Nettled

Growing under the canopy of Willows which grow along the Nutbrook Canal, there are a number of lovely plants which are just coming into flower.  Unrelated to, but sharing a name with the more commonly known Stinging Nettle, these are the less misanthropic Hemp Nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit).  Despite the plant being rather poisonous, it has been used in medicine as an aid for all sorts of ailments including lung problems and 'tissue-wasting' diseases.

Our walk this morning, which took in a number of Blackberry bushes - enabling us to collect a good number of those fruits - gave us some nice views across the ripening grass meadows close to the lake of Manor Floods.

The grasses are turning golden now as the summer tips over the mid-point and we start heading toward autumn.  The views are still good though, despite the threatening cloud cover this morning.