January herb walk

You probably wouldn’t expect to find many herbs braving the wild outdoors in January – especially given the freezing temperatures and snow we’ve had this weekend. But sometimes heading out with the lowest expectation can bring some of the happiest surprises.

Fairy wood

For our January herb walk we met at the base of Cam Peak. If you’ve heard the tale of our iconic local hill having been created when a giant, with intention to dam the River Severn, was persuaded to tip his barrowload of stones further inland, then you might be surprised to know its form is due to material taken away, not added. Cam Peak and Long Down were both part of the Cotswold escarpment that now ends at Stinchcombe Hill (‘The Edge’). While the edge, and to an extent, the top of Long Down, are maintained by their hard limestone cap; in between, sandier soils have eroded over time leaving Cam Peak exposed. As a continual process, the landscape is always changing, the peak will gradually dwindle – imagine Cam without Cam Peak!

Rather than go up to the cold and windy heights – it is always windy atop the Peak isn’t it? – we stepped over the cattle grid and across the road, through the kissing gate and into ‘The Fairy Wood’.

I’m not sure how many people know of this as ‘the Fairy Wood’. It’s the name I was told over twenty years ago, probably not long after it was planted. The ash trees certainly seemed younger then and part of the magic of the wood was how densely planted they are, all with the same silvery mottling on their trunks. As the artist who joined our walk described: when ash trees are wet all the detail in their bark shines with a variety akin to camouflage. Which probably helps explain the mesmerising effect of wandering among these trees. They do have an enchantment.

Clothed in finery

On a cold winter’s day, seeing trees wrapped in the emeralds and sages of shaggy moss and the full yellow-to-brown-to-grey spectrum of lichen gives the impression of them decked out in protective clothing. When the tousled green moss clumps around their base it can look like comfy Ugg boots.

Within just a metre or two of entering the wood we’d slowed, transfixed by a lichen-festooned twig, discussing how to capture the many layers of its beauty. Photographs can flatten this intricacy, it often takes great botanical artists to bring out the qualities of a plant, with the artifice of emphasising key features resulting in a more than life-like image.

It was fascinating to learn that lichen can actually provide many or most of the nutrients required in our diet. With carbohydrate, fibre, minerals – including potassium, iron and calcium – protein and vitamins we would be able to survive a while if lost in the wood. However, their slow-growing nature means this isn’t a sustainable approach to living, but it is an insight into how fascinating and incredible they are and the potential they offer. Fans of lichen will already know their value as bio absorbers, cleansing our planet for us bit by bit. We need our lichens now like never before.

Renew and replenish

It’s hard to think of ash trees these days without concern over ash die back. We have been cautioned to enjoy our ash trees while we may, there will be many fewer in years to come. When I was very, very young the same was said of elm trees. One of my earliest memories is having a stand of voluptuous elms pointed out to me by my Dad, their distinctive bulging silhouette seeming a little top-heavy. He was telling me to remember that sight, I wouldn’t be seeing it again. It’s etched in my mind to this day, and he was right, I have never seen its like.

Wood is of course a vital resource and managed woodlands provide for many needs. There is something to be said for felling ash trees before they become affected, when the wood is still good to use. But as about 10% of the species is thought to be naturally resistant to die back, these may be erroneously felled. Wood from affected trees can be used as precious firewood, as the verse goes:

But ash logs, all smooth and grey,

Burn them green or old,

Buy up all that come your way

They’re worth their weight in gold.

Other classic uses for ash wood include making smaller items like walking sticks and tool handles. It is also sought after for musical instruments, including guitars. A musician who joined our walk told us the best ash for this is known as ‘Swamp Ash’ and grows in the wetlands of America.

Future planning

Sad to say, the inevitable signs of ash die back were throughout the Fairy Wood. It is being carefully managed, some trees have already been felled and others have warning signs, red smears of paint reminiscent of the crosses on the doors of plague victims. The Woodland Trust estimate that up to 80% of ash trees in the UK will be lost. This wood will look very different then.

The management approach in the Fairy Wood includes replanting with other tree species, broadening the diversity and resilience of the wood. So now we find small beeches, currently in their brown winter frazzle and huge oak leaves littering the floor. Of course, litter in a woodland sense is a magnificent thing. The natural composting and recycling that retains fertility and life.

Key to this is are the fungi – those curious beings that are now recognised as neither plant nor animal but members of their own unique and diverse kingdom. Fungi are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms. They are closer to animals than plants as they’re unable to make their own food through photosynthesis.

Taking a walk off the main path to explore the wood more deeply, we came across a wonderful display of bracket fungi sprawled over a submersed log. Edged with frost the circular lobes sparkled and the way they massed over each other created an entity as decorative as any Christmas table centre.

Space invaders

While the introduction of new tree species is bringing new life to the wood, there are other interlopers in the habitat that look as if they’ve come from nearby gardens. As they’re aligned along the main path it’s probable they’ve come in as seeds on people’s boots and made themselves at home. Among these are the larger hypericum – not our diminutive St John’s Wort, but his bigger-flowered cousin, those flowers now succeeded by pert black berries. Also the fat green blades of an invasive grass that sends up graceful seed heads. Although these are edible (you can gather them and add to bread mixes, porridge, oatcakes and the like), none of us were delighted to find them, far too familar with digging them up as they spread uninvited through our own gardens!

But what of the herbs?

There were a couple of herbal delights to be found, even in this quietist part of winter. The most abundant was blackberry leaf. It’s often the commonest plants that have most to offer. Their abundance is a good indication of their vibrancy. When you think of how much growth blackberry can put on in a matter of days, you will know it is packed with energy. Ways you can benefit from this include adding blackberry leaf to a herbal tea blend, steep well and sip gently (though do avoid if pregnant, it is similar to raspberry leaf in its ability to bring on contractions); or add blackberry leaves to your bath to help brighten and invigorate your skin.

And what hope of spring?

Seek for magic, and you will find it. Deep in the wood, hidden among the moss, under the shade of the ash, a small sprig of green was sporting whorls of leaves stacked upon each other up the stem. Unmistakably goosegrass. Alternatively know as cleavers, officially Galium aparine, you many know it as sticky weed. Give it a few months and you won’t miss it, scrambling across all, the minuscule claws on leaves and stems helping it stick, or cleave, to all that get close.

Cleavers is certainly something to get acquainted with as it appears in spring. It’s wonderful the way nature provides us just what we need, when we need it. Cleavers is a cleansing herb, infuse it to create a skin cleansing tonic, or pop a sprig into your water bottle and enjoy the cucumber-y freshness.

Come and discover

Our herb walks take place on the first Saturday of every month, starting at 10am and lasting for an hour. Each month we find a new area of Cam and Dursley to explore, we’ll put the starting place in the calendar on our website in the days beforehand so check there to know where to meet. We’ll also give details in our newsletter that goes out at the beginning of the month, so if you’d like a timely reminder, sign up to receive the newsletter.