Wolves Wild

Vetches (there are many species) are closely related to peas and lentils, and some species have in the past formed part of a diet of last resort.

Here coming into flower, sedges are common at the sides of the canals locally.

Like the dead nettle, the deadness is because it merely looks like a nettle, and does not sting.

A very distinctive fly, with its bright shiny body.

Like many wild plants (often also seen as weeds) this one has lots of folk names, including Creeping Jenny. It’s a member of the mint family.

Apparently these are edible, though the descriptions I have seen are not such as to enthuse me to rush out to give it a try.

Among its other names is Poor Man’s Mustard, which gives the pointer to the plant family it belongs to, and to a possible culinary use.

Yet another set of ducklings, which must have been freshly hatched when I spotted them on the Staffs & Worcs canal early in May.

The mother was keeping a very careful eye on them.

To be precise, these are ribwort plantains. The ones above are shown before the flowers come out, the ones below when the flowers are out.

Apart from its own attractions, this flower is significant as the food plant for the orange tip butterfly.