Medicinal Herbs Growing at Redacre

This plant was thought to sure the throat disease scrofula because of the throat like shape of its flowers.

The celts believed that the hawthorn is a ‘gateway tree, which holds a dorway between our realm and the fairy realm’.

Primarily known to heal wounds and to staunch bleeding.

In folklore it is said to be protected by ‘Robin Goodfellow’ to harm it “is to court disaster, your house might well be struck by lightning, and if you keep a cow, its milk may be turned to blood. Not nice on your porridge.”

In the days when blacksmiths were closely allied with alchemists and knew some of their secrets, horsetail was valued for giving magical strength to weapons and armour.

Ivy represented peace to the druids because of its ability to bind different plants together. Today it is often used at weddings to symbolise fidelity.