Bird's-foot-trefoil
One of the more evocative names for Common Bird's-foot-trefoil is 'Granny's Toenails' which gives an instant, and perhaps not-so-pleasant, impression of the claw-like seed pods of this abundant and sprawling species. Other common names include 'Butter and Eggs', 'Eggs and Bacon', and 'Hen and Chickens' which refer to the egg-yolk yellow flowers and reddish buds. Widespread and found in all kinds of grassy places from lawns to downlands, roadside verges to heathlands, Common Bird's-foot-trefoil can be seen flowering from May to September.
The Wildlife Trusts manage many grassland and coastal habitats for the benefit of all kinds of wildlife. Careful grazing with traditional breeds, hay-cutting at the right time and scrub clearance are just some of the ways these fragile habitats are kept in good condition - supporting wildflowers like Common Bird's-foot-trefoil and, in turn, invertebrates and the larger animals that prey on them. By volunteering for your local Trust you can help too, and you'll make new friends and learn new skills along the way.
Red Clover
Red Clover is a common plant of all kinds of grassy areas in the UK, from lawns to pastures, roadsides to meadows. It is sown as a fodder crop for livestock and has long been used in crop rotation systems because of its ability to fix nitrogen, enriching soils. The trefoil leaves are collected by Wood Mice and the flowers are sort after by all kinds of bumblebees for their nectar.
Many of our so-called 'weeds' are beneficial to wildlife, providing food for nectar-loving insects and shelter for minibeasts. Try leaving wilder areas in your garden, such as patches of Red Clover in your lawn and Stinging Nettles near the compost heap, and see who comes to visit... To find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.
Hare's-foot Clover
Hare's-foot Clover is a widespread plant of dry grasslands and sandy soils, inland and at the coast. The pale pink flowers are covered in soft hairs, giving it the downy look of a hare's or rabbit's paw, hence the common name.
The Wildlife Trusts manage many grassland and coastal habitats for the benefit of all kinds of wildlife. Careful grazing with traditional breeds, hay-cutting at the right time and scrub clearance are just some of the ways these fragile habitats are kept in good condition - supporting wildflowers like Hare's-foot Clover and, in turn, invertebrates and the larger animals that prey on them. By volunteering for your local Trust you can help too, and you'll make new friends and learn new skills along the way.
White Clover
White Clover is a very common plant of all kinds of grassy areas in the UK, from lawns to pastures, roadsides to meadows, as both a wild and sown flower. The famous trefoil leaves are collected by Wood Mice and are one of the foodplants of Common Blue Butterflies, while the flowers are sought after by all kinds of bumblebees.
Many of our so-called 'weeds' are beneficial to wildlife, providing food for nectar-loving insects and shelter for minibeasts. Try leaving wilder areas in your garden, such as patches of White Clover in your lawn and Stinging Nettles near the compost heap, and see who comes to visit... To find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.
Restharrow
Common Restharrow is a low-growing, creeping plant with clusters of pink flowers that can be seen from July to September. It can be found on grassland, particularly chalk and limestone grassland and in coastal areas.
Although Common Restharrow itself is not threatened, the habitats in which it grows are becoming fragmented and being lost at a rapid rate; for example, it's estimated that we've lost 80% of our chalk grassland over the last 60 years. The Wildlife Trusts manage many grassland and coastal nature reserves for the benefit of the rare wildlife they hold. You can help too: volunteer for your local Wildlife Trust and you could be involved in everything from scrub-cutting to stockwatching.
Kidney Vetch
Kidney Vetch is easily recognisable as clusters of small yellow flowers sitting atop little woolly cushions, and is a distinctive feature of sand dunes, chalk grassland and cliffs across the UK. Flowering from June to September, this spreading plant can cover bare ground in the right conditions.
Kidney Vetch is the sole foodplant for the larvae of the Small Blue Butterfly - a seriously declining insect which is classified as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Although Kidney Vetch itself is not threatened, the habitats in which it grows are becoming fragmented and being lost at a rapid rate; for example, it's estimated that we've lost 80% of our chalk grassland over the last 60 years. The Wildlife Trusts manage many grassland and coastal nature reserves for the benefit of the rare wildlife they hold. You can help too: volunteer for your local Wildlife Trust and you could be involved in everything from scrub-cutting to stockwatching.
Himalayan Balsam
Himalayan Balsam was introduced as a garden plant in 1839, but soon escaped and became widely naturalised along riverbanks and ditches, especially close to towns. It is fast-growing and spreads quickly, invading wet habitat quickly at the expense of other, native flowers. Its explosive seed pods aid its spread by sending the seeds into the river for even further dispersal.
Himalayan Balsam is a fast-growing species which can quickly get a stranglehold in an area, causing problems for our native species. The Wildlife Trusts manage many nature reserves for the benefit of wildlife using various methods to ensure a balance of plants and cover in these fragile habitats. By volunteering for your local Trust you can help too, and you'll make new friends and learn new skills along the way.
Wood-sorrel
The fresh green, trefoil leaves of Wood-sorrel form distinctive clumps in woodlands and shady hedgerows, often growing from the moss on fallen logs. Rising from these cushions, the delicate white flowers hang on tiny stems, blooming around Eastertime and giving rise to its popular European name of 'Alleluia'.
The Wildlife Trusts manage many woodland nature reserves sympathetically for a range of spring flowers, from shamrock-leaved Wood-sorrel to fragrant Ramsons, showy Bluebells to delicate Wood Anemones. A mix of coppicing, scrub-cutting and ride maintenance open up the woodland floor to the sun, helping many flowers and plants to thrive. You can help too: volunteer for your local Wildlife Trust and you could be involved in everything from traditional forest crafts to raising awareness about woodland wildlife.
Herb-Robert
Herb-Robert is a type of crane's-bill that is found in a variety of habitats including woodland, hedgerows, rocky or exposed areas, scree slopes and coastal areas. Look for it in areas of shade away from acidic soils. The small pink flowers of Herb-Robert mainly appear between May and September and its leaves emit an unpleasant mousy scent.
The loss of many of our natural habitats in the countryside mean that the flowers and plants in our gardens provide vital food and shelter for a range of wildlife including butterflies, bees, birds and small mammals. To encourage wildlife into your garden, try planting native species such as Herb-Robert. To find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.
Bloody Crane's-bill
The startling magenta flowers of Bloody Crane's-bill are a stark contrast to the grey limestone pavements of the Dales and Welsh cliffs it favours. It can also be seen on calcareous grassland and sand dunes. It flowers between June and August, the flowers subtly changing colour as they fade.
More than 90% of Europe's rare limestone pavements are found in the UK. These bare expanses of rock, criss-crossed by deep fissures, were laid 300 million years ago under a warm sea, and exposed as rock during the last ice age. But, today, there are less than 3,000 hectares left, much of which has already been damaged by excavation for stone. This has had a detrimental impact on the wildlife that depends on this habitat. The Wildlife Trusts are working with a range of organisations and individuals to protect these precious sites. We have a vision of a 'Living Landscape': a network of habitats and wildlife corridors across town and country, which are good for both wildlife and people. You can support this greener vision for the future by joining your local Wildlife Trust.
