A spring delight, the wood anemone grows in dappled shade in ancient woodlands. Traditional management such as coppicing can help such flowers by opening up the woodland floor to sunlight Scientific name:Anemone nemorosa When to see:March to may About:The Wood anemone is a pretty spring flower of ancient woodlands, and is also planted in graveyards,…
In April and May, our ancient woodlands are awash with the white, starry flowers and smell of wild garlic. Scientific name:Allium ursinum When to see:April to May About:Wild garlic spends most of the year as a bulb underground in ancient woodland, only emerging to flower and leaf from April onwards. This early flowering allows it…
Look for the unusual flowers of lords-and-ladies in spring woodlands: a pale green sheath surrounds a spike of tiny, yellow flowers. This spike eventually forms a familiar, short stalk of striking red berries. Scientific name:Arum maculatum When to see:April to may An early flowering plant, lords-and-ladies can be seen in April and May. It is…
Heralding spring, a carpet of sunshine-yellow lasser celandine flowers is a joy to see on a woodland walk. Look out for it along hedgerows, in parks and even in graveyards . Scientific name:Ranunculus ficaria When to see:March to May About:Lesser celandine is a characteristic spring flower of woodlands, hedgerows, graveyards and parks where its shiny…
A true wildlife “hotel”. Honeysuckle is a climbing plant that caters for all kinds of wildlife: it provides nectar for insects, prey for bats, nest sites for birds and food for small mammals. Scientific name:Lonicera periclymenum When to see:February to November About:The sweet, heady scent of Honeysuckle, carried on a warm summer breeze, is one…
Herb-robert is a low growing plant, with small, pretty, pink flowers. Look for it in shady spots in woodland, hedgerows and coastal areas Scientific name:Geranium robertianum When to see:May to September About: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…
Favouring shady spots in woodlands and hedgerows, garlic mustard can grow very tall. It has small white flowers and as its name suggests smells faintly of garlic Scientific name: Alliana petiolate When to see: Flowers April to July. About:Garlic mustard, also known as ‘Jack-by-the-hedge’, likes shady places, such as the edges of woods and hedgerows. It can…
The Foxglove is a familiar, tall plant with pink flower spikes and a deadly nature. In summer, it can be spotted in woodlands and gardens and on moorland, roadside verges and waste grounds. Scientific name: Digitalis purpurea When to see:June to September About:The charismatic, pink flower spikes of the Foxglove are famous as both a reminder…
In April and May Gipton Woods is awash with the nodding heads of a carpet of bluebells. Scientific name:Hyacinthoides non-scripta. When to see:April to May About:The bluebell spends most of the year as bulb underground in ancient woodland, only emerging to flower and leaf from April onwards. This early flowering allows it to make the…