Fairies, Poison and Love

"In the place that is my own place, whose earth
I am shaped in and must bear, there is an old tree growing,
a great sycamore that is a wondrous healer of itself.
Fences have been tied to it, nails driven into it,
hacks and whittles cut in it, the lightning has burned it.
There is no year it has flourished in
that has not harmed it."

from 'The Sycamore' by Wendell Berry

A walk from Moat Farm, Aldingham, along the coast path to Ulverston revealed some interesting trees and plants including (from top) Red Campion growing in a tree trunk, Sycamore and Hemlock Water-Dropwort. 

Folklore tells that Red Campion (Silene dioica) flowers guard bees' honey stores, as well as protecting fairies from being discovered (I didn't see any today). Click here to read more about this pretty flower. 

As the name suggests, the whole of the Hemlock Water-Dropwort plant is deadly toxic, but especially its roots. "This plant has caused more deaths in the UK than any other plant." Read more here.

Sycamore wood was traditionally used in the Welsh craft of making decorative 'love spoons', carefully carved and offered to a love interest. The tradition began over 300 years ago, when Welsh sailors would carve spoons to offer women as a romantic gesture. Welsh love spoons are still carved today. Read more here.

Writing prompts:

• You are a fairy hiding amongst the red campion flowers. Write about what you see.
• Set a timer for six minutes and write using the word 'toxic' as a prompt.
• Have you ever received a 'love spoon' or any other gift signifying love? If so, write about it and what it meant to you.