THERE CAN BE A SURPRISE ANYWHERE IF YOU LOOK AND ACTUALLY SEE

I am a lover of old walls. This one is on the sunny side of a ruined field shelter that lacks a roof and with walls that have been worn by the Cornish climate. To me that makes it very special because it is not just a gathering of stones. They were put there with the skill of craftsmen who have long ago departed the top side of the turf! And as you can see their work lives on and lives with those small plants that can exist, and like to exist, in cracks where they find lime as in the old mortar joints. It is at the bottom of The Platt and gets full sun.

The fern that is central and more obvious is a Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium Trichomanes) and one I have noticed many times before. The less obvious one, with a common name of Wall Rue, (Asplenium Ruta-muraría) is another small plant that lives with little support. The photograph shows it clinging to the surface of old granite. But there is much more to the face of this wall as there is Lichen too (and that is a specialist subject). White specks of spar gleam in the light. A closer look reveals spiders’ threads and therefore, what else can live here. The crevices provides homes for the very small. It deserves more thought and a better inspection next time.

rhomboidal

garite barium sulfate

BaSo4 or just plain

‘spar’ to the locals

on my wall ‘specs’

of white light radiate

I see the wall as a journey because there is more to see and research. The discovery of Wall Rue took me on a detour. I will explain.  I was informed, it is not related to Common Rue, a better known herb. Thinking about herbs and their uses to us and as sources of nourishment for insects, bees and wasps I need more knowledge. But the journey does not stop there as the herb Fenucreek was mentioned. Both of these herbs have properties that can be useful to humans and also attract wildlife. I am intent on not replacing what is already growing on The Platt but to enhance the  seasonal range of nectar offering plants. 

This research also takes me into the area of the forager. It came up in conversation recently when I mentioned Nettles. Therefore Nettle Tea will be brewed next year. As an aside the small flowers of the Nettle are beautiful pearls amongst the green. So we will ensure we have plenty of nettle growth.The research will continue for how we can source seeds and possibly plants. Matt has been on a foraging course and we should look at what we can see in the spring - which would be a good time as growth is new - and in the summer months too. Larch tea could be tried as well although they say it needs some help, perhaps with leaves of mint. Why not mint tea then?

For the time being note the delicate flowers of a Common Nettle. Don’t be confused by the pale markings to be seen on leaves in the foreground.