Establishing a wildflower meadow

At last month’s stream clear the Friends of the Westbrook planted a range of native flowering plants in the ‘meadow’ at Curtis Way. These comprised:

• Lady’s bedstraw (Galium verum) – the name is likely derived from the tradition of stuffing it into straw mattresses, particularly for women about to give birth
• Rough hawkbit (Leontodon hispidis) – also known as bristly hawkbit. A great nectar plant for insects
• Oxe eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) – Alternative local names include Dog-daisy, Moon-daisy andwild Marguerite
• Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)- also known as Eggs & Bacon, Butter & Eggs, Hens & Chickens and Granny’s toenails!
• Meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris) – alternative names include Goldy and Lady’s Slipper in Somerset and Crow-flower in the Midlands, Rutland and Staffordshire.
• Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) – also known as cat’s-tails, hard-heads, and rib grass. Food plant for over 70 species of insect.
• Common sorrel (Rumex acetosa)– alternative names include Green sauce, Sour dock, Tom thumb’s thousand fingers, and Soldiers
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)– Also known as thousand-leaf, hundred-leaf-grass and names relating to its medicinal properties: sneezewort and staunch weed
• Common cat’s ear  (Hypochaeris radicata) also known as flatweed, and hairy cat’s-ear, or false dandelion due to the similarity of the flowers. 
• Meadow Cranesbill (Geranium pratense)- also known as meadow geranium or wild geranium or, thunder flowers.
• Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)– alternative local names include Hardheads, Bachelor’s buttons and lady’s cushion. Excellent source of nectar for bees, hoverflies and butterflies including Common blues, Marbled whites Gatekeeper and Meadow browns
• Goat’s beard (Tragopogon pratensis)– also called Jack go to bed at noon – as the flowers close at mid-day

Thanks to the Wildlife Trust and Nature Spot websites for the links outlined above. 

See also Vickery’s Folk Flora – An A to Z of the Folklore and Uses of British and Irish Plants by Roy Vickery.

And www.plantlore.com