11-May Famine Flowers & Lamb's Toes

Summary

This week, London's wastelands transform into nature's pantry. Discover how mustard plants like Charlock became famine food during Ireland's darkest hour, and why a humble cress traveled here in Napoleonic soldiers' mattresses. Could the legendary London Rocket - said to have blanketed the city after the Great Fire - still cling to Tower walls?

Meanwhile, pea flowers weave their magic: from shamrocks hiding in your lawn to kidney vetch's woolly "lamb toes" that once graced funeral shrouds. Why did these blooms vanish from our chalk downs - and with them, the blue butterflies they sustained?

Article

The full article will be launched on 11 May until then you can enjoy a teaser of the content that will be coming here and all articles using the All Articles link.