2017

TG3203 : Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) - flower

taken 8 years ago, near to Rockland st Mary, Norfolk, England

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) - flower
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) - flower
Meadowsweet is a member of the rose family and prefers wet habitats such as ditches, damp meadows and riverbanks. It flowers from June to September. The Tudor herbalist and botanist John Gerard called this wild flower the "Queene of the medowes" and described how it was used to scent people's houses and "delighteth the senses". The plant is also known for its many medicinal uses such as treating joint pain, arthritis and rheumatic conditions, the common cold and for reducing fever. Meadowsweet contains coumarin, which in high dosage can act as an anticoagulant, preventing blood clotting, but is generally considered safe (and widely used) in low dosage.

In Anglo-Saxon times it was known as medowyrt - the "medo" referring to meodu the Old English word for mead as it was often used to flavour the drink. Meadowsweet was one of the three herbs held most sacred to the Druids (Vervain and Water-mint being the other two) and in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland it is known as crios Chu-chulainn - the belt of a mythological hero of Ulster, Cú Chulainn.
The Hellington and Rockland St Mary Community Reserve

In 2014, the development and management of the Hellington and Rockland St Mary Community Reserve, comprising the eastern end of Hellington Low Common, was taken on by a community trust "for the benefit of the inhabitants and those interested in Hellington and Rockland St Mary, without distinction of gender, sexual orientation, race or political, religious or other opinions". The land is owned by the Parochial Church Council, with the rent being paid from stakeholders' subscriptions.

The reserve is a designated county wildlife site and covers 6.6 acres of ground which is traversed by the Hellington Beck. With the help of local volunteers and supported by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Parish and South Norfolk District Councils, the trust aims to manage the condition of the reserve and to create a healthy environment for diverse species of flora and fauna to flourish, and to educate visitors of all ages, with the objectives of improving the condition of the reserve and providing opportunities to enjoy the countryside.

On the sandy area of grassland to the south of the beck Dove's-foot crane's bill (Geranium molle) > Link , Common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) > Link and Spring beauty (Claytonia perfoliata) > Link can be seen; Common reed (Phragmites australis), Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) , Water mint ((Mentha aquatica) > Link and Hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) grow on the lower marshy ground north of the beck. Beside the path Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) > Link , Primrose (Primular vulgaris) > Link and Dog violet (viola riviniana) > Link can be found. Red campion (Silene dioica) > Link , Wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) > Link and Greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) > Link grow on the bank of the beck which is populated by clusters of Watercress ((Nasturtium officinale) > Link. 600 native hedge plants, shrubs and trees have also been planted.


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Geographical Context: Wild Animals, Plants and Mushrooms
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TG3203, 568 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Evelyn Simak   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Tuesday, 20 June, 2017   (more nearby)
Submitted
Wednesday, 21 June, 2017
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TG 3219 0397 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:35.0352N 1:25.5581E
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TG 3216 0398
View Direction
East-southeast (about 112 degrees)
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Image Type (about): close look 
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