Stop 1: Elephant Ears : Bergenia cordifolia

• In traditional medicine, bergenia has been  used for various ailments, including kidney

   and bladder issues, and to dissolve stones. Some studies suggest that bergenia may

   have antimalarial, and other medicinalproperties. 

• The common name of “Pig Squeak” is derived from the sound one can make by rubbing a

   leaf with your fingers which will make a soundsimilar to that of a pig.

Stop 2: Garlic Mustard: Alliaria petiolata

The heart-shaped leaves of garlic mustard are smooth and hairless, and rather like those of nettles; when crushed,

they smell of garlic. Its small, white flowers have four petals in the shape of a cross and grow in clusters at the ends of the stems.

 The leaves of garlic mustard are regularly used in salads, or as a flavouring for fish or meat. Young, fresh

leaves can be picked in September when they first appear, and may be harvested until the flowers bloom the following spring.

Stop 3: Willow

• Willow wood, particularly English cricket bat willow, is renowned for its shock absorption and lightweight nature, making it the preferred material for cricket bats
• Willow bark contains salicin, a compound related to aspirin, and has been used for centuries to relieve pain, fever, and inflammation.

Stop 4: Cleavers Galium aparine

• Cleavers, also known as goosegrass or sticky willy, is a common, wild plant found in the UK and other parts of the world
• Cleavers has been used traditionally for a variety of ailments, including urinary problems, fluid retention, and as a diuretic.
• The young leaves and stems can be used in salads, soups, or other dishes. The seeds can be roasted and ground to make a coffee substitute.
• Cleavers can be dried and used to make a tea that is said to have a soothing effect and can help with sleep.

Stop 5: Pine

Scots pines were planted around farmsteads as windbreaks, and clusters of pines growing along old droveways helped travellers find out where they were going in inclement weather. Scots pine timber is one of the strongest softwoods available and is widely used in the construction industry and in joinery. It is used in the manufacture of telegraph poles, pit props, gate posts and fencing. The tree can also be tapped for resin to make turpentine. Other uses include rope made from the inner bark, tar from the roots and a dye from the cones. Dry cones can be used as kindling for fires.

Stop 6: Nettles Urtica dioica

Stinging nettles are great wildlife attractors: caterpillars of the small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies use them as foodplants; ladybirds feast on the aphids that shelter among them; and seed-eating birds enjoy their autumn spoils.

The stinging nettle has been used for food, herbal remedies, dyes and fibres for hundreds of years. During the Second World War, children were encouraged to collect them so that they could be used to produce a dark green dye for camouflage.

Stop 7: Herb Robert Geranium robertanium

• Herb-robert is a foodplant and nectar-source for many invertebrates including bees, hoverflies and the barred carpet moth. Herb-robert was traditionally used as an antiseptic, as well as to treat stomach upset and nosebleeds.
• Its leaves are edible and used by some to make tea. They have also been used crushed and rubbed on the skin as an insect repellent
• Herb-robert was traditionally carried to bring good luck and for fertility.
• Herb-robert is thought to have gained its name from an ancient association with Robin Goodfellow, a house goblin from English folklore also known as Puck.  Some think it was named after an 11th-century monk who cured many people using the plant.

Stop 8: Horsetail - Equisetum arvense

• It belongs to a very old group of plants, predating dinosaurs, and has been used in herbal remedies since ancient times
• A variety of invertebrates feed upon and hide among its dense stems  for example the rosy rustic moth
• Horsetail reproduces by spores but is usually spread by rhizomes (underground stems)  
• Rhizomes of established horsetail plants can grow to 2m (6½ft) deep underground 

Stop 9: Hydrangea

• Hydrangeas were first cultivated in Japan and were introduced to Europe in 1736. 
• The colour of bigleaf hydrangea flowers can change based on the soil's pH. Acidic soil promotes blue or purple blooms, while alkaline soil encourages pink or red hues.
•  In Japan, hydrangeas are a symbol of heartfelt emotion, gratitude, and apology. 
• It may look like hydrangeas have tons of petals, but they’re actually called sepals. Sepals are small leaves that protect the flower bud. They usually start out green and turn into the rich pinks, purples, and blues that grab our attention.

Stop 99: Lavender

• Fragrant lavender,, is  grown throughout the world today. It’s native to areas surrounding the Mediterranean and countries east of India.
• Lavender has been used for more than 2,500 years for fragrances, therapeutics, and cooking and as an ornamental shrub. Egyptians used lavender oil in embalming, and the Greeks benefited from its medicinal properties for easing headaches, gastritis, and sore throats. It was also used extensively by the Romans, who brought it with them throughout the Empire.
• The word “lavender" comes from the Latin lavare ("to wash") — the Romans used the fragrant oil in their baths. From the Middle Ages and Renaissance right up to modern times, lavender has been used in perfumes, toilet waters, potpourris, and sachets. As an aromatherapy oil, it relieves stress and induces sleep. The oil's antiseptic properties are also known to heal wounds and burns and to ward off disease.