Heads of conservation charities reveal their favourite wildflowers
With only five days left to vote for the Nation’s Favourite Wildflower, we asked the Chief Executive officers of some of our fellow wildlife conservation charities which flower they’ve voted for and why.
June 03 2015 - 14:51
Wood Anemone
Stephanie Hilborne, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts
“I chose the wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) because when carpets of these delicate white flowers grace one of my favourite woods in Nottinghamshire they never fail to lift my spirits.”
Viper’s-bugloss
Matt Shardlow, Chief Executive of Buglife
“The rich Royal blue flowers of viper's-bugloss (Echium vulgare) are glorious and where the spikes wave you find flower visiting bees and sand-loving ground beetles and bugs aplenty”
Honeysuckle
Mike Clarke, Chief Executive of RSPB
“I’ve voted for honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum). My childhood memory of walking through a Downland wood into a wall of scent in the velvet dark of a midsummer night will live with me always – it’s why I care.”
Primrose
Martin Warren, Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation
“The primrose (Primula vulgaris) is the epitome of spring and a sign of warmer days ahead. It is also a vital early nectar source and food-plant of one of my favourite butterflies, the Duke of Burgundy.”
Cow Parsley
Dame Helen Ghosh, Chief Executive of the National Trust
“I voted for cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris - or to use one of its more romantic names, Queen Anne’s lace). For me, it’s the first sign of spring as the lanes and verges fill up with its delicate tracery. It’s easy to take for granted because it’s so common – but we once thought that about the house sparrow and the hedgehog. You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone!”
Snake’s-head Fritillary
Tony Jones, Chief Executive of Landlife
"I’ve voted for Snake's-head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) because of its beautiful hanging flower that seems far too big and heavy for its fragile stem. It has a lovely unusual colour and anyone can identify it. I've voted for Snakes Head Fritillary but it's not got to number one. Yet. "
Don't forget to vote for your favourite! Voting ends Tuesday 9th with the winner expected to be announced on that evening's Springwatch.