The online Dictionary.com describes a "weed" as "a plant considered undesirable, unattractive, or troublesome, especially one growing where it is not wanted, as in a garden" whilst a "wildflower" is "a flowering plant that grows in a natural, uncultivated state". At the village of Langar to the south east of Nottingham, the Scarborough family are engaged in growing wildflowers commercially in a venture known as Naturescape. This collage above shows a number of images from the site including the information hut that contains many photographs and posters about their work producing wildflower seeds, plants, native trees and shrubs.

The site covers forty acres and occupies a relatively flat area of land adjacent to Langar Airfield. Parts of the farm are devoted to different aspects and this particular corner adjacent to the picnic area shows how wildflowers can be used to create an attractive and unusual cottage garden.

 

There is a science involved in wildflower cultivation and not all is left to chance as these seedlings growing under glass, or rather polythene, show.

 

The fruits of the Scarborough family's labours are evident in this natural looking meadow close to the visitor centre, where a number of different varieties of plant can be picked out.

 

Another part of the site is called the aptly called Dragonfly Pond where different plants illustrate what an impact they can have on the environment and habitat of an area. Strategically placed benches enable visitors to sit and watch the insects hovering above the water and with luck, settling on the plants.
Click here to open a new window showing a bonus picture taken here with my new camera.

But one of the main joys of a visit to the farm which offers free admission, is to see the fields full of wildflowers where rows of colour are just a pure delight. Whilst many of these plants would not be welcome in town gardens like my own, where they would probably be regarded as weeds rather than wildflowers, I am more inclined towards Gerard Manley Hopkins' point of view than William Cowper's "Pernicious weed! whose scent the fair annoys".

"What would the world be, once bereft
Of wet and wildness? Let them be left,
O let them be left, wildness and wet;
Long live the weeds and the wildness yet."
Gerard Manley Hopkins 1844 - 1889

To learn more about Brian and Liz Scarborough's Naturescape, click here to visit their website.