Verge Walks
We were lucky to catch a dry couple of hours for our first verge walk of the season at Thorngrafton. This is a particularly interesting verge as there are a variety of underlying rocks and, consequently, changing soil pHs associated with the cuesta landscape. Although the verge had been mown we were rewarded with all of the flowers we anticipated finding, including twayblades, hoary plantain and agrimony.

Many of the more common plants we recorded have names which indicate valued characteristics - selfheal, eyebright, bedstraw - a whole world of knowledge which is deemed of little relevance to the modern way of life.

Dilston Physic Garden, near Corbridge, is ensuring that this knowledge is not only retained but is validated and built on by using cutting edge science to quantify and explain the health giving and medicinal properties of plants. It's a fascinating place, a visit won't disappoint! https://dilstonphysicgarden.com/

The Complete Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable by Juliette De Bairacli Levy (1912 - 2009) is still the go-to reference work for many livestock keepers looking for plant-based treatments to improve and maintain animal health. Juliette started a conventional veterinary studies course at university but always held in higher esteem the ancient knowledge she gained by living with and learning from Romany gypsies.
Across the Atlantic Robin Wall Kimmerer, a botanist with Native American heritage, weaves together her inherited wisdom and her modern academic understanding of plant biology into an inspiring book. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants contains a wealth of stories illustrating the need to live with respect and reverence for the land.
Diana Beresford Kroeger, the renowned Canadian botanist, biochemist and visionary is on a mission to revolutionise the way we see trees with her book To Speak for the Trees. Diana's research includes the discovery of mother trees at the heart of a forest; the fact that trees are a living library, have a chemical language and communicate in a quantum world; the major idea is that trees heal living creatures through the aerosols they release and that they carry a great wealth of natural antibiotics and other healing substances; and, perhaps most significantly, that planting trees can actively regulate the atmosphere and the oceans, and even stabilize our climate.

We have two further walks this year - please call Lesley Silvera 07933 326711 or
email me sue@mosspeteral.com if you'd like to join either or both walks, just so we know how many people to expect and will be prepared with enough leaders to work with Covid-19 restricted group sizes.


Tues 14th July: Meet at Cawfields car park
7pm - Meet at car park; we are going to look at Markham. Grid ref: 714666

Tues 28th July: Meet near Caw Gap
7pm - Meet at wide verge near junction of Sook Hill & Caw Gap. We'll walk along to Ventnor's Hall and back.
Grid ref: 726675