Edible Landscape number three started off from the Tankards Spring in Chalford High street. Although the water levels in the river had been very low since the previous winter and other seasonal springs in the valley had sunk back into the ground already, Tankard Spring continued as it does with hardly any variation in it’s flow.
We looked at a variety of edibles that grow in or beside water including Water Mint, Brook Lime and Water Cress. Also the peppery lady’s smock, or cuckoo flower (not to be confused with Cuckoo pint) was in flower (see below left). Unfortunately by the time Lady’s smock is identifiable by its flowers there are hardly any of it’s hot tasty leaves to be seen.
And although the early spring had been dry and then frosty the St.George’s mushrooms made an appearance this year in some but not all of my usual spots. On the second of this months outing we found Morels as well as St.Georges mushrooms.