cucumber and the young shoots have a flavour like asparagus.

The plant was particularly popular in Russia, where the leaves were dried and rolled and used to make tea. This was known as ‘Ivan Chai’ in Britain where it was widely drunk until the late 19th Century when Indian and Chinese tea became fashionable.

Botanist, Nicholas Culpeper (not to be confused with Thomas, who precariously took up the position of lover of Catherine Howard, wife of Henry VIII) writing in his book, Complete Herbal in 1652, calls it ‘one of the finest of our wild plants’ and possibly, one of the most over- looked!