Scything the Meadow
I have four acres of land at Gowanbank in West Lothian with a mixture of habitats: Woodland, marsh, south facing slope, meadow and SEPA gave me permission to deculvert an old millstream that now winds through the middle. I am creating a managed wild garden of food and medicine plants – the perfect foraging patch – I call it ‘guardianing’! That way I always know that supper is on the doorstep.
One serious reason to combine my love of gardening with plants is that many of our medicinal species are endangered. Even if you are not into herbal medicine you will know the popularity of things like Arnica Cream. Arnica is now rare in many European countries. (By the way, Daisy ointment makes a great replacement and works just as well.)
Click here for more information on why we should all save and protect medicinal species. Any local gardening volunteers are welcome to get in touch! The following is an incomplete list of the species at Wychmoss so far (it grows each day). Plant swaps, seed swap and plant donations always welcomed!
Angelica Angelica archangelica Edible. Traditionally candied. Medicinal. Digestif, antibacterial, antifungal.
Astragalus Astragalus membranaceus Medicinal. Adaptogen, tonic
Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus Edible and medicinal.
Bistort Polygonurn bistorta Medicinal. Bowel complaints, piles, nosebleeds.
Blackthorn (Sloe) Edible and medicinal.
Blue Flag Iris versicolor Medicinal.
Borage (Starflower) Borago officinalis Edible and medicinal. Skin complaints, eczema
Bramble Edible and medicinal.
Calendula (Marigold) Calendula officinalis Edible and medicinal. Skin complaints, mouth ulcers, antiseptic, antiulcer, antiviral
Chamomile Anthemis nobilis Edible and medicinal. Skin complaints, digestion, emotional
Chickweed Stellaria media Edible and medicinal.
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara Edible and medicinal. Bronchitis, laryngitis, throat infections, coughs, asthma.
Comfrey Symphytum officinale Edible and medicinal. Sprains, breaks, swelling
Couch grass Agropyron repens Medicinal. Antiinflammatory, demulcent, diuretic. Cystitis, prostate.
Cowslip Primula veris Edible and medicinal.
Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Edible and medicinal. Diuretic
Dog Rose Rosa canina Edible and medicinal. Vitamin syrup. Helpful for arthritis.
Echinacea Echinacea purpurea Medicinal. Immune system
Elder Sambucus nigra Edible and medicinal. Antiviral, hayfever
Fennel Foeniculum vulgare Edible and medicinal. Digestif, wind, hunger pangs
Feverfew Tanecetum parthenium Medicinal. Migraines
Figwort Scrophularia nodosa Medicinal.
Geranium (Cranesbill) Medicinal
Good King Henry Chenopodium bonus-henricus, also called Poor-man’s Asparagus, Perennial Goosefoot, Lincolnshire Spinach, Mercury or Markery. Edible.
Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea Edible and medicinal. Kidney disease, coughs, consumption, nervous headaches.
Hawthorn Crategeus monogyna Edible and medicinal. Heart tonic, blood pressure
Hogweed, Common Edible.
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum Medicinal. Diuretic, laxativc, asthma, expectorant
Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastum Medicinal. Venous strength and circulation
Horsetail Equisetum arvense Medicinal. Silica for hair, urinary system
Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla vulgaris Medicinal. Astringent, antiinflammatory, cosmetic
Lady’s Smock (Cuckoo flower) Edible.
Lavender Lavendula angustifolia Edible and medicinal. Wide variety. Especially sleep, burns
Lesser Celandine (Pilewort) Ranunculus ficaria Edible and medicinal.
Mare’s Tail Hippuris vulgaris Medicinal. Vulnerary
Mayweed Anthemis cotula Edible and medicinal. Antispasmodic, dysentry
Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria Edible and medicinal. Painkiller, Nature’s aspirin, febrifuge
Melissa (Lemon balm) Melissa officinalis Edible and medicinal. Headaches, cold sores, shingles.
Milk Thistle Silybum marianus Medicinal. Liver detox/protector, food poisoning, hangovers, Death Cap mushroom antidote
Nettle Urtica dioca Edible and medicinal. Allergies, asthma, hayfever, arthritis, prostate, eczema
Pasque flower Anemone pulsatilla Medicinal. Analgesic, antispasmodic, nervous exhaustion, PMS.
Periwinkle (Lesser) Vinca minor Medicinal.
Plantain Plantago major also Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata Edible and medicinal. Catarrh, glue ear.
Rosebay willowherb Edible and medicinal.
Scullcap Antispasmodic, painkiller Medicinal.
Sloe (Blackthorn) Edible and medicinal.
Soapwort Saponaria officinalis Medicinal. Syphilis, itching.
Sorrel Rumex acetosa and Rumex acetosella Edible and medicinal. Cooling, trad. used in ‘hot diseases’
St. John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum Medicinal. Depression
Sweet Cicely Myrrhis odorata Edible and medicinal. Digestif
Sweet Flag Acorus calamus Medicinal. Singers’ root, voice problems, digestif
Toadflax, Ivy Leafed Linaria cymbalaria Edible and medicinal. Diabetes, antiscorbutic
Three-cornered Leek Edible.
Valerian Valeriana officinalis Medicinal. Insomnia, nerves, phobias, mental sedative
Vetch Edible.
Watercress Nasturtium officinale Edible and medicinal. Antiscorbutic
Watermint Mentha arvensis Edible.
Wild Cherry Edible.
Wild Garlic Edible.
Wild Carrot Daucus carota Edible and medicinal. Early contraceptive.
Willow Salix alba Medicinal. Analgesic and antiinflammatory. Nature’s aspirin. Arthritis. Neuralgia.
Wood Avens (Herb Bennet) Geum urbanum Edible and medicinal.
Wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella
Yarrow Achillea millefolium Edible and medicinal. Vulnerary, diaphoretic, diuretic, blood pressure, antihistamine
Yellow Loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris Medicinal.
Fungi within 5 miles
Jelly Ears, Oyster mushrooms, Stump Puffballs, Ceps (Porcini), Amethyst deceivers, Blushers, Ink caps, Chanterelles, Hedgehogs, as well as medicinal species such as Turkey Tails.
Domestic garden
I also have some kitchen garden domestics: Gooseberries, Blackcurrants, Raspberries, Goji berries, Cranberries, Tayberries, Raspberries, rocket and general veg (kale, sea kale, mizuna, broccoli and beans) and a poly greenhouse with some rabbit protected delights!
In the pipeline… a poisons garden for: Belladonna, Dog’s Mercury, Foxglove, Monkshood, Skunk Cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus
Hi Monica
I love your website.
I noticed your really interesting page on endangered herbs. I am going to be giving a talk on conservation of herbs and wondered where you got the information from regarding the herbs in your list. I hope you dont mind me asking but I found it very interesting
Best wishes Niki
Niki Lawrence – medical herbalist CPP
Hi Niki
Thanks for your interest. You can find information from United Plant Savers (UPS) in the States, also the CITES lists for different countries, for some countries these are called the Red List and the Blue List. In addition to that, are specialist conservation reports. The rise in popularity of herbalism again in the 1990s and 2000s has added pressure to wild populations of medicinal species. Many people imagine that all herbs are farmed, however farming is not commercially viable for many herbs. Many will not grow in nice straight lines in farmers fields: they will only grow under a certain tree with their favourite mycorrhizal fungi or will only reproduce once every seven years! Many herb suppliers demand that pickers follow a sustainable code which loosely says not to pick all but to leave some to repopulate the area. But in the wild they’ll never know the next group that picks all the rest unless the ‘wild land’ is owned and controlled. The general public has no idea that the Arnica Montana in their Arnica Cream may one day be extinct in the same way their grandchildren will not be eating fish and chips for supper, with fish stocks heading for extinction. Here at Gowanbank I am developing a range of ‘wild habitats’ to collect in a ‘reserve’ as many species as I can.
Good luck with your talk!
All the best, Monica.
Fantastic! Love the site and what you are doing. Next time I am in Scotland I shall have to come and visit!
Look forward to it. Bring the drinks! (Auld Scots custom 🙂 )
From an Arizona wilde desert foods farmer and enthusiast- thanks for your beautiful site and delicious work!