MHG Volunteer Blog: Week 13 - English Daffodil

It's time for the latest blog from our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle.

Find out more about their blog series here.

31 March 2025

One of the benefits of the Medieval Herb Garden is that it is south-facing. Unfortunately, this means that there is no sheltering shade. As we have had the driest March since 1961, the soil has already turned to concrete! This makes weeding hard work.

Carole was busy weeding, and talking to a lovely couple of visitors from Sydney, Australia. Dave finished digging the trench, designed to separate the MHG from the spoil heap of the gatehouse excavations. James and Kaidan watered the plants in the various planters around the site, as well as the rosemary growing on the drystone wall below the keep. It is looking quite well this year.

Rosemary growing on the drystone wall below the castle keep

The 'keep bank', under the variegated beech tree, looks its best at this time of year. Dandelions, primroses, daisies, lungwort, dog violets and even wild strawberries, which have self-seeded from the MHG, are all in flower together.

Dog violets in bloom at Pontefract Castle

The last of the rhubarb was put on sale. It's there along with a tray of true valerian and some golden rod. For you budding 'natural dyers' out there, there's also some woad plants!

(Interested in finding out more? We've still got some spaces on our upcoming family Colour Chemistry from Nature's Rainbow workshops)

Plant of the week: English Daffodil, Lent Lily (narcissus pseudonarcissus)

More pale and delicate than modern cultivars, the English daffodil has many local names. These include wild daffodil, lent lily, chalice flower, averill, daffodilly, and even daffodowndilly.

The botanical name of 'narcissus' is often thought to come from Greek myth. Narcissus was a beautiful, but vain, young man who died whilst trying to embrace his image reflected in a clear pool. However, it actually comes from the Greek word 'narkao' (to benumb). This is because of the narcotic properties which the plant possesses.

The wild daffodil is often found in exposed or sheltered, damp woodland and meadows, especially ancient woodland. It is a bulbous perennial from Western Europe. It can grow in most soil types but it should be moist, and well-drained. The leaves are long, narrow and flat with a grey-green colour which rise from the stem. The flowers have a trumpet-shaped tube at the centre in a warm, egg-yolk yellow, surrounded by pale yellow tepals. They are 4 to 6cm wide.

Unless 'dead headed' daffodils will produce seeds. When germinated, these can take five to seven years to produce a flowering plant.

English daffodils growing at Pontefract Castle

Culinary uses of daffodils

Daffodils contain the alkaloid poison lycorine. This means that there are no culinary uses of this plant.

Folklore and other facts about daffodils

The daffodil is the county flower of Gloucestershire.

In some cultures, daffodils represent new beginnings and rebirth. This makes them a popular flower for spring celebrations and festivals. Daffodils are closely associated with the celebration of Easter, symbolising hope and new life.

Daffodils are a symbol of Wales. This is because they flower around the 1st of March each year, just in time for St David’s Day (the patron saint of Wales). In Welsh, the daffodil is actually called 'Cenhinen Bedr' (Peter's Leek).

In the 1910s, Prime Minister David Lloyd George led to daffodils becoming a popular symbol. He advocated that daffodils were used in Prince Edward's (later Edward VIII) investitutre ceremony as Prince of Wales. Lloyd George was of Welsh descent.

The sub-species known as the Tenby Daffodil ('narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. obvallaris') is the 'true' St David’s Day daffodil. It grows in the wild across South Wales. It is notable because the flower is completely yellow.

Before this, the leek was a much more common emblem worn by Welsh people. The origin of this likely dates back to the Battle of Crécy in 1346. Welsh archers defeated French soldiers in a field of leeks. Back home, leeks were worn to honour their bravery. This became a yearly tradition on St David’s Day. 

Medieval uses*

All parts of a daffodil are slightly poisonous. Despite this, they were commonly used in historic herbal remedies to treat colds, coughs, and congestion. They were believed to help loosen mucus and alleviate symptoms of respiratory tract infections. Daffodils have also been used in the elimination of excess fluids from the body. They have been used as a natural remedy for skin conditions like dermatitis and eczema, due to their anti-inflammatory properties.

In 1597, John Gerard wrote that, “Galen saith, that the roots of Narcissus have such wonderful qualities in drying, that they confound and glue together very great wounds, yea and such gashes or cuts as happen about the veins, sinews, and tendons.”

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.

MHG Volunteer Blog: Week 12 - Cowslip

It's time for the latest blog from our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle.

Find out more about their blog series here.

24 March 2025

The weather started to warm up today! Dave continued to dig the trench to separate the MHG from the spoil heap of the excavated gatehouse. This is an attempt to create a “fire-break” from the ever-encroaching weeds.

There was a backdrop of an incredibly loud buzz of bees from the rosemary. Carole pruned the southernwood and blackcurrant sage bushes. She offered pieces of them to children from a local school who were visiting. The children were able to smell plants that they would not normally be able to reach. 

The rosemary bushes in the Medieval Herb Garden, full of busy, buzzy bees

Carole chopped back the fennel. She then potted on some verbena bonariensis, which will probably go on sale in a few weeks’ time. She rewrote the labels for the valerian (true valerian, not the red type which grows like a weed all over the place). This will go on sale next week. She also put out some more rhubarb on the plant barrow.

Plant of the week: Cowslip, Palsy Wort, Key Flower (primula veris)

Cowslip's specific name comes from 'primula', from the latin 'primus' (first), and 'veris', meaning spring.  By the 16th century they were known as 'cowslips'. This comes from the original old English 'cowslop', because the plant was usually found in cow pastures by cow pats.

The cowslip is a perennial evergreen plant. It has coarsely toothed leaves which form 6 to 15cm rosettes. It has a flowering height of up to 25cm. 

It has 10 to 30 yellow blooms, dotted with orange spots, on single, hairy stems. These flower in spring. Cowslip has a short, strong tap root and thick fibrous rhizomes. Through these it can hibernate over winter. It prefers sandy or chalky soil, which is low in nitrogen, in sun or partial shade.

Cowslip growing in the Medieval Herb Garden

Culinary uses of cowslips

Cowslips smell a bit like apricots. The flowers have a citrus flavour.

Young cowslip leaves used to be eaten in country salads and mixed with other herbs to stuff meat. The flowers were made into a delicate conserve. Cowslips are still used in salads in Spain. 

In England, the flowers are used to flavour wine and vinegar. However, be aware that cowslip wine can be slightly narcotic!

Folklore and other facts about cowslips

In Norse mythology, cowslips were thought to be the key to entering the goddess Freyja’s palace. In Christianity the flower was linked to the Virgin Mary. It became known as 'Mary’s Keys'.

In the Middle Ages cowslip was also known as 'St Peter’s Herb' or 'Petronella'. It was said to have sprung up from the ground where St Peter dropped the keys to Heaven, shocked that people were sneaking into Heaven.

In Wales, long cowslip stalks are said to predict a wet summer, and short stalks predict a dry summer.

In Ireland, on Beltane (May Day) farmers would smear cowslip juice on the udders of cattle. This was intended to protect the milk from being stolen by supernatural means.

Cowslips are picked on Midsummer’s Eve to protect from evil spirits.

In the Victorian language of flowers they represent beauty and grace.

Medieval uses of cowslips*

Celtic Druids used to add cowslips in potions to help with the absorption of other herbs. When mixed with thyme it was used against bronchitis.

In the Middle Ages cowslips were “commended against the pain of the joints called the gout, and slackness of the sinews, which is the palsy. The decoction of the roots is thought to be profitably given against the stone in the kidneys and bladder; and the juice of the leaves for members that are loose and out of joint, or inward parts that are hurt, rent, or broken” (from Gerard's 'Herbal').

They believed that “the flowers are held to be more effectual than the leaves, and the roots of little use. An ointment being made with them, taketh away spots and wrinkles of the skin, sun-burning, and freckles, and adds beauty exceedingly; they remedy all infirmities of the head coming of heat and wind, as vertigo, ephialtes, false apparitions, phrenzies, falling sickness, palsies, convulsions, cramps, and pains in the nerves”.

However, cowslips can cause nausea, diarrhoea or skin irritation if you are susceptible to saponins, IBS or sensitive skin.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.

New display by the Children in Care Council

We have recently installed a new display in The Wall @ Create café display space. We are very proud to be hosting the We are… exhibition by the Children in Care Council.

The We are... exhibition in Create café

We are... features work produced by and on behalf of care-experienced young people from the Wakefield District.

Children live in care away from their birth families for many reasons. This can cause significant trauma and barriers. 

We Are… is an invitation to listen, understand, and stand together with the young people of our care-experienced community.

One of the artworks on display

The Children in Care Council:

• Work with adults to help them understand and support young people
• Co-produce celebration events such as the Care4Us Awards and Care Leavers’ Week
• Enjoy a range of participation activities

Get to know the young care-experienced community in their video introducing the We are… exhibition.

The exhibition was first displayed at Anglers Country Park in 2024. A selection of the works is now on display in the Create café in Wakefield One, 10 March to 16 May 2025. 

Some of the photos in the display show the young people taking part in forest-based activities with Countryside Officers. They also planted flowers and created spider habitats.

At Pontefract Castle, the young people worked with our team to design and deliver an exciting escape room activity.

They even created a time capsule that is now buried at Pontefract Castle. It contains a record of the work they’ve done to challenge stereotypes about children in care. When it’s opened in 100 years, people will find out about the young people’s identities, their hopes and dreams. 

The time capsule ready to be buried at Pontefract Castle

During the activities, the group also discuss different topics that matter to them. These include the importance of siblings getting to grow up together and the role of good and bad rules in their lives. 

They made a series of short films exploring these issues:

Watch the full We are… playlist to hear more from the Children in Care Council.

Visit the We are… display in the Wall @ Create Café space, inside Wakefield One, until 16 May 2025.

Fostering Wakefield

Did you know that there is a national shortage of Foster Carers?

When you foster, you don’t just care for a child, you help change their life.

By offering love, support, and guidance, you have the power to create lasting positive impact on their future. Fostering Wakefield are here to support you in every role you take on.

Enquire today at Fostering Wakefield

As a fostering friendly employer, Wakefield Council support our employees to make a difference, enabling them to balance employment with looking after children. 

Nearly 40% of foster carers combine fostering with other work. Those who do, say that a supportive employer can make all the difference. 

At Wakefield Council, we have fostering friendly HR policies for all our foster carers. This includes offering carers flexible working and paid time off for training and settling a new child into their home. 

Being a fostering friendly employer means we can improve support for staff, making workplaces friendlier for foster carers, benefiting the children in their care and also making it easier for people to consider fostering.

If you want to know a bit more about fostering with us, get in touch with the team: fostering@wakefield.gov.uk

MHG Volunteer Blogs: Week 11 - Violet

It's time for the latest blog from our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle.

Find out more about their blog series here.

17 March 2025

Well, it was another cold start today. While Helen weeded all the planters on site, Dave collected fallen branches from the MHG.

After a bit of selective weeding, Carole relocated some self-seeded golden feverfews and daisies. She then moved them nearer to their parent plants. Carole also planted out some prostrate rosemary cuttings, from last year, on the main wall and the dry-stone wall. They will replace those that had died unexpectedly.

We now have more rhubarb plants for sale along with a tray of columbines (aquilegia).

Rhubarb plants and columbines for sale on the barrow

Although it’s not the 'Plant of the Week', the white comfrey is looking remarkably healthy for the time of year.

The white comfrey bush in the MHG

Plant of the Week – Violet (viola odorata) Sweet or English Violet

The name 'violet' originates from the Latin 'viola', which means purple, via the old French 'violette'.

The violet is a perennial plant from Europe and Western Asia. It is rhizomatous, which means it has an underground stem that can produce shoots and roots. 

It forms a loose mat of heart-shaped leaves with a height of 15cm and a spread of 30cm. It will tolerate full sun or partial shade, in any type of moist but well-drained soil. 

It produces fragrant, violet flowers which are 2cm across. It tends to flower in late Autum and early Spring (although they are a little late this year). They readily self-seed as can be seen in the MHG.

Violets growing in the Medieval Herb Garden

Culinary uses of violets

As far back as 1885, a study compared violet leaf vitamin C content to that of oranges and vitamin A content to that of spinach. The leaves, if collected in spring, contain twice as much vitamin C as the same weight of orange. They can also contain more than twice the amount of vitamin A, gram for gram, when compared with spinach.

When newly opened, viola flowers may be used to decorate salads. They can be used in stuffings for poultry or fish. The young leaves are edible, raw or cooked, as a mild-tasting leaf vegetable.

A candied violet is preserved by a coating of egg white and crystallised sugar. Alternatively, hot syrup is poured over the fresh flower and stirred until the sugar recrystallizes and has dried. They are used for decorating cakes or trifles or included in aromatic desserts.

Violet flower vinegar can be used with salads and marinades. Flowers stirred into fresh yogurt and left overnight enhance the taste.

However, care should be taken when using violets for culinary purposes. Over-indulgence can sometimes cause acute stomach upset, high blood pressure, nervousness and breathing problems.

Folklore and other facts about violets

In Greek mythology, Zeus had a lover named Io. In a fit of jealousy, his wife Hera turned her into a white heifer. Zeus created violets to give her something lovely to graze upon.

Violet is the traditional birth flower for February in English tradition. It was Queen Victoria’s favourite flower.

The smell of violets used to be so loved in Britain and France that violet sellers were a common sight on street corners in Spring. People bought little posies for buttonholes and long-stemmed hybrids to put in vases. In 1881, six million bunches of violets were sold in Paris.

In America, there are accounts of Native Americans using violets in cancer treatments.

Medieval uses of violets*

The Ancient Greeks were obsessed with violets. They wore crowns of violets to relieve headaches, cure insomnia, promote sleep and serenity, and stimulate pleasant dreams.

In Macer’s 'Herbal' (10th century) the violet is among the many herbs which were considered powerful against “wykked spirits”.

Violets have been used to make perfume since ancient Greece. They were also used to create early household deodorants in medieval Britain.

According to the herbalist John Gerard in 1597: “The flowers are good for all inflammations, especially of the sides and lungs; they take away the hoarseness of the chest, the ruggedness of the windpipe and jaw, allay the extreme heat of the liver, kidney, and bladder; mitigate the fiery heat of burning agues; temper the sharpness of choler, and take away thirst … Syrup of violets is good against the inflammation of the lungs and breast, against the pleurisy and cough, against fevers and agues in young children.”

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.

MHG Volunteer Blogs: Week 10 - Coltsfoot

It's time for the latest blog from our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle.

Find out more about their blog series here.

10 March 2025

The volunteers arrived to find a chilly mist over the castle. Despite this, we still spotted ladybirds nestled in the rosemary flowers.

A ladybird resting on a rosemary plant in the Medieval Herb Garden

Dave dug out some of the liquorice plant runners. They can easily take over with new shoots popping up some distance from the original plant.

Dave getting stuck in with the liquorice runners

James and Helen continued the weeding battle against hairy bittercress and lamb’s lettuce. We can now add cinquefoil onto that list - the MHG’s nemesis! It spreads very thoroughly. 

James also noticed that leaves had started to unfurl on the crab-apple tree.

Young leaves and fruit on the crab apple tree

When weeding at this time of year, it is easy to mistakenly weed out self-sown herb seedlings. These could either be planted elsewhere else or be potted-on, to sell on the barrow. Helen admits that she has experience of needing to replant herbs that she thought were weeds!

Plant of the week: Coltsfoot (tussilago farfara)

The name 'tussilago' is derived from the Latin 'tussis', meaning cough, and 'ago', meaning to cast or to act on. 

'Farfara' comes from 'farfarus' which is an ancient name for the white poplar tree. This is because their leaves bear some resemblance to coltsfoot.

Our coltsfoot crop - the flowers appear before the leaves

Coltsfoot is a perennial, deciduous, herbaceous plant. It is native to Europe and Western and Central Asia.

The flowers bear scale-leaves on the long stems in early spring. The true leaves are large, crinkly and mid to dark green. They have angular teeth on their margins with a silvery, furry reverse that appears as the flowers fade. Coltsfoot prefers moist, but well-drained soiI, of any acidity.

Coltsfoot grows to a height of 10 to 20cm. It rapidly spreads by large, white, fleshy, underground roots. It can be hard to get rid of, as the plant re-grows from even the smallest piece of root left behind in the soil. As the roots are brittle, they are hard to completely remove.

Culinary uses of coltsfoot

Coltsfoot Rock is a confectionery created from coltsfoot extract by a confectioner based in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire. As a product, it is a hardened stick of brittle rock flavoured with coltsfoot. It is usually consumed for medicinal purposes. Coltsfoot Rock has a subtle aniseed flavour, similar to liquorice.

Folklore and other coltsfoot facts

The old name for coltsfoot was 'filius ante patron' (the son before the father). This is because the golden flowers appear and wither before the broad sea-green leaves are produced.

When coltsfoot reached the Americas, a popular practice would be to soak a blanket in a solution of coltsfoot and wrap it around patients suffering from whooping cough.

Cornish tin miners would regularly smoke coltsfoot to guard against lung diseases.

In Russia and China, it is used to treat diarrhoea, skin diseases, wounds, and blemishes. In Turkey it is used to treat burns. In Ukraine and Poland it is used to treat ulcers.

Coltsfoot is used as a food plant by the larvae of some moths including the gothic and small angle shades moths. It is also visited by honeybees, providing pollen and nectar. The seed clocks are used by goldfinches to line their nests.

The flowers open in the day and close up again at night.

Medieval uses*

Coltsfoot has been used medicinally for many hundreds of years to treat coughs, colds and sore throats.  Coltsfoot 'tea' is a traditional remedy. It is said to smell of liquorice.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.

MHG Volunteer Blog: Week 9 - Lungwort

We're continuing our march on into spring in this week's Medieval Herb Garden blog. 

Read on for gardening tips and to discover more about the Plant of the Week - and it involves horses drinking beer!

3 March 2025

Today started off cold again, but it eventually warmed up towards lunch time.  This morning Helen potted-on some shasta daisies. These will be put on sale later in the month.

Following last week’s blog regarding the “visiting” snow drops, we have had some snowdrops kindly donated to the MHG. Carole planted these in four clumps around the site.

Later, both Carole and Helen weeded.  The weeds in the Medieval Herb Garden seem to be on a cycle, with different weeds appearing in different years. This year we are inundated with lamb’s lettuce (which we’ve not had before) and hairy bittercress. This has appeared all over the MHG.

If you want to give your garden a quick tidy up, one of the easiest ways is to mow the lawn and turn over the soil. Recently-turned soil immediately makes the garden look neater.

The rhubarb bed 'turned over'

Plant of the week: Lungwort, Jerusalem Cowslip (pulmonaria officinalis)

In the times of sympathetic magic, the spotted oval leaves of P. officinalis were thought to symbolise diseased lungs. They were used to treat pulmanory infections. The scientific name pulmonaria is derived from the Latin 'pulmo' (lung).

This perennial, semi-evergreen, herbaceous plant is native to Eurasia. It has clump-forming rosettes of mottled oval leaves that are covered in hairs. It has pink flowers which change to blue after pollination. It has a height of 15 to 25cm and a spread of 60cm.  

It prefers partial shade but will tolerate sun, once established. It has one seed per flower and will readily self-seed.

Lungwort flowers showing the change in colour

Culinary uses of lungwort

Lungwort was possibly included as a seasoning herb in medieval stews.

Folklore and other lungwort facts

The spots on the leaves are due to the presence of foliage air pockets. These pockets, which cool the lower leaf surface, mask the presence of chlorophyll. This change of colour was likened to lung tissue. Lung tissue changes colour depending on the level of oxygen present.

The flowers’ colour ranges from pink to blue, depending on their stage of development. The pH level within the flower changes after fertilisation/pollination.

Lungwort was boiled in beer and given to horses to treat respiratory problems!

Lungwort is one of the rare plants that can survive beneath a black walnut tree. These trees produce toxic substances that kill most plant species.

Lungwort was said to reveal if a person was a witch. It was used to protect against witchcraft.

In the language of flowers, lungwort is said to express 'thou art my life'.

Medieval uses*

Lungwort was used to treat various lung problems. These included coughs, wheezes, asthma and shortness of breath. It was even used historically in treating tuberculosis.

It was used (along with wormwood) to attempt to cure the Black Death in 1348 to 1350. It was also used in ointments for wounds, boils, and ulcers.

Some historical references to “lungwort” actually relate to oak moss.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.

Browse the previous Medieval Herb Garden blogs here

MHG Volunteer Blog: Week 8 - Salad burnet

The signs of spring are starting to emerge - even if the weather is all over the place! 

Here's what our Medieval Herb Garden volunteers have been up to this week:

24 February 2025

It was quite a busy morning. David and James weeded between the lavender and the drive. Afterwards, James and Kaidan started to dig a trench between the MHG and the weed-infected spoil hill. The spoil hill is left over from the gatehouse excavations. We do this in the vague hope that we will be able to make a break line to stop the weeds getting a toe-hold in the MHG.

We discovered another surprise today. Although snowdrops were used in the past to treat headaches, we haven’t planted any in the MHG. We might take this lone visitor as a hint, and get some for next year.

The lone snowdrop in the Medieval Herb Garden

Carole carried out a general tidy-up of various plants. She removed a bucketful of ragweed and removed all the dead branches from the variegated beech tree. 

As a last job, Carole dug up some liquorice runners (“roots”). These will be used by Kelly, Learning Officer, in her next home education workshops. In the workshops, the children will learn about the history and the uses of liquorice. They will also get to taste the natural plant for themselves.

Liquorice runners dug up from the MHG

Plant of the week - Salad Burnet, Garden Burnet (sanguisorba minor)

The Latin sanguisorba minor, comes from 'sanguis', meaning 'blood', and 'sorbere', meaning to 'soak up'. The name relates to its ancient medicinal use, which was to staunch wounds.

This herbaceous perennial grows to a height of 3ft and a spread of 18 inches. The leaves are rounded with toothed edges. There are four to twelve pairs of leaflets per leaf, which form a rosette. It has knobbly clusters of crimson flowers and burred fruit. It will readily self-seed everywhere. 

Salad burnet growing in the MHG

Although native of chalk soils, salad burnet will grow in any alkaline or neutral, well-drained conditions. It prefers full sun to part shade. 

Culinary uses of salad burnet

Salad burnet is useful as it is one of the first “cuttable crops” to appear before Spring fully takes hold. 

It tastes similar to cucumber or melon and can be used as a substitute for them, where flavour rather than bulk is required. Only the young leaves should be used, as the leaves get more bitter as they get older! Think of it as cucumber-flavoured parsley. 

It is often added to gin and tonic as a garnish.

Folklore and other salad burnet facts

It has long been believed that salad burnet could stop both internal and external bleeding. According to legend, soldiers in the American War of Independence used to drink salad burnet “tea”. They thought that the “tea” would stop them from bleeding to death if they were shot.

Medieval uses*

Salad burnet has been used for more than 2,000 years. It was known to the ancient Greeks and Chinese. Preparations of salad burnet root have been used to treat wounds, dysentery and menstruation. It was once used against the bubonic plague and to control bleeding and heal wounds. Salad burnet has also been used historically to help digestion.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.

Browse the previous Medieval Herb Garden blogs here