Spring Walk with Wild Flowers

Chiltern District Welsh Society Spring Walk
28th April 2022

What an enjoyable and interesting day. The last time most of us saw each other we were in our fineries, now we were in our walking gear!

It was clear from the beginning that Gwyndaf and Janet had put a lot of effort into making a success of the day from Janet taking everyone’s order for the sandwiches for lunch, to Gwyndaf explaining the background to the Red Lion pub at Coleshill where we met.

The group included our Life President Ann Evans, current Chairman Colin Picton, two past chairmen, seven past committee and two new members. What a thriving society we are. Someone remarked that we were the strongest society around!

Our route was to take us south along Coleshill Common and the pond across the Chiltern Way, across white chalk paths of cereal fields, past Luckings Farm, down to Great Beard’s Wood and Owlsears Wood before looping back past Ongar Hill Farm and the old Windmill on the right.

In those couple of miles and hours Gwyndaf highlighted approximately 30 flowering species of plants (flowers and trees) with captivating explanations.

Coralroot
Coralroot

We saw plants only found in or near ponds, in ancient woodlands, in shaded areas (bluebells), in sunny areas, on chalk soil, or in cultivated meadows. One plant, Coralroot is confined to this area of the UK – so that was a very special find. That these plants and flowers are in these areas is conditioned by various factors including the soil and environment. The soil layer on the Chilterns is rather thin before one encounters chalk hence the chalk loving plants that we found.

Pendulus Sedge
Pendulus Sedge

The route and time were chosen for the best locations for us to see specific flowers. Those in flower included trees and sedges. Sedges are grass-like plants, and as we learned “sedges have edges”.  They have stems with triangular cross-sections. Gwyndaf explained the pollinating method highlighting the male and female parts of the sedge plants.

We learned that some species have male and female plants. One of these is Dog’s Mercury which we saw in abundance in the wood.

Wavy Bittercress
Janet with Wavy Bittercress

We saw edible and poisonous plants, plants used in medicine, sweet smelling plants and ones that were unpleasant. We learned a little of the derivation of some of the rather fanciful names. In short – lots to entertain. Our sightings included Barren Strawberry, Bugle (used for bruises), Lesser Celandine (opening and shutting to light), Common Dog Violet, Coralroot (propagating via red bulbils), Cow Parsley (edible leaves when young), Cuckoo Flower, Cuckoo Pint (otherwise known as Lords and Ladies), Dog’s Mercury, Garlic Mustard (young leaves can be eaten in salads), Greater Stitchwort (cures stiches in your side), Green Alkanet,

Gwyndaf with Green Alkanet
Gwyndaf with Green Alkanet

Ground Ivy (used to flavour beer), Herb Robert (named after Pope Robert the founder of the Cistercians), Summer Snowflake, Sweet Woodruff, Wavy Bittercress (sixy-sexy-flexy), White Deadnettle, Yellow Archangel as well as various Oaks, Hornbeam, Willow, Beech, and Hedgerows. You can tell our wild flower education was extensive!

The welcome victuals and drinks back at the Red Lion rounded off a very enjoyable easy sunny walk in the Chilterns. There was no end to the chatting!

Very much looking forward to next year’s – Diolch o galon Janet a Gwyndaf!!!

Bill Jones

There are more pictures in the 2022 Photo Gallery

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