Greater Stitchwort
Greater Stitchwort grows in woods, roadside verges, hedgerows and grassy banks. It has many other common names including 'Wedding Cakes', 'Star-of-Bethlehem', 'Daddy's-shirt-buttons' and 'Snapdragon' - the latter because its stems are brittle and easily break. It's pretty star-shaped, white flowers bloom from April to June; as the seed capsules ripen, they can be heard 'popping' in late spring.
Our hedgerows support all kinds of wildlife, providing vital food and shelter. But these habitats are disappearing with the intensification of agriculture. The Wildlife Trusts are working closely with farmers, landowners and developers to promote wildlife-friendly practices, such as planting hedges and leaving field margins. 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.
Ragged-Robin
Swaying in a gentle breeze, the delicate pink flowers of Ragged-Robin can be a joy to behold in any wildflower meadow, damp pasture or woodland ride. But it's not just passing humans that benefit from its star-shaped flowers, bumblebees, butterflies and Honey Bees all enjoy the nectar it produces. A growing favourite among gardeners, try planting Ragged-Robin in a boggy area or flower border and see who comes to visit...
The pink, frayed flowers of Ragged-Robin are an increasingly rare sight in the wild. 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.
Bladder Campion
Bladder Campion is a common wildflower found growing in meadows and grasslands, fields, hedgerows and roadside verges around the UK. It gets its common name from the bladder-like calyx (a bulge make up of the fused sepals) just behind the flowers; it is in bloom from May to September.
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.
White Campion
White Campion is a common wildflower that grows in fields, along hedgerows and roadside verges, and on waste ground. It flowers throughout the summer, but it's actually at night when the blooms produce a heady scent, attracting many feeding moths.
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.
Red Campion
The bright rose-red flowers of Red Campion brighten up roadsides, woodlands and hedges throughout the summer. Just as the Bluebells finish flowering in our woodlands, Red Campion starts to come into bloom. If they grow side-by-side for a few weeks, they can turn a woodland floor into an amazing sea of pink and blue.
The Wildlife Trusts manage many woodland nature reserves sympathetically for a range of spring flowers, from startling pink Red Campion 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.
Glasswort
Common Glasswort, also known as 'Marsh Samphire', grows in saltmarshes and around beaches and coastal places across the UK. But it is in East Anglia where it is most well-known as a wild food - gathered and displayed alongside fish. Its succulent nature is what makes it so attractive to eat, but also makes it tolerant to the harsh conditions of the shore.
The Wildlife Trusts look after many coastal habitats for the benefit of all kinds of plants, 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.
Sea Beet
Sea Beet grows in coastal places at tidelines, on shingle beaches, cliffs and sea-walls, and in saltmarshes. It is a close relative of some of our cultivated beets, such as Sugar-beet, Swiss Chard and Beetroot, and can also be cooked and eaten.
The Wildlife Trusts look after many coastal habitats for the benefit of all kinds of plants, 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.
Fat Hen
Fat Hen is a common plant that grows in gardens, roadside verges, hedgerows, arable fields and many other habitats - it is so frequent it is often considered to be a weed. Spikes of whitish flowers appear from June to October and the seeds are popular food for farmland birds such as Yellowhammer, Greenfinch and Linnet.
After the Second World War, agricultural production intensified and herbicides became widespread, driving many of our so-called 'weed' species out of the fields. But the loss of these plants, the increasing use of pesticides and the loss of many landscapes features like hedgerows has resulted in a 50% decline in farmland birds over the last 40 years. The Wildlife Trusts are working closely with farmers and landowners to promote wildlife-friendly practices to help farmland birds, such as leaving winter stubble and providing field margins. We are working towards 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.
Pellitory-of-the-wall
Pellitory-of-the-wall is frequently found growing out of cracks in old walls and pavements, on cliffs and banks, and in hedges. It can often be found around old ruins and castles, for example, as well as on damp church walls. Clusters of tiny flowers appear from June to October. It is a foodplant for the caterpillars of the Red Admiral Butterfly.
Many of our common, less showy plants are often overlooked; but they are still beneficial to wildlife, providing food and shelter for insects and, in turn, supporting the animals that feed on them. Try leaving wilder areas in your garden, such as patches of flowers on old walls and 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.
Stinging Nettle
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 like buttercups 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.
