Knotgrass
Common Knotgrass is found along the seashore, on waste ground, fields and roadside verges, and in gardens. This widespread plant has tiny, pale pink flowers that are very easy to miss as they appear so close to the stem; it blooms from May to October. Common Knotgrass is also known as 'Iron-grass' because of its tough, wiry roots that make it especially hard to pull up from the ground.
Although they sometimes don't look especially wildlife-friendly, our roadside verges, field edges and waste grounds can provide valuable habitats for all kinds of plants and animals. The Wildlife Trusts get involved in different projects to help make these places as beneficial for wildlife as possible. 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.
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed was introduced to the UK from Japan in the 19th Century as a garden plant, but has since become established in the wild, rampaging across roadside verges, riverbanks and waste ground. It is a fast-growing, invasive weed, which prevents other native species from growing, and is often used to highlight the issues of introducing alien species. Many organisations are committed to the removal of this invasive plant in order to allow our native wildlife to thrive.
Japanese Knotweed 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.
Bistort
The spikes of delicate pink flowers of Common Bistort can crowd damp places such as wet meadows or pastures and roadside verges. In bloom from June to August, this pretty flower goes by a different name in the north of England: 'Pudding Dock' (or sometimes 'Passion Dock'). This is because it was commonly used to create a traditional pudding around Eastertime, probably originating as a cleansing, bitter dish for Lent. Nowadays, many local places have their own take on the basic recipe of Common Bistort leaves, nettles, onions, oatmeal and bacon fat.
The Wildlife Trusts manage many grassland habitats for the benefit of wildlife - careful grazing with traditional breeds and scrub clearance are just a couple of the ways we 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.
Sorrel
Common Sorrel is a common, upright plant, often found in grasslands and along woodland edges and roadside verges. It has slender leaves and attractive flowers that appear in May and June, peppering the green grasses of our meadows with crimson and pink. Its numerous other common names, from 'Sour Ducks' to 'Vinegar Plant', all allude to the fact that its leaves taste extremely tart and dry due to their high levels of oxalic acid.
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 flowers in your lawn, Stinging Nettles near the compost heap and Common Sorrel in the vegetable patch, 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.
Curled Dock
Curled Dock is a very common plant found in gardens, waste ground, roadside verges, hedgerows and by water. As with other docks, it is often considered a weed of arable and disturbed ground, although it may be left alone on grazing land as extra herbage. As with many of our 'weed' species, Curled Dock shows incredible resistance to change; for example, it can be submerged in floodwaters for up to eight weeks and still survive, despite its preference for drier soils.
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 flowers in your lawn, Stinging Nettles near the compost heap and Curled Dock in the vegetable patch, 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.
Water Dock
Water Dock, as its name suggests, can be found growing beside water at the edges of canals, ponds and rivers, and even in shallow water. Flower spikes appear from July to September.
Human activity, including the drainage of land for agriculture, the loss of ponds through development and the removal of wet woods, has resulted in the disappearance of many of the UK's wetlands. The Wildlife Trusts are working closely with planners, developers and farmers to ensure our wetlands are protected. You can help by becoming a member of your local Trust; you'll find out about exciting wildlife happenings, events on your doorstep and volunteering opportunities, and be helping local wildlife along the way.
Broad-leaved Dock
Broad-leaved Dock is a common plant that grows on waste ground, in hedgerows, gardens and roadside verges, and next to water all over the UK. An abundant perennial it is well-known to most of us as the herbal remedy for nettle stings, yet there are differing opinions as to whether it really works or not.
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 flowers in your lawn, Stinging Nettles near the compost heap and Broad-leaved Dock in the vegetable patch, 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.
Lesser Sea-spurrey
Lesser Sea-spurrey is frequent found along most trunk roads in England and southern Scotland, where the roads are salted in winter. Pasturefields Saltmarsh is one of only two remaining inland saltmarshes in the UK and, as such, has been given legal protection as a Special Area of Conservation. Here, Lesser Sea-spurrey can be found alongside Sea Milkwort and Sea Plantain.
The Wildlife Trusts look after many coastal habitats for the benefit of plants like Lesser Sea-spurrey, and are working closely with farmers, landowners and developers to promote wildlife-friendly practices in these areas. 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.
Mouse-ear
Common Mouse-ear is a kind of chickweed with tiny white flowers that is found in all kinds of habitats all over the UK, from gardens to grasslands, waste grounds to walls. It flowers from April to September and its thought that its seeds can last in the soil for up to 40 years. It is considered a weed of cereal crops.
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 flowers in your lawn or 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.
Chickweed
Common Chickweed is a common wildflower, found everywhere from seabird colonies to gardens and roadside verges. It particularly likes disturbed ground, so much so, it is sometimes considered a weed. As its common name suggests, it was used as feed for chickens and cage-birds and is still popular today. Common Chickweed is an annual that produces small white flowers which can be seen all year-round.
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 flowers in your lawn, Stinging Nettles near the compost heap and Common Chickweed in the vegetable patch, 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.
