Have you heard of woad, the blue dye with which the Romans said the Picts painted themselves?
Since the invention of chemical dyes it has ceased to be a crop plant and become a rarity in Britain. To our surprise it turned up in Eastham Rake railway station car park a few weeks ago, and has now formed its distinctive seeds, like little paddles. It is growing round the bases of two lamp-posts. The ground round the lamp-posts and some of the car park edges have been sown with a wild flower mix (well done Merseyrail). Ox-eye daisy, bacon-and-eggs and red clover are flowering and being much enjoyed by the local bumble bees.
Hilary Ash
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